Editorial: “The Chair Out From Under Them”

So this article offers two solutions: Raise min wage & Reform the health insurance system. WM workers on average receive double minumum wage. I dont beleive anyone makes the min wage at Wal Mart so raising it will do nothing.

Reform health insurance is pretty vague as well. How do you reform health insurance? Its been tried already. Its just not that easy - forcing the nations largest employer to provide great benefits only helps WM workers but what is you are in the 99.9% of the workforce that doesnt work at WM. What about us?

Jonquiere Quebec.
The jewel of Walmart worker abuse.  Canadians, remember this company that sets up shop on our soil, yet feels it is above the laws of this country, and instead just spits on our workers for excercising their legal rights to union participation.
Walmart is a scum organization. We will never forget what they did.

I have to laugh when I see Wal Mart’s commercials on TV that are intended to improve their public image.  What a waste of money!  Who hasn’t worked at Wal Mart, had a realative, or friend who worked at Wal Mart at some point in their lives; what like 1 in 75 people or something.  They’re not fooling anyone.  Vote with your money.  Don’t shop their stores!

“They’re not fooling anyone.  Vote with your money.  Don’t shop their stores! “

Yay! Gladis I applaud you. You obviously get it. I wonder why more of the anti-WalMart crowd doesn’t simply join you in a boycott of WalMart stores? That is the sensible way to express displeasure with a company in a capitalist economy. Good luck to you.

Alex, what about the union shops who dismissed 1200 employees?  That is so wrong of them!  Have you forgotten that?  Why will you not respond to this?  You keep ranting about what wal-mart did when they shut down their shop.  You should be glad anyway… didn’t you say that wal-mart was a bad store?  Now you don’t have to deal with them!

Do on to other associates and then Wal Mart will do on to you.  These Store Managers who all say the same words with no feelings as they hurt the hourly employees will one day realize they will be next.  Wal Mart may be the right company but they have the wrong attitude and the wrong vision.  They have become the company by using the poor people and making the H L Scotts into Hick Millionares and he has the final say.  Now there is a back lash of workers and families of the workers and religious and others and so many times people say I won’t support this company.  Sales are down and it is a reflection of bad management.  They should get the message and if not it will be like it was when Wal Mart wanted to not say Merry Christmas. 
I am surprised they are not in a law suite now because they are digging a hole and H L Scott and Susan Chambers are saying Come on Boys Jump on IN.

people who suport wal-mart must have not ever had to pay bills on $8 an hour. not to mention paying for child care or health care. and with them forcing you to be available 24/7 how can you get a second job? i say they need to freeze the managments pay and tell them no matter how hard or how long they stay with them they will never get another raise, not even a cost of living raise and see how they feel about that.

Guys this is real simple.  If Walmart is such a horrible place to work or shop at then don’t patronize them and certainly don’t work there!  If a job at Walmart is the worst in the world then it shouldn’t be hard to find a better job because it could only be better.

The market will take care of itself, and if as people say, Walmart is such a horrible place then it MUST make changes or it will eventually suffer.  Only time will tell.

-Richard K

Bend over 4 me is what they are telling the employees at Wal Mart.  The leadership is trying to make excuses for their losses in sales when it is not the workers but the Leaders causing the Associates to feel like they are gum on the bottom of their shoes.  Yes There are needs but to say we are a good and understanding company and we are family and we care is a total lie.  Wal Mart is in left feild and they game is theirs and their rules.  Nasty Hard Ball, do what we say or hit the highway. 
A manager said he thought more of Wal Mart than he did his family or country.  I know they put him high on the list in Arkansas.  While others value God and Family.  The one thing is for sure Wal Mart will set bad examples so others will follow.  Is this progress or does it hurt the poor workers and only the few who are at the top continue to make more millions and billions.  It is a shame and the worse choice a Company like Wal Mart can make.  Wal Mart says it is a Ho Down they must mean one of their VP’s fell out of a chair.  Ho Down hehehehehe

All very good points of view, some strong, some weak, but all good stances to take.

As for what the article suggests, raising federal min wages or reforming health care, I must agree with “Ron in Reality” that this wouldn’t really be the answer.  You’re Right “Ron”, vague.. extremely, and this is typical of how Wal-Mart execs/management handles things when they do not have an answer, or do not wish to give the answer to the question(s) at hand. 

