Lee’s Garage Needs A Tune Up

What a surprise to see the crapiest company on the face of
the earth would really treat the work force like a bunch
of used condoms. The rest of this country really needs
to wake up and see how evil Wal-mart is

I’m sure Lee Scott isn’t worried in the least.  He and all the other top Wal-Mart executives have probably had their “golden parachutes” stashed away for “emmergency deployment” for quite some time. We can only hope this is the year that the Wal-Mart empire starts to unravel from the inside as well as from the outside.

Mr. Scott’s suggestion that a Manager who asks a tough question does not fit the WMT culture and maybe belongs somewhere else is great.
That , my friends, is why the much talked about WMT “Open Door” is such a bucket of manure.
To speak up is to be shown the door.  I hope this gets lots of press.

I work at Walmart, I am a women. I have never been sexually harassed, and I believe walmart is a fair employer. While I might disagree with some of the new changes in my Walmart, it is not corporate changes, but managerial changes.

Wally World IS the evil empire… but It’s the only store left in my small town so… oh well

Why is it that Wal-Mart employees are always happy/ proud to work at Wal-Mart but people like screwed (who get their information about the company from this site) hate it so much?

I’ve worked for Wal-Mart for several years now, and I must say that it’s been a great experience for the most part (make $11.25/hr + 3 weeks vacation). Things never run 100% perfect, but that’s every job. The store I work at is great and our manager really is a nice guy.

However, now I’m really getting scared that I may lose my job or benefits due to the constant spreading of fear and hate-mongering by Wal-Mart Watch and the underlying unions. This media campaign against Wal-Mart is really hurting sales and morale among associates. I urge Wal-Mart Watch to tone down it’s hostility towards my place of employment, and stop lobbying so hard for the (inevitable) destruction of Wal-Mart jobs. Trust me, you don’t want to work for mom & pop - I’ve been there. The pay is lousy and benefits are non-existent.

Unfortunately I wasn’t as priviliged as Wal-Mart Watch employees who, I am sure, attended fancy universities to learn their trade. I don’t have any skills besides retail experience, and for that I’m being rewarded fairly well - for now.

I want everyone to think about one thing. Consider how many people Wal-Mart employs. Don’t you think that when you have 1.5 million workers that mistakes will be made? That people won’t get promoted even if they deserve it? Wal-Mart isn’t perfect, and nobody ever claimed they were. It is too bad that some smaller businesses can’t compete, but what’s the alternative - a government-controlled economy?

Of course it would be nice if Wal-Mart would pay more, and give more stuff away for free. But it’s not fair to single them out when everyone else is trying to keep healthcare costs down. At least Wal-Mart offers insurance. Why don’t you people go after that thousands of employers that don’t even offer benefits?

I know you guys probably think that I’m some mindless Wal-Mart drone that spits out corporate propaganda. But when I look at all the industries that are heavily unionized I get scared. The steel industry, the auto industry, the airlines - tens of thousands of people ended up on the street because those companies went bankrupt due to the effect of unrealistic union demands. Now unions aren’t all bad. We have a lot to thank them. But there needs to be a healthy balance.

So please, stop pushing Wal-Mart in the same direction you pushed GM, Ford, etc. It’s good work, good pay, and good benefits...at least for me and the majority of Wal-Mart associates. If you don’t believe it, go get a job there.

Thanks.

I guess when Lee Scott decides to clean up his act and conduct business in a reponsible manner by not relying on taxpayers by providing insurance to my fellow drones is when Wal-Mart Watch will have done it’s job.

With the “secret memos” now out and now “Lee’s garbage” , I guess Lee Scott and myself will be dealing with Wal-Mart Watch for a long time to come and I will have to learn to deal with being one of “Lee’s slaves”, until I decide that I want to better myself as I like the taxpayers supporting me and my company.

Bye for now, I’ve got to get ready to make Lee some money!

Since we are speaking here about Lee Scott,I will post this before someone brings up his salary, etc.

From the Washington Times....
“The AFL-CIO Sweatshop- The union’s attack on Wal-Mart includes the usual gripes about the so-called wage gap between corporate executives and hourly workers.  But in 2004, United Food and Commercial Workers paid its former president more than $700,000.  Apparently, unions are willing to pay top dollar--with dues from grocery store cashiers--to construct their glass houses.  Speaking of glass houses, the AFL-CIO recently took out a $25 Million loan to spruce up its lavish headquarters across from the White House.  Regrettably, a quarter of the labor federation’s staff won’t be around to enjoy it.  In May, the AFL-CIO announced that it was “defunding” their positions.”

Interesting......

What is the difference between “defunding” and “eliminating” a position other than the spelling of the words???

As a percentage of revenue, who is paid more???  The president of the UFCW or Lee Scott???  Gee, I wonder....

We don’t want Wal*Fart’s crap in Ohio !!!  Take it to China and let them support you, losers!!

Your employees can not afford to buy houses and support our community, so you are taking food from my children.

We will continue to shop at Kroger where they pay a living wage.

Canadians don’t forget when some big giant like Walmart treats people like s*h*i*t, and closes their store for doing something that is legal (joining a union).
Walmart doesn’t need to come to my community.

Walmarts legacy will be the jobs lost to offshoring and the destroying of the North American manufacturing sector.
Walmart has been nothing but a ready made pipeline for cheap, child labor goods. China owes much to the Walmart executives.

I am a proud UNION member of the IBEW.  Wal-mart loves the Bush adm. so much because he is anti-union and funded him withy millions over the last years to stop the unions and The Davis-Becon Act.  One thing is to be said.  WITHOUT THE UNIONS wal-mart WOULD PAY YOU .50 CENTS A DAY, NO BENEFITS, AND WORK UNGODLY HOURS AND SELL THEIR MEXICO, CHINA, UNSKILLED UNION LABOR PRODUCTS AT HIGH PRICES “ WHICH THEY ALREADY DO”!!!
But look at the bright side you maron wal-marter’s :  A LITTLE SECERT TO YOU FROM ME!!! LOOK IN THE FOOD ASILES AND SEE THE BRAND NAMES-------------------> oh crap union made!!!!!!!!!!!!  Look in other parts of the store OMFG at least 30 to 40% is UNION MADE.  So think about that one.  UNION YES WAL-MART NO

Fran in east coast:  good post, I completely agree.

William Shilling-

You sound like you need to have your meds adjusted. You have managed to type a paragraph that is not only idiotic, but plainly false in several places. Clearly you have been brainwashed by the unions into thinking they are the saviors of humanity. They are not. There was a time in place for labor unions. In fact, we owe them a lot for the working conditions that are in effect today. However, the sun has set on their usefulness. The only thing they do now is bring down once great American businesses and lose jobs. Look no farther then Ford and GM for evidence.

Let me tell you what would happen if all businesses hiring unskilled laborers in the U.S. unionized. Every employed unskilled worker out there would then make, say, $15.00/hr. Since there are no nonunion retailers like Wal-Mart to keep prices down, prices would increase drastically to offset the cost. The real income would fall accordingly, likely to rates that are similar to the present. This would increase the burden on the unemployed as well, significantly worsening their situation. Their grocery bills would double. To accomodate this, the state would have to double welfare programs, which means an increase in taxes, which hurts everyone. You should be able to see clearly the problems created, and this is only one aspect of the problem.

I’m not saying that laborers don’t need a voice in Washington. They should have lobbyists just like everyone else. The problem is that the unions interfere too much with the workings of capitalism to avoid disastrous consequences.

Someone in USA.  Bush supporter + wally world employee=$7.50/hr and insurance.  Lets see: $7.50/hr. @ 40 hrs/wk @ 77%(take home pay % - $250.00/ mo. ins.)@ 4 /wks = $674.00/mo. take home.

Me.  $33.56@40@72%(take home % of 77 % - 5% union dues)=$966.532@4/wks=$3866.12. 

Thats 17% more than you make.  Guess I am living better than you.  Oh lets see.  $200,000 home, 2005 Dodge Ram, 2000 RV, 3 ATV’s, and a Harely Davison 2003. 

By the way, my total package before we vote on where our money goes is $60.00/hr. 

I am proud to pay 5% of my gross pay for my UNION. and pay my monthly UNION DUES.  Like to see you try to do heavy industial electrical work..............oh wait you can’t you play with a cash reg. all day.  FYI.....I gave you the benifit of the dought with 40 hours/week.

I was fired because I was 1 hour on overtime. Management asked why and I told them I had no idea why but I was sorry and it will not happen again.  The next day they gave me the open door policy.  The door is open.  They wanted their stuff back but I said F*** you not till I receive my last check.  F*** wal-mart hope they go under and burn ib hell!!

I’m glad not to be working for Wal-Mart, and I’m even gladder (if that is a word) to not be a Republican. When I heard the word that Wal-Mart and founder Sam Walton were aligned with the Republican Party, I knew immediately that Wal-Mart is not a good place to get a job (no matter what job I want, whether it be cashier or customer service).

Looks like Lee Scott may be a Republican, too, but who knows.

William Shilling-

First, some quick corrections:

1) The average hourly associate makes $10.11/hr base. (No this figure does not include salaried managers.) I make $0.06/hr less than that. Not bad for a little over two years working at my first job.

2) Wal-Mart supporters and Bush supporters are not the same thing. Equating the two is just stupid.

3) Insurance isn’t that expensive for me.

4) You might want to recheck your calculations. There is an error, but, since you are SO much smarter than I am, I’m sure you can figure it out.

Second, I should hope that you make more in “heavy industial electrical work” than someone working at Wal-Mart. You are comparing skilled work to unskilled work. In your post, you clearly indicate that you believe anyone can run a cash register while not everyone can do what you do. Your belief is correct. Unfortunately, you seem to be compensating for low self-esteem by bragging about your worldly possessions. You try to make it sound as if that makes you better than I am without realizing what I have and where I’m going in life. Instead, all you are accomplishing is insulting the majority of Wal-Mart workers.

Third, I never said that individuals do not benefit from union pay. Rather, I said the long term effects on the economy and the health of companies with unionized workers are extremely negative. You were so caught up in stroking you ego by talking about what the union has given you that you totally neglected everything I said. I don’t care that you have this or that and make this much money. How does that refute my point?

Someone,
Your one sided approach to unions is sheer ignorance.

Your brainwashing statement is ignorance again.
SIU (Someone in USA) are you saying he was tortured?  Maybe it was political or religious?  SIU try being succent and accurate.

The automotive industry has had problems for years.  Management and Unions deserve 50/50 split but management did not see the writing on the wall.  I am talking about the first Iraq war.  Oil prices are going up!?!  They (management) could not think outside the box. Still producing vehicles that average EPA 20MPG and vehicles the publice did not want: Vans.

Did I mention I am PROUD to be a union member and a conservative.

The unions are still fighting for workers rights. SIU should attempt as one person to attain the rights the union has for it’s workers.  COLAs, Sick Days, Health Benefits to name a few.
I enjoy hearing from people that only criticised but have NO solution!
Unions may not be perfect but they are the best in my opinion.
SIU you have to attack someone personally it really shows your true color! 

Unions adversely affect the economy and the “health” of companies? 

Mr. Shilling was ( I believe) making two points:  One; what Union pay can afford (not so humble but I do not fault him for that) Two:  All items made in USA!

What do you base your arbitrary opinion on?
By giving employees a living wage based on geographic area.
I will not even attempt to address your issue of company health.

Mark-

That’s a very disorganized post you have there. Frankly, I’m confused by parts of it. You seriously did not think I meant literal brainwashing, did you? By “succent,” I presume you mean “succinct”? This part throws me the most:

“What do you base your arbitrary opinion on? By giving employees a living wage based on geographic area. I will not even attempt to address your issue of company health.”

I thought you did address my only detailed comment on company health (Ford/GM). I wouldn’t call my stance arbitrary; vague, at points, yes, but not arbitrary. It was designed to draw out conversation without playing all my cards. And how did you arrive at that comment on living wage based on geographic area? That’s puzzling.

I will have to compliment you on a good eye. I did have a reason for using that particular example. I will not deny that poor managerial decisions has dragged those companies down. However, you would be hard pressed to tell me that the promises to workers negotiated by the unions have not prevented the companies from recovering. They have prevented the companies from cutting costs. As a result, they cannot rebound. While unions are not THE cause of their demise, they are A cause. Still, I confess, that was a red herring of sorts and you called me out on it. Have a cookie.

However, that was only a minor point. I am far less concerned about individual company health than the overall state of the economy, the issue both you and Mr. Shilling have conveniently avoided.

Unions artificially inflate the cost of labor. Any good capitalist will tell you that. Unions mean well. I won’t deny that; but they fail to look at the big picture. I know you and Mr. Shilling are proud union members living a good life as a result. Presumably you are also both skilled workers, so you are part of a small labor pool. Your industries are not so adversely affected by unions as retail is/would be because market forces pull wages up in those sectors. This is not so with unskilled labor. The large number of workers available for these entry level positions bids wages (and benefits) down. Artificially inflating wages in this sector would have devastating consequences as I outlined above and in many other posts. It would seem that I have a good deal of economic theory on my side. Check out an economics textbook (or even wikipedia) if you doubt me. If the subject were not so expansive I would go into more detail. There’s just no short way to explain it. Instead, I have pointed you in the direction of my information. If you have a specific question after having informed yourself, I’ll be happy to entertain it.

This is great seeing people argue the current effects of unions.  I have one question for all the posters who are pro union or pro WalMart, why is it that union membership rates are on a steady decline and the number of WalMart associates are on the rise?

Someone in USA-
Good posts!
I think you are probably wasting your time trying to teach. These people seem to be too simple minded to understand what it is you are saying.  They are only here to bad mouth and argue.  I have been following your posts and they seem very well written and educational.  If only the anti WalMart folks had anything intelligent to say this would be a great site.

Lee Scott and all the Wal Mart bigwigs are Republican. 

It’s a shame that the working people in America are so dumb to fall for Republican lies and support Republican business such as Wal Mart and Home Depot.

Go on just keep digging your hole deeper and deeper everyday with the shovel AKA Wal Mart and Home Depot - provided by the Republicans and sooner or later the lower or middle class will be buried.

I saw Mr. Lee Scott’s comments and mockery of General Motors.  I am a Michigander-Flatlander, now living in Vermont.  I myself worked for EDS (once a subsidiary of GM, Ross Perot’s old company) at several GM Plants in 1980s-1990s.  My father is a GM retiree with 31 years of service.  I have many family and cousins that work in auto industry, GM, Ford, Chrysler.

As in any large organization, be it GM or Walmart, a Union, or even the Federal Government, you got your good hard-working people and you got the “bad eggs” that make a bad name for the rest of the good folks.  Applying the 80/20 rule, maybe 20% of the people make life hard for the other 80% who are trying to do the right thing for there company and family.

I have seen both the good and bad folks in GM, be it the managers, salaried and union.  The division / wedge should not be “labor versus management” as portrayed in our media (or even Democrat versus Republican).  How about the Good Eggs versus the Bad Eggs?  The Honest versus the Corrupt?  The ones who display morals, versus the ones who only talk about morals (before elections, of course).

For all the problems that General Motors and the UAW collectively caused for themselves over the many years, I still buy American-made vehicles, made by General Motors.  Yes, I realize that parts are made in Japan, Mexico, and now in China.  But it is the closest thing we have left these days to “American manufacturing jobs”.

I grew up in a family that had decent (actually very good) health care, because my father worked for Chevrolet.  THANK YOU GENERAL MOTORS!!!  Despite GMs foibles, they did the right thing by providing a livable wage for many people in the U.S.  Why do you think there was the vast migration from South (i.e. like Bentonville, Arkansas) to Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois after WW2?  Because at one time, the auto industry “was” the “economic engine” and center of innovation of the USA.  Where is our “economic engine” in the USA today?  I don’t see as much innovation these days, just “how to make a buck” in the “race to the bottom”.  All I hear about is corrupt politicians who don’t give a damn about the working people in this country!!!

After 9/11, GM offered great discounts on vehicles.  In part, you could say it was “patriotic”, but they also realized they had to sell vehicles in order to pay for promised pensions and health care.  If it was not for GM and other auto companies, Bush’s “Economy is on the march” would be even worse off.  Thank GM, Ford and Chrysler; not Bush’s Axe Cuts.

I have always bought GM vehicles.  My next vehicle will be a General Motors vehicle.  I will shop at a GM dealer in my town.  But I haven’t set foot in the local Wal-Mart for over 2 years.  And I don’t plan on hearing “Welcome to Walmart” any time soon.  How about Welcome to Sears or Target or Walgreens or someplace else?

I hope that more Americans will consider to “Buy American” from companies that have at least tried to pay livable wages and provide health benefits; GM, Ford and Chrysler.  Remember, there is more than just “labor and management”.  There are many salaried folks (engineers, accountants, etc).  There are also many people who work for supplier companies that are dependent upon GM and other auto companies.

Has anyone noticed that auto companies are sending jobs to ... Ontario, Canada?  Because of Canada’s Health Care plan (it is not perfect, but neither is the USA Health Care “non-system").

I don’t want “cheap stuff” from China.  I want “QUALITY” stuff from Americans.  I don’t mind buying stuff from other countries, as long as the people are paid decently (not abused), and the quality is good.  We don’t seem to have many choices today, but if you see something made in America, consider buying it.  You also have to make sure it really is “American-made”, and not just a marketing slogan.

Off my soapbox, have a nice week.

First of all:

Thanks to both Ron in Rutland, Penny in NYC and Mark in Montanna for your posts.  Ron, it’s refreshing to hear someone actually talking from their personal experience rather than seeing idiots like Someone in USA, Strident in MO or Sickofspin come here to “practice their creative writing.”

If you are all newer to this blog, allow me to bring you up to speed on the 3 individuals I’ve mentioned, because they are the most offensive and obnoxious examples of the Pro Wal-Mart apologists you will encounter.

Now in the case of Sickofspin...he’s been around for months...not only on this blog but on at least 2 others as well.  No matter where he posts, his messages have several re-occuring “talking points”:  1) government is bad 2) unions are evil 3) healthcare in NOT a right, but a benefit 4) healthcare in an INDIVIDUAL responsibility 5) Wal-Mart is NOT “morally obligated to do anything it doesn’t want to.  Now you will never have to read another one of his posts if you should encounter one.  On this web log, it got so bad with him that most of his recent posts were removed all together.