I am a Wal-Mart employee, and at one point in time I fell into the rut of actually giving a damn about the company and where it went in the future, because I thought I would be a part of that future, but now...now, sadly, I am looking at other employment opportunities, furthering my education, etc. etc.  I’m not going to turn this into a “cry for me rant”, but I would like to the chance, while I still have it to voice a few things.

Wage caps:
Force the associate to move up for better pay...FOR BETTER PAY? Something wrong here...if Wal-Mart is THE company to work for, then why would they have to force the associate to move up in the food chain.  I know several associates that have no desire to be in management, not because of lack confidence in their own abilities (many of them would make fantastic leaders) but because of the lack of appreciation for their efforts, and now they are going to have their wages capped off at a certain level.. no chance of better pay even though they deserve it?  Doesn’t quite add up to better pay to me.

Part-Time vs Full Time:
Think a store the size of a Supercenter or a Club can be run on full time management and only part time hourlies?  Management doesn’t even make the schedules anymore, they are generated by the computer system, based on the PROJECTED sales by the management...no ability to call people in because the payroll system will not allow the manager on duty to clock them in, so if the projections were wrong...not enough people to handle the volume if only part timers are there.. sure on the other side of the coin Wal-Mart will bank more cash at the end of the day, but if the customer doesn’t have a good shopping experience who says they will come back the next day...At least with full time employees on the clock they will at least have a set number of people there...IF they’ve been scheduled correctly.

Uniforms...oops “Dress Code”
I’m not fighting the idea of a more uniform way of dressing, but current dress code is fine as long as it is ENFORCED, tell us that we are going to go to khaki pants and dark blue polos, and make it a requirement, then give us a date end of First quarter next year, then come back 2 wks later and say it’s happening first of year, then another 2 wks it’s happening 1st week of November… then tell us you don’t know if you are going to supply the 2 polos, then you are, then you aren’t...then only to new associates...BAH!  The ire and Lube center gets approx 7 uniforms, both shirts and pants, AND they are laundered for them...it is part of THEIR dress code.. why can’t it be the similar for all the others as well…

Healthy versus Unhealthy Associates
So then now discriminate against the associate even further...We’ve gone to profiling the associates as to whether or not they are going to affect the bottom line simply on if they are healthy or not.?  Come on!  How is this a judgment on what would be contributed to the company by their presence?

Layaway closing
Not making enough money off it so we are being told as employees of the company...but to the general public...”due to the decline in the use of layaway because of other avenues such as low cost credit alternatives and online sales...” such a farce, from launch of Walmart.com we the associates were told to push the website as much as possible to our customers, some mangers even offered mini scripts to use just for it...so was this the plan all along?  Oh now wait… push the wal-mart credit card...Why?  So another exec can get caught laundering money off of it?  Want to make money off of layaway?  RESTOCKING FEE, So simple it’s amazing...make it an investment for the customer to continue to do business with us… make it worth their while and ours.

All in all Wal-Mart made it empire from being different than the other retailers out there...We exceeded Target in sales, all but totally obliterated K-mart for the simple fact that we were a different kind of company...Mr Sam knew that being as such would get the company to the top...so if being different got us on top...why are we trying to be like those that were “defeated”

Thank you for your time… * steps off the soap box *

All very good points of view, some strong, some weak, but all good stances to take.

As for what the article suggests, raising federal min wages or reforming health care, I must agree with “Ron in Reality” that this wouldn’t really be the answer.  You’re Right “Ron”, vague.. extremely, and this is typical of how Wal-Mart execs/management handles things when they do not have an answer, or do not wish to give the answer to the question(s) at hand. 

I am a Wal-Mart employee, and at one point in time I fell into the rut of actually giving a damn about the company and where it went in the future, because I thought I would be a part of that future, but now...now, sadly, I am looking at other employment opportunities, furthering my education, etc. etc.  I’m not going to turn this into a “cry for me rant”, but I would like to the chance, while I still have it to voice a few things.

Wage caps:
Force the associate to move up for better pay...FOR BETTER PAY? Something wrong here...if Wal-Mart is THE company to work for, then why would they have to force the associate to move up in the food chain.  I know several associates that have no desire to be in management, not because of lack confidence in their own abilities (many of them would make fantastic leaders) but because of the lack of appreciation for their efforts, and now they are going to have their wages capped off at a certain level.. no chance of better pay even though they deserve it?  Doesn’t quite add up to better pay to me.

Part-Time vs Full Time:
Think a store the size of a Supercenter or a Club can be run on full time management and only part time hourlies?  Management doesn’t even make the schedules anymore, they are generated by the computer system, based on the PROJECTED sales by the management...no ability to call people in because the payroll system will not allow the manager on duty to clock them in, so if the projections were wrong...not enough people to handle the volume if only part timers are there.. sure on the other side of the coin Wal-Mart will bank more cash at the end of the day, but if the customer doesn’t have a good shopping experience who says they will come back the next day...At least with full time employees on the clock they will at least have a set number of people there...IF they’ve been scheduled correctly.

Uniforms...oops “Dress Code”
I’m not fighting the idea of a more uniform way of dressing, but current dress code is fine as long as it is ENFORCED, tell us that we are going to go to khaki pants and dark blue polos, and make it a requirement, then give us a date end of First quarter next year, then come back 2 wks later and say it’s happening first of year, then another 2 wks it’s happening 1st week of November… then tell us you don’t know if you are going to supply the 2 polos, then you are, then you aren’t...then only to new associates...BAH!  The ire and Lube center gets approx 7 uniforms, both shirts and pants, AND they are laundered for them...it is part of THEIR dress code.. why can’t it be the similar for all the others as well…

Healthy versus Unhealthy Associates
So then now discriminate against the associate even further...We’ve gone to profiling the associates as to whether or not they are going to affect the bottom line simply on if they are healthy or not.?  Come on!  How is this a judgment on what would be contributed to the company by their presence?

Layaway closing
Not making enough money off it so we are being told as employees of the company...but to the general public...”due to the decline in the use of layaway because of other avenues such as low cost credit alternatives and online sales...” such a farce, from launch of Walmart.com we the associates were told to push the website as much as possible to our customers, some mangers even offered mini scripts to use just for it...so was this the plan all along?  Oh now wait… push the wal-mart credit card...Why?  So another exec can get caught laundering money off of it?  Want to make money off of layaway?  RESTOCKING FEE, So simple it’s amazing...make it an investment for the customer to continue to do business with us… make it worth their while and ours.

All in all Wal-Mart made it empire from being different than the other retailers out there...We exceeded Target in sales, all but totally obliterated K-mart for the simple fact that we were a different kind of company...Mr Sam knew that being as such would get the company to the top...so if being different got us on top...why are we trying to be like those that were “defeated”

Thank you for your time… * steps off the soap box *

Dear bruce davis
You will have to ask a person who knows about the business that closed about it. Possibly you can find out about it.
The point is here that Walmart closed a store because the workers excercised their rights to collective bargaining. That was there only reason.
Union and non union business has gone out of business for a long time. You will never wear me out with your question. Try all you want. You already accused me of being anti-American and in the end admitted that you made that up. Case closed.

Please remember Jonquiere Quebec. Home of Walmart Company bully tactics.

Mags wrote: “Yay! Gladis I applaud you. You obviously get it. I wonder why more of the anti-WalMart crowd doesn’t simply join you in a boycott of WalMart stores? That is the sensible way to express displeasure with a company in a capitalist economy. Good luck to you.”
~
According to Wal-Mart’s own numbers more than a half a million customers have already done so and the trend is accelerating.
~
You’re doing exactly the right thing, Gladis.  Boycott Wal-Mart yourself, encourage your family and friends to do the same, and continue to voice your displeasure any way you can. (newspapers, internet, etc.)
~
The thing the Beast of Bentonville fears the most is collectivity, whether it’s employees merely discussing their wages or customers joining a boycott.
~
Not everyone is willing to give up Wal-Mart cold turkey.  To them I say, buy that toilet paper at a dollar store, or anywhere BUT Wal-Mart.  Don’t automatically assume Wal-Mart’s price is the lowest.  Comparison shop again.
~
One customer at a time, one dollar at a time!
~
“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” ~ Sam Walton

“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” ~ Sam Walton”

This is true and that is why I make every effort to buy at WalMart/Sams and why this year I will be sending out Sams gift cards to everyone on my 100 person christmas list. In fact, I’m inviting everyone I know to do the same this year. Purchase GC’s at WalMart/Sams and give them as Christmas gifts. I am hoping it will give me a chance to explain to everyone that receives one that WalMart pays higher than industry average wages and provides health care benefits to a greater percentage of workers than its major competitor, Target Stores. I also want the chance to explain that WalMart is a great American company, being unfairly targeted by union leaders in order to shake them down for the dues. I will urge them to remember that their business could and likely will be next if these attacks succeed.