Now...as far as Strident in MO and Someone are concerned they are both similar to Sickofspin.  Strident had to modify his posting name recently from Cooper in KCMO, because he, like Sickofspin, had his posts removed.  Why?  Not because they are actually making sense...not because they made a point that nobody was able to refute… not because anyone is trying to stifle honest “debate” or differences of “opinion,” but because these individuals come to a union based and sponsored website and think that it’s “open season.” They think they can say whatever they feel like.  I’d like to go to a Pro Wal-Mart site or to Wal-Mart’s corporate website and see how long I’d get away with bashing them!

Now Strident in MO is too busy “kissing Someone in USA’s ass” to be of much use.  Strident from what I’ve seen parrots much of the rhetoric that Someone and Sicko spew out!  Although we don’t know for sure...I suspect that Strident, like Someone, is very young...say “under 23.” So know what you are “arguing or debating” with if you choose to engage them!

Now for Someone in USA!  He’s become my “favorite” nemesis now that Sicko is gone.  He’s picked up where Sicko has left off.  Ron, Penny and Mark-- you should know that Someone in USA is a college student who is working his way through school by working at Wal-Mart.  This makes him a preeminent authority on just about any topic that is raised here.  I’ve got socks that are almost as old as Someone!

Someone in USA is just into mind games.  He comes here to “debate” because he self-admittedly wants to improve his writing skills.  People like Sicko, Someone, and Strident are all individuals who subscribe to an Ultra Conservative (ie Republican) Anarcho/Capitalist philosophy.  They have more in common with Ayn Rand than Thomas Jefferson.

Our form of government was founded on the notion of the greater public good.  Sicko, Someone, and Strident do NOT believe in this!  For them it’s “every person for themself.” They DO NOT believe their is such a thing as a “moral obligation” for corporations to “do the right thing.” They DO NOT believe that there is such a thing as “too much profit.” They defend corporations like Wal-Mart and Fruit of the Loom.

Let’s talk about Fruit of the Loom for a second, since people are probably tired of Wal-Mart.  Fruit of the Loom and its subsidiary, Pro Player spent millions of dollars renaming Joe Robbie Stadium so that the corporate elite could enjoy the games from their luxury skyboxes, while “doing business” on their cell phones and then writing it all off on their taxes.  Fruit of the Loom first closes most of its U.S. plants (I wonder how many people that put out of work?), then it sends its manufacturing over to places like the Philippines and China to have their underwear made by pre-teens, it closes its U.S headquaters in Chicago and reestablishes in the Cayman, Islands.  No offense to the good people in the Caymens, but the financial institutions there look at embezzlement and tax dodging the same way Jeffrey Dahmer looked at his victims!  Last, but not least...Fruit of the Loom files Chapter 11.  This are the kinds of business models that Someone and Strident and Sicko defend.

The concepts of “common good” or “moral obligation” make as much sense to these “3 Capitalistic Musketeers” as nuclear physics does to my dog!

So...when you encounter people like this...just try as best as you can to IGNORE THEM.  Be forewarned though, they will say you are “running away from them” or “refusing their challenges.” They are all as “scared” as anyone else when they look around and see things falling apart in this country.  They are desperately trying to convince almost everyone else here that THEY are right...but it’s not working!  Ignore them!

Penny in NYC,

Your recent post insinuates that Republicans are liars...???

Remember this, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky...”

Ummm..???

The issues at hand are the current state of affairs in the United States of America.  To try to blame any one individual or any one political party is ignorant.  As many posters on this blog would agree, I think that in order for this land to be a better place, we all need to look at reforming the laws and political hierarchy that exists as we know it.  With that said, I believe that if this is to be accomplished, it should be done in a fair and equitable manner.  Peace…

i read this and i tend to get slightly mixed up in thought… everyone with their opinions and their angles of sight… all of them relevent and worthy of discussion.... so my slant…

wal-mart is an eye sore.

i am not corporate america.

and where is the love?

Doug in Ohio,

Just so you can be aware and post perhaps a more brilliant post, I have contacted Kroger and Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Columbus, Ohio for you....

Sorry to prove you wrong, but the starting wage for a cashier at Kroger is LESS than at the Wal-Mart Supercenter.  Subtract out the union dues at Kroger, and the gap widens....

Why is it that so many of you try to equate non-skilled jobs with skilled jobs???  Why do so many of you try to make us believe that a cashier running a register at Wal-Mart or any other store should be able to afford to buy a house and have great health insurance??  To think like that is ignorant....

Couple things: I commend those who have put forth strong arguements (notice the personal experience of their arguements)...but shouldn’t the goal of all of this discussion be to present solutions?  Maybe even solutions that the average American can take part in?

Michael D in CT...thank you for calling out those who have been debating these issues...but you mention unskilled workers.  You have a good point, but shouldn’t these workers still be able to have health benefits?  The memo sent on October 26th 2005 to upper level employees basically plotted coniving ways to lower Walmart costs while making it appear that workers were improving.  They specifically outlined plans to discourage unhealthy workers and wanted to find ways to discourage associates from staying in the company. 

1 point there...so many defending walmart say that they offer jobs to otherwise unable people.  But look there...THEY DON’T WANT TO.  Walmart wants workers who will stay on for a short amount of time so they don’t have to increase their wages.  They want workers who will not cost a lot in health care benefits; and they want workers who THEY CAN ABUSE.

C’mon people, can’t we at least shop somewhere else?

I just purchased the new movie “Walmart...the high cost of low price” from a independent TV/video shop!
My parents have stopped shopping at Walmart for the past year, and now I will show the movie to other relatives and friends.

By the way...Nice house Lee. Too bad your workers can’t afford a house even a fraction of the size of your mansion.

Alex in Canada

Alex, please let me know when you would like me to point out the “comedy of errors” in this film.  I’ll just start with the hardware store in Ohio. Just so you know, it shut down approximately three months before the Wal-Mart even opened for business.  To me, that establishes the credibility for the whole movie.

Michael D. in Connecticut:

Besides the store in Ohio, could you please point out the rest of the errors?

ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, USA-

I am impressed, that is the longest post I have seen you post, what is even more impressive is that you did not simply repeat what someone else has already said.  I do have to correct you on some issues raised in your post.  I am not that young, and unlike Someone in USA I did not go to college.  To correct you on another matter I am not an ultra conservative, I do however believe in personal accountability, and small government.  I do not like my tax dollars being spent on unnecessary social programs and ridiculous legislation.  My post may sound as if it is pro Wal-Mart, when in fact it is pro business (American Business).  Just because the arguments made here are anti Wal-Mart and not pro people it seems as if I defend just Wal-Mart.  A prime example of the same anti Wal-Mart rhetoric came from your new buddy Ron in Rutland, VT.

“But I haven’t set foot in the local Wal-Mart for over 2 years.  And I don’t plan on hearing “Welcome to Wal-Mart” any time soon.  How about Welcome to Sears or Target or Walgreen’s or someplace else?”

“I hope that more Americans will consider to “Buy American” from companies that have at least tried to pay livable wages and provide health benefits”

If Ron only knew that Wal-Mart stocks a much higher percentage of made in USA goods, he may not be so fond of Target, Sears or whatever other retailer.  Speaking of livable wages I do not hear anybody criticizing Target, Sears, or Kmart for health benefits or wages.  If people did their homework they would be shocked at how poor the benefits and wages are at other retailers.  Then again if that were the case you folks would not be able to focus on one company.  Looking at the big picture would surely lead to extreme mental distress.  I dare someone to challenge my stance on American business, it might lead to productive posts, and we know that is not allowed on Wal-Mart watch.

Another thing I do not understand is your issues with age are you going through your middle age crisis?  Just because you are an old dog that cannot be taught anything new does not mean that those who are younger are stupid.  I suggest you try to defy the old adage and try to learn something new.  I truly think that deep down you might have enough in you to discuss the situation in America you just have to get past the ignorant idea that it is all Wal-Mart fault or even that it is Wal-Mart’s responsibility to fix the issue.  I recognize the problems with Wal-Mart however these problems are with others also.  I have never claimed Wal-Mart of being perfect I have only claimed that they are playing the same game as their competitors.  Don’t hate the player; hate the game, if you want change, change the game not the player.

I would prefer that you not respond to any of my posts!!

For the rest of you readers:

It will be too easy for me not to respond directly to any of Cooper in KCMO’s posts...I’ll just ignore him like I have done with so many others.

His contention that he is “pro business” is EXACTLY the point, and this is why we differ!  The problem isn’t solely with Wal-Mart...I’ve never said that and neither have many others...the problem is BIG BUSINESS and how the leaders in our government are manipulated by these interests!  Wal-Mart, as the largest employer in the land is merely symptomatic of what is wrong with the government in this country.  A few days ago, I pointed to the OBSCENE profits of Exxon ($10.7 billion in the last quarter).  This is just as bad, if not worse than Wal-Mart, because we all pay the price at the gas pump.  As long as people like Cooper want to defend the interests of these types of businesses, you bet...we will never see eye-eye!

i’m not impressed.

It’s true that there’s no such thing as a free lunch in America, and that can be a harsh reality to some people.  Let me address some of the crap I’ve been reading on this site:

WM CEO gets paid more than union president because WM revenues grow faster than union revenues (big surprise!).