Ken V,

““There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” ~ Sam Walton”

You notice that Sam DIDN’T say that the boss was people who DON’T shop there or the government.  He knew that the ‘Market’ will determine the success or failure of any business.  When people become displeased with a business, they tend to find other places to shop, this is the main reason for the demise of most smaller businesses.  And, trying to force a business to change it’s practices, is interferring with the consumers right to choice.  It is very true, that if the customers find a problem with Wal-Mart, THEY will do something about it in the manner you stated, they will stop shopping there.  And, if the employees have a problem with Wal-Mart, they will stop working there.  Until either or both of these things happen, Wal-Mart will continue to follow the path they feel is best for the company, it’s employees and most importantly, IT’S CUSTOMERS!!!

The market includes the public perception of a company.
I was turned off Walmart even before WM came to Canada because of a 60 minutes report. I am PROUD to say that I have never given Walmart even a dime of my money. Some of my family has stopped shopping at WM or Sam’s Club. I have taken many opportunities to talk to people about this sick, sick company.

Remember Jonquiere Quebec. Walmarts shame.

Mags is smoking crack or eithr a real estate salesperson.
Both target and walmarts are whore houses, importing million junk stuff for cheapskate buyers who do give a rat ass about who they put out of american business, weather a toaster, microwave or cardboard furnitures.
All they care about is the “market”? Bull. All they care about is how cheap they can buy their carap the cheapest and stuff it in their gas gussler SUV and take it home, thinking that will make them happy.
Hope your cheap 32 dollars microwave makes you happy Mags.
Nevermind all the jobs lost in the us.

Nice bib they make people like the guy in this picture wear.
Question for Wal-Mart. Does your happyface child like clothes come in adult models? How dare you make the workers look like they are grade 1.

Mags wrote: This is true and that is why I make every effort to buy at WalMart/Sams and why this year I will be sending out Sams gift cards to everyone on my 100 person christmas list.”
~
You are always alluding to how much money you have, Mags.  Too bad you didn’t acquire any taste along with your wealth.
~
A Sam’s Club gift card...whoop-de-do!

Not alluding to how much money I have. I’m just saying that I have to send out lots of holiday gifts. Why shouldn’t I take the opportunity to let them reflect my support for an American business that is under unfair attack? If you haven’t been in a Sam’s Club lately, then you haven’t seen the breadth and depth of their selection. The Sam’s by my house has a great selection of fine wines and value labels of high quality, designer sunglasses and handbags, plasma TV’s, home theater, and great buys on DVD box sets. In short, something for everyone at a good price.  In addition, I get to counter the mis/dis-information about WalMart that is being spread by leftists and the unions. That’s what you guys call grass roots activism. My feeling is that most of the working people in this country that don’t have a townhouse in Manhattan or a summer retreat in Malibu are too busy trying to get ahead, save for their kids college, and plan for their retirement to get involved in this kind of stuff. So, maybe I’ll give some folks a shortcut to the information they need to make their own choice. Maybe then when they see Andy Stern on the news saying that WalMart is the great Satan of our time, they might pause and remember that his job is to get as many dues-paying union members as he can in order to amass political power. Then they might conclude that WalMart is just a wedge issue in a broader social agenda that they might disagree with.

“Too bad you didn’t acquire any taste along with your wealth. “

Spent half my life wearing black and whites and an apron. I don’t really worry about who thinks I have “taste” and who thinks I don’t. In the upper-middle class sense of things, I probably AM tasteless. If I cared what people thought, I would just send out Target gift cards to make people think I’m cool. My house doesn’t look like a pottery barn catalog and I drink donut-shop coffee because I’m not sophisticated enough to like Starbucks or to pay 2 $ a cup. My CD collection consists of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Motown and Doo-Wop records and I like it that way. I think a Cadillac is the best car a guy could drive and can’t understand why people drive those Lexus and Mercedes things. The only things I know about are food and spirits, but that’s only because I’ve sold millions of $’s worth of the stuff, not because it’s trendy.

I have requested from family that nothing be purchased for me from Walmart or Sam’s Club.

Please remember Jonquiere Quebec. Home of Walmart worker abuse.