Unions increase labor costs that eventually make companies become uncompetitive.  If you want to unionize this country, then get ready to bow down to the commie Chinese because they’ll be your new bosses.  Unions are probably still necessary in highly dangerous industries such as mining for safety purposes.

A few disgruntled employees of a huge corporation do not indicate a “bad” company.

Living wage.  What in the hell is this?  Do I have to pay neighborhood kids a run-rated $20K/year to rake leaves out of my yard?  Do I have to provide them with health insurance, etc.?  People get paid based on supply and demand, not on false dreams.  Employment at will=If you don’t like the wage, then find a new job.  Otherwise, you may want to work multiple jobs to meet the standard of living you desire.

Opportunity cost.  By this, I mean what would WM employees be doing if there were no WM?  Some would find employment elsewhere either better or worse than WM.  Some would find themselves on welfare, further draining the taxpayers funds.  So, who’s worse off here?  A world with or without WM?  Given that WM employees 1.5Million some of which could be draining America’s entitlement funds, provides local governments with much needed revenue, and saves the avg family over $2K/year, I would have to say that we’re better off with WM.

Big Business.  Apparently, big is bad for no other reason than being big.  A company has to take risks with its capital.  If they do well and earn a good return on this capital then to some in this blog see it as a problem.  If you want to share in the wealth then invest in some of the big companies and protect the business environment from wealth-redistributing politicians and socialist groups.  Otherwise, we all lose even the opportunity to succeed.

Walmartwach.com.  What is it?  A group of disgruntled employees?  A left-wing movement against capitalism?  Academics?  What?  All I know is that the info that comes from this site is anything but unbiased.  I read the Academic Cirriculum and it’s a sad document fraught with socialist overtones.  This means there’s a good chance that today’s acadamia will use it.  Walmartwatch.com is a rallying point for angry people who see no way to improve their lives other than complaining.

I suppose if this web log is so useless to you Jim, then we won’t be seeing you make any more posts here will we?  I am constantly amazed at how many people complain how biased or “anti Capitalist” Walmartwatch.com is, yet they continue to come around looking for an “argument.”

Hey Misty in California… I didn’t see anyone here that was trying to “impress” you!  Maybe you wouldn’t be so “slightly mixed up in thought” if you’d stop ingesting those peyote buttons!

hey screwed.. pardon my mochery of cooper in kmco… i’m not trying to start anything with anybody.. i just find this whole website and the people taking part (including myself now) amusing.. i am amused.. and why does everybody seem so angry at one another? by the way SCREWED… i was kinda on your side you know… with me not being a walmart shopper and all but damn.. you’re so chipped off at the shoulder you don’t even recognize support… i send this last message with regret of ever starting a first message with you assholes.

sorry that all of these pro-wal-mart posts,evey managers meeting this year,managers have been asked to post “support for wa-mart”. Come on guys,you know how bad our people are treated,don’t do it!

Sorry...I am a WM manager, and I have never been asked to post on this website.  Your post is BS.

I am a WM manager and a Republican, and I have been asked to post on this website and if you don’t like it call me at my store #2232

(203) 488-4106

I take great exception to the last post.  Just so all of you know, yes, I am a manager, I am a Republican, but I have NOT been asked to post on this site, and I am NOT a manager at store #2232.  Sorry.

I love Walmart.  I shop there all the time.  My children love going to Walmart. 

Walmart accepts food stamps unlike some other retailers like Target. 

My food stamps go a long ways at Walmart.

You see my husband is a store manager at a local Walmart, but thankfully they pay him so little that we can qualify for government asssistance. 

We also get food from the local church that was dontated by Walmart.

All you people who hate walmart, just look at my life. 

I’m doing just fine living in poverty with my husband and kids.  There is nothing wrong with being poor and shopping at Walmart.  Cheap prices combined with low wages makes my life simplier.  We dont make alot of money so we get welfare, but we dont have to pay alot either so the food stamps go further.

Wal Mart Lover
Mary Lou in Whooville, arkansas.

I had the opportunity to speak to a co-worker last week who emigrated to Canada five years ago.
I asked her about the details I had gotten from the Walmart movie.  She confirmed they are true.
Long hours such as 7am to 10pm,six days a week, low low wages (70 dollars Cnd. (about 50 dollars in US) for a months work.
“The boss says that you can leave any time” she said because there are a thousand people who will take your place.
She also commented that the factories have no heat in the winter, no air conditioning in the summer.
How pathetic it is for your 27 million dollar CEO/President to stand on a stage and tell people that Walmart “is doing the right thing”.  Walmart is a poor corporate citizen.  I think that I am going to buy some copies of the movie and donate them to the local libraries. As Lee Scott said in the movie..."We have to get the Walmart story out”
I am only too willing to help.

Oh Mary Lou...Has the Grinch stolen your intelligence, too? 
Anyone knows that any retail store managers make more than enough to support a family.  Some even in the six-figure range.  It’s the assistants and area/dept managers that often struggle in any retail store or businees.  I work for KMart as a store manager and have some insight on this.  I am leaving KM to open a new WM store.  Go back to bed and when you wake up, maybe the Grinch will have returned all your senses.  I for one will take my 85K/yr job and donate to the food pantry for you.

Michael D. What kind of drugs are you doing? You are not sure where you work. I will look on the wire and let everyone know where you work.

Betty-

I don’t see how that’s any of our business. Moreover, divulging such information is not your place.

Whoever impersonated Michael D. is a classless individual, regardless of the accuracy of the store information. Posting your findings would suggest you are equally ignoble.

Betty and all as I said before I am a manager at store #2232.  I am a Republican and a love the war.  It allows my fellow Republicans to make lots of money.

Please call me (203) 488-4106 if you want to discuss this further.

Please ignore the last post.  There is obviously somebody that is attempting to make me sound like an idiot.  You can tell by the last post that it isn’t me, as I can usually form a sentence (minus a few typos)....Betty, whoever you are, I know exactly where I work.  Thanks.

I had another opportunity to chat with my co-worker who emigrated to Canada about five years ago.
Working conditions in China that make the goods for Walmart and other retailers who have followed Walmarts greedy example:

If you work over ten hours, you get two half hour lunches, but no breaks.

If you do need to go to the washroom, you must ask the boss if it is OK, and you have three minutes to be back at your work station.

While the factories have no air conditioning in the summer, or heat in the winter, the office where all the foreign managers and bosses work have heat/air.

Workers often get sick after a few years working because of few health regulations. My co-worker used the leather industry as an example.

These factories are major pollution sources. The government doesn’t require high standards so they don’t scare foreign investment away, and the foreign companies don’t suggest it.

Children as young as ten years old are working in factories if they are tall enough so no one will suspect their age.

So here we have people working for next to nothing in sweatshop conditions, and people in North America living better, but not good.....and the Walmart top brass making millions, and the Waltons owning billions.

Once again one must ask themselves, is a company that supports these kinds of conditions really “doing the right thing”?  I think not.

Yes it is I who is making Michael D. look like a jackass because he is a Republican who loves Wal-Mart and loves wars. Did you know they are building a Wal-Mart in Saudi Arabia. They are hiding Osama bin Laden there so he can be safe. Is it any coincidence that Wal-Mart trained the terrorists that crashed the planes on 9/11. They support terrorism. That is the kind of man Michael D is. He does not deserve to live in this country. He lied and said Wal-Mart is not buying land in turkey because he is a terrorist and should move to China where there are no laws.  Wal-Mart caused 9/11 so that they could start a war in Iraq. Then the Republicans could get rich while China-Mart uses slave labor.

Robert Sampson, Robert Simms, Bill Sampson, Michael D-

You have used so many names I do not know which to address, The name you should use is Gomer Pile.  What the hell is your major malfuntion?  You are in fact the biggest moron that posts on this site.  In fact I believe you are in the running for the biggest moron in this country!!!!!!!!
You need to return to Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia!!!
Maybe you could go to Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and wait for a WalMart for you to suicide bomb!!!!!!!

There is nothing in this post directed to the real Michael D.

I am not suggesting that anyone should attempt suicide or a suicide bombing.

well this really is a name and # for an asshole mgr. for wmt in fact, here’s a few- glen murphy #1 dickhead, buck stone#2 dickhead nan lamperski #1 head honcho(store mgr) that speaks to you like your dirt under her feet! here’sthe number- 1-678-432-2023 store#3201 call them and let them know a change needs to be made!!

Robert Sampson / Robert Simms:

While I’ve had my share of disagreements with Cooper and Michael D, I’m afraid I have to side with Cooper on this one!

Your posts sound a bit “unbalanced” to say the least.  Even for us serious Wal-Mart critics, your posts are a little “out there.” Now take your meds and try to calm down!

You ALL ARE NUTS!

sHMOE in pa-
Thank you for the compliment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have to be a little “nuts” to be successful in life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You hippies and anti-capitalists are amusing.

You seem to believe if walmart were unionized all would be better.  You are incorrect.  Union companies are more inefficient, less profitable and less stable than non-unionized ones.

Unions SUCK THE LIFE out of companies.  I’m going to go kick a puppy to protest your protest of walmart.

LONG LIVE CAPITALISM!

Veritas...the only thing that SUCKS here are people with your mentality!

Where is Teddy Roosevelt and “Fighting Bob” La Follette when you need them?  LONG LIVE PROGRESSIVES!

I am a salaried member of wal-mart and to tell you the truth i was a very strong suporter of wal mart up untill the begining og this year for lots of reasons to numuros to list but ill list some main points
1. managment was told to cut full time hours down to just under part time hours to be able to drop elagability for med. benifits
2. wal mart is not paying the retail norm for hrly associate or managment
3. wal mart is causing single mothers to cut hrs and loos benifits
4 after sam passed away wal mart corprate got greedy period

ect…

and also to let you know i think unions are no longer needed and are just as greedy as wal mart i think both are coming to an end quick

Lot’s of interesting stuff here folks.  I don’t know much about the politics or logistics of Wal-Mart.  All I know is that I can get stuff cheaper there.  My wife and I are both full-time college students, and I have a part-time job entering data.  Rent is kinda high, and school is expensive.  We don’t really want to shop at Wal-Mart: we hate the crowds and the “monopolyishness” of Wal-Mart.  So we have shopped at other stores that would be considered Ma and Pa stores.  But when we do shop there, we end up spending 30 to 50 bucks more compared to Wal-Mart.  That may not seem like much to some of you, but it adds up pretty quick to us.  It’s disheartening because we want to support the “little stores”, but we don’t have the money to.  What’s more important, helping my family financially, or not supporting Wal-Mart.
I’ve come to this sight to look for answers, but I find none.  Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place.  There is no solutions presented here (or maybe I haven’t found them yet).  What is the alternative to shopping at Wal-Mart when they have the lowest price?  All I hear is arguments, no solutions.
On another note, a lot of you have written about Unions and the benefits or the lack thereof.  I know that Unions are made to “protect” the employee.  They are there to look after their members and help them get the wages they deserve.  Well, as far as I know, the average Wal-Mart employee makes more than the average Ma and Pa employee.  They make more than I do entering data.  I thought unions were made to help employees that were entering into careers, not just jobs.  Wal-Mart provides jobs to a lot of people, but careers to few.  I know a few people who have worked at Wal-Mart, but none of them are trying to make it a career.  Same with any job you don’t need a degree or training for (i.e. McDonalds--or any fast food, Data Entry, Waiter, etc.).
If Wal-Mart did allow Unions to work there, what would be the outcome?  This is not a rhetorical question ... I really don’t know the answer.  Would people start making a career out of working at Wal-Mart?  Would there be a lot of demands for higher pay and benefits?  If this is so, and people start getting paid more and getting better benefits, the prices will go up at Wal-Mart. Then what will all the Wal-Mart shoppers do?  More loans would be taken out? More people in debt?  More people on welfare?  I don’t know.  I do know that I would lose money.
At the same time, I don’t think we can necessarily put all the blame on Wal-Mart their problems.  America as a whole is part to blame.  America demands; Fast, convenient, low prices, and no hassle.  Is Wal-Mart just listening to our demands.  If they had Unions, and didn’t outsource anything, prices would be higher, and it wouldn’t be as convenient to go there.
Anyway, I didn’t come here to argue at all, I really just want solutions.  There are some real negative things about Wal-Mart, and I already know those.  I’ve done my homework.  So I don’t want to hear why Wal-Mart sucks, or why it is great.  I just want to know what my alternative is, or what I can do,
Hoping for the best,

Just thought I’d add a few pennies…

I resigned from Wal-Mart’s Homeoffice, just recently, after almost 6 years, to accept a lucrative opportunity in another market.  But, in those 5+ years, I was promoted 3 times, and was awarded raises that increased my base income by 150%.  Please understand, though, I didn’t drink the kool-aid while I was there.  I never participate when there was a “Wal-Mart cheer”.  I didn’t work there for the culture, I worked there because it is the largest company on the planet, and with that size must also come the largest amount of opportunities.  No, I didn’t get into the culture, but I did get some of the most valuable experiences of my life.

While, the culture wasn’t for me, reading was (still is).  From all that I’ve seen and read, I still don’t see how Unions can complain about the pay for most of WM’s hourly jobs.  On average, WM pays as much, or more, than similarly held union jobs.  Please note the word “similarly”.  Don’t be a jerk and compare a Union electrician to a WM cashier…

Nonetheless, the pay, the benefits, the insurance, all of it is inconsequential.  The mostly ignored underlying point is that people, as a group, like to have a point of blame.  The largest collective organizations (Microsoft, Wal-Mart, the US government, etc.) will always be targets (no relation to Target...).  Unlike most of the humans on this tiny planet, I try to keep an open mind.  Unions?  Fine.  Wal-Mart?  Fine.  The government?  Well, not so great, but the best we can do, and at least then, it’s really our faults, since we voted them in…

The only point I don’t really understand is why the Unions are attacking Wal-Mart.  Why, when your membership is on the decline, and has been for quite some time, would you attack a new front, instead of a partial retreat and regroup?  Shouldn’t the issues currently plaguing the unions be dealt with before spreading even thinner?

Unions were once a proud symbol of American freedom.  Over time, that symbolism has been twisted and now more closely resembles a mob family.

And, while I might be moving on, I surely wish Wal-Mart, as well as the unions, the best, as long as that “best” does not come at the expense of the other.

--just some 3rd party observer…

Someone who looks in from the outside:

Thanks for sharing “your few pennies” with the rest of us.

How have you brought anymore clarity or focus to the debate though?  Your story about working in Bentonville was “nice,” but so what?

If you don’t quite “get it” as to why people are upset with Wal-Mart, maybe you should go and get a good history book, and read what was happening at the turn of the century when Teddy Roosevelt was busting trusts.  The only difference between now and then is that today we’re talking about Wal-Mart...back then it was the railroads, lumber companies and oil companies like Standard Oil.  I really believe history is cyclical.  For all of the Pro Wal-Mart braggarts who come here...I’d just like to say that the story isn’t over yet!  There is much more to come.  Wal-Mart is going to eventually implode!  Where is Wal-Mart going to keep getting all of its workers when more and more people find out what that company is really stands for! 

I think your view of government is a little naive if you think “this is the best we can do.” I liked your reference to “kool aid,” though.  Maybe Wal-Mart IS slipping something to all of its workers to keep them “so happy.”

So does all this mean I shouldn’t take the job offer WalMart is about to make me? :)

I’ve met three senior managers form Walmart, and they were smart, humble REAL people. They took the time to listen, relate and reply and changed my view on the whole company. Don’t judge based on media and a few bad apples, unless you meet the people, and really know them- you may post your opinions but state that it’s your opinion instead of sounding like you REALLY know what you’re talking about.

Good luck to you all - with or without WalMart.

I have worked for walmart for 10 years. I have seen the lose of benefits such as 40 hour, working the hoilday and getting the extra 8 bonus for those that have nbeen there for 5 years or more. The company and it’s managers blame the unions but in the 10 year I have been there we have never bhad anyone from a union approach me. the company uses union as a way to take away benefits from the employees. thank goodness we do have union or the threat of them because some of us would be getting less pay. The customer doesn’t realize how they ARE ACTUAL PAYING MORE FOR OUR PRODUCTS BECAUSE WALMART NOW has so much pull with the manufactors that they control what walmart buy the stuff for. Walmart on the average gets 35% profit per item. And now walmart is so greedy they have gotten to to point that no employee can be trusted they are turning their focus from shop lifter to watching the employee. Heck they will not even give a employee a discount on sale items or food because it will cost the company to much money. After all its noe enough to have 5 waltons on the top ten billioniers they need to get their CO there too. Most people work for walmart because they are the only place they can get a job. And walmart knows that so they use it to their avantage. I stay there because I need the extra money and I am retired so its a good place to work if you do not need to money to live on.

mary-

Should I attribute that post to senility? It is difficult to read and, in some places, it makes no sense whatsoever. There is one statement in particular that I’d like you to explain:

“The customer doesn’t realize how they ARE ACTUAL PAYING MORE FOR OUR PRODUCTS BECAUSE WALMART NOW has so much pull with the manufactors that they control what walmart buy the stuff for.”

It is true that Wal-Mart has a strong influence over the prices it pays for the goods it sells. I just want to know how it follows that customers are paying more for our goods. Of course customers pay more for the product than Wal-Mart does. Maybe you think Wal-Mart should sell the goods at cost? I suppose that way the customers aren’t being screwed, right? The purpose of a firm is to make a profit. This isn’t charity. So long as Wal-Mart charges less than other retailers, there is no good reason not to shop there.

This is too funny…

I’ve worked for Wal-Mart for several years now, and I must say that it’s been a great experience for the most part (make $11.25/hr + 3 weeks vacation).

Do you really think that $11.25 is a good pay? LMAO!

OK enough is enough; unions are not responsible for the downfall of GMC and Ford.  As a matter of fact, fck you skab!!

I hope you work at Wal-Mart and after 30 years when I am enjoying my union pension.  Your manager says “Hey! dckless Skabfck, why don’t you pick up the pace!?” As you roll your eyes the store manager calls you to his office, and fires you.  As you walk to your bus stop, wondering how you are going to pay the space rent on your trailer.