I feel sorry for mags because if you read her stuff all she seem to care about is thinghs not a bit nothing about some family or nothing just a buch of the chinesa shat stored up in big concrte boxes like sams or walmarts. thats what peeple like this are all about, bunches of plastic junk they think mean something to the meaning of life. every other word of hers only mentions things and objectz and stuff, plastic and fabics shat. that is her miserable life she give to you here and nothing about family anf hopes or drems or hertige stuff that really mean something in this chinese shat junk world of buy shat.

“I feel sorry for mags because if you read her stuff....”

Not that it makes any difference, but Mags is a guy.  :o)
~
To equate taste with what “people think” brings to mind the old cliche’: (paraphrased)… You can take the boy out of Queens but you can’t take Queens out of the boy!
~
Your overall lowbrow view, Mags, explains why you would latch onto Wal-Mart as your example of the pinnacle of free enterprise.  There are actually successful companies that are NOT driven by unfettered GREED and remain good corporate citizens.
~
Of course, someone unable to differentiate between “trendy” and “taste” is apparently incapable of making such subtle distinctions.
~
“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” ~ Oscar Wilde

sorry from the way she writes i thought mags a woman based on consurmerism for her joy in life.
sorry dud mags, i thouth you was feminine when you talk about your hose not like a potty barn, seems what a woman excuseing herself for lack of hih taste would say.
in any case i think if you base your life on the contents of your neresrt sams clubs and walmarts you might as well get get sex change.

Well, they are trying to get rid of the older people who make the most money!  But there are those older people who need a job as greeters or other who the store sees as non needed! as well.  Older people are great....treat them with RESPECT! Then they hire “kids” who want to work part time and want stay long!  Thus no hassle!  BUT...they have to train these people!  MONEY WASTED!

Also, the issue with the stopping of Lay A Way in the store is now a big issue in the South and maybe in the North as well!  It is the people who can not fork out a large amount of money at one time who has made this store!  Sam Walton is rolling over and doing back flips in his grave because of the poor managment of his store foundation!  People will go where they are treated nice....so long WALLY WORLD!

And the hunters....they are up in arms due to NO gun sales in some Southern stores...and many to come!  Hunters Unite!

OH WELL...Wal Mart is trying to be a big time seller to the people who are RICH.....Forget it....remember the poor folks!

Hey, did y ou know most of the product in the store is made in CHINA...go figure!

Well, did you know that they gave us a cost of living raise here in Arkasas.....Well not really.  You know the wage law went up?  Well, not really...cause some of us got a few cents and some got nothing!  We have to pay bills, buy gas to get there with and maybe get a little food in there somewhere!  I can not afford the insurance, because I am a single mom and have all the other stuff to deal with!  GO FIGURE!  Many are calling there State Representives and Congressmen to complain!

The issue of Uniforms.  I do not want to be a cookie cutter look alike!  Are they gonna provide the service of washing these little prizes!  And some of us are rather “stockie” and some of us look like “toothpicks”...what is this going to look like....I will not be conformed....sounds like Star Trek to be assumulated! 

HEY...why is Wal Mart using China for shoes and Mexico and othe places for clothing?  What happen to American Made?

Have you been to your local Wal Mart lately....check out the labels!

LAY A WAY....HEY this is for the class I am in...am I considered poor folks?  I need it because I can not afford to fork over cash at one time...cause I work for Wally World!  DAAAA They made money off of us.....If your look’en for a high pinch credit card DON’T GET THIS ONE.....you will be in debt for life!  They want to sucker you in and make you pay that extra charge when your late on the payment!

HUNTERS:  They get there shells, guns and all that jazz when they need them...or used too at Wal Mart!  Now you can’t go drool over that new gun you want and put it on lay a way!  Look for that irrate Deer hunter to wander in and glare at the manager and ram his hoof in his butt!

Well, being a Wally World worker...what else can I say!  “Oh yea!"...."MERRY CHRISTMAS”......

Sometimes Bob you write something so stupendously absurd it takes a couple of days to sink in.

“You notice that Sam DIDN’T say that the boss was people who DON’T shop there...”

“Spending his money somewhere else” MEANS “people who DON’T shop there”.  How could anyone spend their money elsewhere and still shop at Wal-Mart?

I’m afraid i’m going to have to deduct some credibility points, there Bob.  Oh, wait!  Your credibility is ZERO already.  (Can a person have negative credibility?)