Then maybe it will dawn on you; you provide a valuable service to your employer “fair days work for a fair days pay” you are not going to become a millionaire, but you deserve compensation for a life of servitude, a retirement the chance to own your own home, maybe raise a family.  The kind of things your superiors take for granted.
Maybe you don’t think you’re worth it?

You and Wal-Mart truly are, a match made in China.

Okay, let’s be realistic.  Yes, unions are corrupt in the United States, but it’s better that they exist than if they didn’t exist.  Also, if the majority of workers want a union, than they should be able to form one, if they don’t, than that’s their choice.  Also, just to show that I don’t have a personal vendetta against Wal-Mart, I will say that (at least under two of my supervisors) I was treated better than when I worked at Target, which treated me like a piece of crap, had ridiculous rules and expectations, lied about giving me full time hours, and had us working in a hot sweatshop environment (I worked overnight stock).  I than escaped and got a job at Wal-Mart.  I didn’t choose to work at Wal-Mart, it’s all I could get because of circumstances in my life, and I’m sure that most employees there have similar situations.  I have gone on a couple of job interviews since working there (almost two years), but I’m stuck.

I have to go in at night to make any money (stock), I was hired in at $8.50 an hour, and the employees, doing the same job, were hired in at $9.20 an hour only two months later.  I have since moved up to $9.30 and hour, after two raises, which is just ten cents more than what the new people made when they first came in.  For a while I had a crap supervisor that played favorites with people and gave them big raises, while I was being a good, hard working employee, even though I hate the company and began to hate the job/store that I worked at, while this supervisor breathed down my neck and made me work four departments/15 pallets or more a night, treated me about 95% as bad as Target, gave me the standard raise and no merit raise.  This is while people that barely did anything made more than me.  I never did anything to this manager and treated him courteously and he even admitted that I was a hard worker.  He would also break rules routinely, and anyone who utilitzed the “open door policy” was retaliated against/and/or fired.  I’ve seen lots of people fired for ludicrous reasons as well.  This is the kind of crap that you can expect from Wal-Mart.  And don’t give me any of that “no one’s forcing you” crap, circumstances are and I AM TRYING TO GET OUT, but I can’t find anything.  And yes, I do plan on going back to school, but in the meantime, I need a job that I can actually support myself with.  After taxes, and my overpriced worthless insurance, I can’t support myself.  I have to live with my parents right now, and I’m too old to be doing so.

So, let’s recap:  I go in to do work that sucks at 3 in the morning, work harder than other people, not get paid as much as they do, even people that fool around while me and a couple of other people do most of the work, don’t get the merit raise that the company claims that I should receive, my complaints wouldn’t do anything except maybe get me fired, so I can buy overpriced HMO insurance, pay off a couple of bills and be broke, and I’m stuck because I can’t find anything else.  I’m even thinking of getting a second job.  But, what would you expect from a company that treats it’s employees like crap, destroys small business, receives government handouts even though it made 10 billion dollars in profit last year, is decimating the economy, and gets the majority of it’s goods from human rights abusing countries where little kids have to work slave-like sweatshop conditions so people can have even more excessive wealth?  Oh, and don’t give me any of this “capitalism” nonsense because those rules only apply for the little person, not the super rich and corporations.

Unions don’t screw up the system.  Corp greedy ex. do.  Cut o.t., med. ins., pensions, and etc.  Their are good unions in the usa.  ibew, pipefitters, plumbers, seiu, tin knockers, etc. it’s non-union people who are p.o. at the world cause they can’t get the skilled craftmans to do big jobs, have the right tools, and can’t afford a name brand tool like hilti cause they only want you to supply all tools. i am only required to have my hand tools up to and including 14 in wrenches.  my cordless stays home.  power tools stay home.  no theft of power tools like in non-unions.  wal-mart has to pay more above provety level. a multi-greedy-billlion empire with pay caps to associates of what 11 or 12/hr.  csm and managers what 25k/ yr.?? NO FAIR WAGES is all that we ask wal-mart to do and provide ins. even if they don’t want to be union.  whats wrong with that.  pay cashiers 10 to 12, back rooms , stockers 12-14, floor and cart pushers 8-10. and give the ones who wants to be full time 40 and part time 28 to 35. is this wrong or a little fairer.

sammy

When you poor union (people) retire and get your little pension each month, us wal-mart retirees will get our retirement in a lump-sum so we can invest or spend it any way we see fit.  Who knows you could pass on after one check so what was all your dues for.  I didn’t have to pay anything for my retirement.  That lump-sum is not small by any means......WAL-MART WILL NEVER UNIONIZE.....  I have bought a home, car, had health insurance, life ins. and anything else that I wanted and I have never been on public assistance.  I have worked for two companies that (unfortunately) had or was ruled by the union so I know about companies closing because unions asked to much of them.  After 20 years with that union and my pension will only be 50 dollars a month.  Isn’t that pathetic…

Wow, you guys are interesting… First of all, whether unions are good or bad is a long debate that is hard to discuss via blogs. Secondly, I would not complain about Wal-Mart too much if it were not for Wal-Mart employees eating up my tax dollars.

I will be honest with you:  I shopped in Wal-Mart only once in my life. Wal-Mart will never ever place a store in my community (trust me on that) and I feel bad for Wal-Mart employeers who are treated like dirty socks. However, I’d like my state to either stop providing health insurance to Wal-Mart employees or force the company to change its policies towards benefits. Hey guys, I know it is not your fault that the company does not give you enough hours to be eligible for health benefits or does some other stuff that forces you to apply for assistance, but this needs to end now. The way I see it, Wal-Mart uses state money to cover its own holes and this is what I call corporate welfare.

-v

You are ABSOLUTELY correct Big v in Cali!

The Walmart issue is a big one around here. My opinion is that most retail jobs suck as does the pay (unless you are management). Union retail jobs do pay more and the employees have a grievance proceedure to protect them against bad managers. I am a proud Union Member and I avoid shopping at Walmart. 

Many people shop at Walmart because they don’t understand...When they shop at Walmart they are supporting an anti-union company who is actually anti-North American too! Try and find anything made in U.S.A. or Canada at Walmart...good Luck. Most of Walmart product is from overseas. Does this really help the average North-American worker (Union or Not)? Manufacturing sector jobs are being lost all the time due to greedy companies like Walmart moving overseas. I was a victim of this when I worked in manufacturing years ago. I suppose the average Walmart supporter would say “why not go from the factory after you loose your job and work at Walmart for half your wage.” This is their philosophy and mentality. Walmart employees do have a choice to work somewhere else but many are in a “captive workforce” situation. Many have no skills to work any where else, so they stay at Walmart...trapped. I thank God every day I had the opportunity and initiative to learn a trade and join the union because I would hate to have to support my family with Walmart wages. I avoid shopping at Walmart and try to shop sales at stores that sell better quality items that are made in good old U.S.A. or even better for me, Canada. My goal is to try to educate my whole family and all my friends why Walmart is bad until they all change where they shop too.

It is strange that Walmart gets so offended by people speaking the truth that they are anit-union anti-socialist, anti-people, anti-human rights, anti-woman and anti anything but the Walmart organization getting richer.  Hitler would have loved Walmart and the way it is run.

Wow, My first Blog, I have really been out of touch with today. After reading several, several comments from both sides of the story, I feel that both sides don’t have a clue.  The true facts are not here and never will be.  I was brought to this site just to see what is being said about a company that I have worked for a very long time. 
Truth is I suspect that most of the persons expressing their information here are brain washed by one side or the other. 
Free thinking individuals are a dead group.  If you have worked for a union and have a great salary I would say thats great, you deserve what you have gotten and your views will never be with the views of those who have worked for a living and made as you call it a less than living wage.
If these two groups ever got together and agreed then we would no longer be Americans. 
However you miss the true problem and that is that you are pissed at the wrong people.  The associates at Wal*Mart do not chose to have the wages they have and they do not chose to have the health care they have.  But they have choosen to Work for a living and provide for thier families by hard work.  This for all the Pro-Union workers should make you happy since a lot of your complaint s are that they are using your tax dollars, when in reality if these 1 million plus associates chose to stand on a corner and bitch about what could be and then really live off your tax dollars.  You may not be driving those new vehicles and paying a hell of lot more in taxes then we already do. 
Oh by the way go talk to some Coal Miners in PA. if you want to know how quick all that can go away.  I had tons of ex-Union workers work at Wal*Mart in PA just to survive.  Hey guess what they used to make 60/70 Thousand a year just for sweeping up.  And suddenly it all was gone.  Where was the Union then ?  PLEASE DON’T SAY YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. 
So look at their side for just once.
And for all you Pro-Wal*Mart People, take a look in the mirror, May god bless Sam Walton, he has brought a legacy to America and around the World, what he did was the un-thinkable, he took on the system and and the big guys and he Won, He was a true leader and a true Maverick.
Sam is gone, and so is Wal*Mart .
The days of old are gone, Look at the Memo posted on this site tells all.  Wal*Mart is no longer a company it’s a Corporation.  Take a look at the Folks we are hiring at the Home Office, I’m sorry take a look at who Lee is hiring at the Home Office.  We never had a Divisional Vice President that had not spent time growing up with Wal*Mart in the past.  We are hiring PHD’s and that is the new direction.  Take a look, do some good old fashion research of your own.  If you have worked for Wal*Mart awhile you are not stupid, you had a plan.  Take some time and research the people who are driving this train, and I think you will agree they are setting our once great company up for a pit fall. 
Will Wal*Mart Fall, give it up guys it’s not going to happen, you have no idea how that would upset this great country. 
Poor people like you and I have been complaining for years and where does it really get us, more damn taxes.  If this site or blog really wanted to help people, help me try to figure out how to save taxes.  Or if you want to worry about how much Wal*Mart associates are using your taxes, have you really spent any time researching where your taxes really go.  Ask you local congresman that question if you want to end a conversation.
My advice to all that Blog about Wal*Mart and the Union Issue, spend that time e@mailing your local Congressman or Your local State Rep.  Tell them to fix health care for all Americans, Union, Non-Union, Old our Young, Tell them to quit spending our tax dollars on stupid stuff like owl shit, or what every pet project they all have.  Hold them to the fire and fix our country from the top down, Not hate each other from the Bottom up.

Love your Neighbor if he is Union or Non-Union, just hope he works for a living.
If you read this you allready spent to much time on this site and not enough time complaining to the right people.
Thanks for reading.
Clippership38

I have noticed that some of the posts made by those claiming to be Wal-Mart employees sound remarkably like something that could have been written by Wal-Mart executives.

Please re-read the missive from James in Georgia and ask yourself if the details he provides to support his argument are the kind someone in his position might dream up. If it is, then one has to wonder why his job at Wal-Mart is the best he could find. I do not mean to demean the work he, or any other unskilled wage earned, does. Perhaps, like a Buddhist priest, he seeks spiritual advancement through humbling work. Or maybe, in a different nod to the Zen of it all, he doesn’t actually exist.

His letter reminds me of those I believe are prepared by Wal-Mart’s corporate lackeys for presentation at public hearings where the Bentonville Beast is trying to muscle its way past community resistance, often in spite of local ordinances enacted specifically to control such unwanted growth. They are usually “signed” by low-income people such as senior citizens living on Social Security, or financially strapped working-class families with several small children.

The “writers” usually say they are eager to shop at the proposed new Wal-Mart store but, golly, cannot make it to the public hearing because they are “intimidated” by the “affluent snobs” who are putting limitless amounts of moeny into fighting the Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart’s representatives will brandish these outrageous hate-mongering letters at public hearings. They demand respect for the pitiful people who wrote them, presumably while cowering in their homes, fearing mockery from the mouths of all those mean-spirited rich people filling the seats behind them.

In reality, of course, these are people of all classes, races, ages and belief systems who are simply awaiting their turns to tell their elected officials how they feel about Wal-Mart sucking up their community’s individuality, infrastructure, and open spaces—while adding insignificantly to the local tax base in return, and supplying more grist for an immoral Third World Slave Labor mill at the expense of American jobs and market diversity.

Don’t even bother challenging these kinds of bloggers. It only gives Wal-Mart corporate management types something to do to justify their handsome salaries.

No one should shop at Wal-Mart.  All the workers should not show up for work this week.  If Wal-Mart is so terrible, why do the workers keep going back, and why do the shoppers continue to shop there?  Wal-Mart made 10 billion dollars last year, Exxon made 10 billion last quarter.  We should hate Exxon too, they make money.

to someone in the usa
“1) The average hourly associate makes $10.11/hr base. (No this figure does not include salaried managers.) I make $0.06/hr less than that. Not bad for a little over two years working at my first job.”

that figure includeds supervisors who make 18.00 dollars a hour. Take the supervisors out of the number and you have a true picture of somewhere around 8.00 average wage

I smell something funky, and it isn’t Lee’s diaper… Course, that could be all the other crap.

Talk about taking a dump on your employees!

Wal-Mart is Evil

mysticdf in ct-

That’s laughable. I know for a fact that hourly supervisors don’t make that kind of money by virtue of their position. I’d be much happier if they did. Are you sure you were paying attention when I said salaried associates aren’t included?

M.S. in Warrenton, VA-

How did you ever guess? The Wal-Mart war room stays at my apartment and helps me write my posts. The same is true for all of the other Wal-Mart apologists that claim experience with the company. Seriously, if you think that any of my posts sound like they come out of Bentonville, I am truly flattered. Maybe I should demand a transfer to home office…

Mr. G in Alberta, Canada-

“It is strange that Walmart gets so offended by people speaking the truth that they are anit-union anti-socialist, anti-people, anti-human rights, anti-woman and anti anything but the Walmart organization getting richer.  Hitler would have loved Walmart and the way it is run.”

You’d best stop trying to educate your family and work on educating yourself. Idiocy can be quite contagious, you know, especially when you set out to spread it. Think about the claims you are making. You sound ridiculous...someone less generous than I might say, fanatical. You speak no truths, only lies.

To all-

THE STATE DOES NOT SUBSIDIZE WAL-MART THROUGH MEDICAID PROGRAMS. THEY SUBSIDIZE FREELOADERS INTENT TO LIVE OFF THE SYSTEM SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THEIR CABLE TV AND MCDONALD’S. PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.

Dear K in south,
thanks for your reply,
While I do not work retail, my pension is funded @ $5 per hour worked hourly I am also I receive full benefits that cover my whole family with not a penny of out of pocket costs, it is a multi-employer fund meaning that should my company go out of business I would still receive my benefits. I have five years in now in 25 yrs I will be 50 yrs old and can retire.  My monthly retirement income should be around $5,000 in 2030 that wont be an incredible amount of money with inflation.  That money can also be left to a spouse or family member.  The problem with a one time cash out is people will spend it all early, then be left on social services.  I also am enrolled in a 401k plan through my employer.

I just would like to see Wal Mart take some social responsibility, and show some compassion for those who make their success possible.  I don’t care if you join a conventional union, or create a new collaboration with rules that cater to your concerns as Wal Mart employees.  Its not about adding members, or adding due’s, its about quality of life for us all as Americans and people.

People with the will to work, and the tenacity to show up day after day live like they were on welfare. Where is the justice in that?

Sammy:

Try to avoid using terms like Wal-Mart and “social responsibility,” “compassion,” “quality of life,” and “justice” in the same sentence.  These are oxymorons.

Why does everyone hate wal-mart? Look… The lowest prices in town. Find a better price for anything sold at wal-mart, and they will sell it to you at that price. Whats wrong with that?.. and as far as employees go… If it was so bad and harsh… why would they still work there?.. Nobody would work somewhere where they were mistreated.

Hey K in south,
http://www.nupge.ca/news_2005/n21ja05b.htm
Wal Mart will never unionize?  They are already hammering out contracts.

My two cents to this Wally world crap. I live a a small rural town. About ten years ago Wal-Mart moved to the edge of town. Ten years later all that is left of downtown is a drug store and three banks. Myself I have been in the store once. I think it was when they first opened. I couldn’t stand the fake smiles of the employee faces.  I don’t want to hear Welcome to Wal-Mart. Instead I drive 45 to 60 miles to shop at a K-mart or Target. My wife does some shopping for small items at Wally World.  But for anything of value like food , clothing or electronics. I would never buy them at Wal-Mart. Buy the way the rule in my house is. Use my credit card all you want. But if I ever see Wal-Mart of a statement. That is the last time you use it. My wife and two daughters understand it all to well.

One last thing before I get out of here. I work in a Native American Casino. Its a non union job. I make a little over $15.00 a hour. I am not a Native American. I have all the benifits a union member would have.  I pay $80.00 a month for health insurance. $500.00 deductable. Included in that is short term and long term disability. I have a 401 k. I get paid when I take a lunch break.  Yes I forgot we are supposed to smile also. Only we don’t get fired if we don’t. Dealing with the public is hard work in any business. Try it in a business, who business is to make money on your losing.  Ten years ago the the manager of Wally world. Tried to talk our then GM to lowewr starting wages so he could hire help. Our GM refused, in fact he then raised the starting wage. Wally World never shop there. They are anti everything I believe in. They are also anti-gaming. But they love the money the 800 plus casino employees spend in there store.

sammy

I know for a fact we will never unionize in my state and even if some of the associates wanted to.  oh well, we don’t have to belong because it is a right to work state.  I will NEVER pay union dues again.  now don’t go telling me I will be getting my benefits without paying for them, because I know it won’t make a damn bit of difference than what we have now.  except we will have to put up with some big mouth union rep that thinks they know everything but don’t know crap.  I have seen first hand how these stupid unions waste members dues on parties and going on useless trips to different places.  You CANNOT EVER CONVINCE ME WAL-MART ASSOCIATES WILL UNIONIZE........................I don’t care what you found.  It takes the majority of votes to pass and I don’t think that will ever be....

I am sorry you got burned by a union, I realize their are problems with corruption.  What if volunteers formed a bargaining unit and the only costs to you were say $10 a month, which only could be used as a strike fund by you.  When you retire the unused the money could be returned to you.  You don’t have to join the unions that sponsor this website AFL-CIO, UFCW or the SEIU, Teamsters.  I think in Wal-Marts case”Collaboration” an “unconventional alliance of workers dedicated to working with Wal-Mart to improve working conditions”.  You could make it whatever you want; it would be your union.

“You CANNOT EVER CONVINCE ME WAL-MART ASSOCIATES WILL UNIONIZE........................I don’t care what you found.  It takes the majority of votes to pass and I don’t think that will ever be....” quote k in south

Wal Mart could not be unionized company-wide all at once of course, but if you read that article they actually have unionized, the votes are complete 2 whole stores in Quebec Canada(not just tire and lube).  I am sure you have heard about the Jonquiere, Canada store that Wal Mart closed after they were certified, or the Texas maetcutters who were outsourced upon contract ratification.  Wal Marts in Europe are certified and they are working under union contracts. In conclusion, Wal Mart is, and will continue to be unionized until they stop abusing our society.

I have talked to quite a few Department Managers that say they have been told to treat retired military Walmart workers better than other employees.  Since retired military people have military HEALTH CARE BENETIS!

half of you are totally insane. i’m a wal-mart dept. man. for almost 10 years. i don’t vote, don’t believe in all the thievery. the one thing i do agree with is my medical doubled this year and it’s gonna put me in the poorhouse, but then so are my taxes, for every dollar i make my fine gov. whether local or fed. they will take at least half of it. in the town i live they decided to build a 2 million dollar football stadium, why high school kids need that is beyond me but the town made up a tax for $360 each year to pay for it. so if my medical cov. doesn’t take it the gov. will. union, non union, i have my own mouth and can speak for myself and at least i can keep those couple dollars a month.  i live in a fairly poor area and just for the record make 12.50 and hour.

sorry i have to do this, you people need to get a life. i didn’t choose you’re right paths in life, i had my oldest daughter at 17, did graduate high school. i have a decent job at wal-mart and if they don’t keep my money, the gov. takes it. i blame my gov. more, sorry but i do. the med. really hurts but the gov. taking anything that is left makes me furios. and if unions are so great why aren’t you people making $30 an hour making a couple million a year like the pro athletes and actors? that infuriates me. i, like you work just as hard. why do they earn so much more. i think you people should be more concerned about these issues. how can that not bother you?

I have worked for walmart for several years and this past year, they have started making alot of changes in our store. We have alot of new management. I realize now that new management doesn’t mean better. In my point of view our store is going down. There are great people in our store and good people to work with, but the new management is making it difficult to keep those people.  Management is so focused on the bottom line that they forget about the workers and customers that keep them in business on a day to day basis.  The unskilled laborers are the ones that keep the store on its feet not the management. In our store management takes credit for everything good going on in our store and the unskilled workers get the credit for all the bad.  I love my job but our management is running our store in the ground.

Poor worker gettn by-

I think you are mistaken. I know firsthand that it seems that you take the heat for everything that goes wrong, but get none of the credit. As true as it seems, you could not be more wrong. I think it’s more like when the husband has a bad day at work and yells at his wife; the wife gets upset and scolds the child; the child, in frustration, kicks the cat. This transference manifests itself the same way at Wal-Mart. Example:

The district manager reviews payroll numbers and finds that they are too high. She yells at the store manager for allowing this to happen. The store manager, in turn, yells at the salaried assistant over the front for scheduling too many hours. He then goes to the head CSM who writes the schedules and berates him for not cutting hours back more. Angry, the head CSM berates the other CSMs for not getting people off on time and/or letting enough people go home early. Finally, the CSMs get after the cashiers for not timing out in a prompt manner or accumulating overtime.

That’s the way I see it anyway. Obviously, I can’t speak for every store or position, but this is based on my own experience. Still, I think the higher you are on the ladder the more blame you get. One could argue, though, that the low men on the totem pole probably get more blame than they deserve.

Regarding your claims that hourlies don’t enough credit: I think they are justified.

well where do i start. I have worked for the this company for four years now. my position ther is loss prevention, now known as asset protection. we have been waiting for five months now and to our surprise wal-mart is cuting this positon in may. they did say that some stores might have only one person, but thats it. wal-mart as cut over 550 jobs in the last four months, starting from the top and now working its way down. i attended a associate meeting after the kansas city meeting and the co managers were bragging about how wal-mart has created over a thousand new jobs.  later they also stated that assistant managers would get a nice pay increase to keep up with our competion. they got a small increase and got thier gap pay cut. the assistant managers also just found out that thier losing thier jobs soon. most stores have four to eight assistant managers, they will be cut down to only two per store.  so where are theese jobs they created.

I know that is true about the cutting of jobs. Our district manager came in our store this past week and eliminated two positions, and these associates have been doing these jobs for a couple of years. They are expected to start back working on the floor in order to maintain their hours and I don’t think that is fair.

sammy

Those wal-mart stores are in canada.  I know about those stores and some in europe but I’m saying the ones in the south in particular do not need anyone speaking for them.  Why pay dues when you have a mouth to speak for yourself.  you say collective bargaining.  I’m here to tell you it doesn’t work.  Unions, in my opinion, all cause hard feeling between management and associates.  Right now we(my store) have a very good relationship with each other.  If you try hard and work together things will work out.  I have sense enough to know we can’t make money like people in upper management does.  I live in a small town and $12 and hour is higher than any place around here pays in retail.  I know I could go out of town and make more but I don’t like to drive.  You may say that is not as much as a union would help me get.  I would say my great union job only paid $1 above min. wage.  Yes I guess you could say I had a bad experience with the union.  You are young.  I was the same way back then.  I was all the way union but did I get a rude awakening.  All I can say is Live and Learn........

JFYI you might want to read about wages and how they are being eaten up by inflated energy prices, health care, inflation etc.  The Real Income Power of wages has continued to erode.  As a result, when someone states they make $7.50 to $11.00something an hr, they’re earning level is much less than what we may be assuming.
“A Living Wage” allows people to pay their bills, health care, food, shelter etc. and still have enough to invest in their retirement.  This is not the case for many 40 hr a week, hard working Americans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The wage squeeze and higher health care costs
by Sylvia Allegretto and Jared Bernstein

Despite the fact that 2005 marked the fourth year of an economic expansion characterized by strong productivity growth, the inflation-adjusted wages of most workers’ fell last year. The median (or typical) worker’s wage fell by 1.3% (Figure A). The decline was even greater for those at the very bottom end of the wage scale, who saw their real wages fall by 1.9%. Only those at the very top of the wage scale had wage growth that outpaced inflation.”

Interesting article

Jaq-

Thank you for the unnecessary economics lesson. If you were trying to make a point, you failed. Please try again.

I have been working at wal mart for 4 and half years now as Loss Prevention(retail security)I have had to watch employees I have caught stealing food and clothing get fired while, Tom C., a member of the Wal Mart board, was caught stealing at least 50 thousand dollars with 3 other employees.and after he was caught he was allowed to resignwhile the 3 other employees who were under him were fired.I don’t find that very fair at all.The company dosen’t pay a living wage...the benifits aren’t all that great,considering the company made 279 billion dollars last year.Do I think the Union would make things better...well i’m not sure...but I will agree that its the lesser of two evils.I know alot of shady things that i have seen..too many to list here..but trust me Wal Mart is not a family friendly or a community friendly company at all.

First off, it seems the majority of the people on this site have probably seen Greenwald’s cut and paste conversation film, with little research, which makes you ignorant and stupid.
Second, I can 100% gurantee that all of you on this site have at one point shopped at Wal-Mart (actually purchased merchandise), therefore, bottom-line, you have SUPPORTED WAL-MART!!!

I have been with the company for over 7 years, started in HS, worked and paid my way through college (with Wal-Mart Income), and have furthered my career with the company, the company in which none of you, no matter your income, can claim to work for the largest company (not just retailer), largest COMPANY “In the World.”

And for the whole no women managers in Wal-Mart, last I checked, I have worked and visited over 50 Wal-Marts, and have personally met over 50 WOMEN MANAGERS, so I’m sorry if a few of you women didn’t take a stand and work your way to management, because I know it is possible.  Everyone in this world is not cut out to work in management, and if you are personally atacked and told not to be qualified enough, then that is poor judgement on your supervisor.

Bottom line, the pay is good, the benefits are comparable, and regardless of the media, Wal-Mart is not the only company out there that claims to have low pay, how come there is no media on Target’s pay, Food Lion, Harris Teeter and so on.

I challenge you out there who work for these competitors, to interview for a position at Wal-Mart and find out how much you will start out at, I can promise, for most cities, towns, areas, you will start out more than your current retail job.  Afterall, do you honestly think a cashier should get paid 15-20$/hr??? No, because it does not require a college degree, or that much skill.

Challenge me…

ast. mngr in nc. i totally agree with you. we have twice as many female asst. in out store as male. we have had as many female store mangrs. as male, and as a female i have been nothing but encouraged to become an asst. in the past 6 out of 10 years i am with the company. i don’t know where people get their info from. i make $12.50 an hour and as a dept. man. am very happy with my weekends off. i worked hard and got to where i am without anyone holding me back in any way. my only gripe is the rise in my medical this year. nobody takes anything out on me that isn’t my fault and i have complete charge of my dept. i personally get nothing but encouragement from my management.

That’s your store and your management. All stores are not the same. They have the same business plans but they are not implemented the same. Congradulations on your success but you are one of few. Don’t put down our experiences because yours are different. I live in a small town and our store is one of the smaller supercenters and our pay is not that great. I know of people coming in the door making 6.40 an hour. Now tell me how good is that. I am fortunate enough to be making more but what about the others. And as for insurance the only employees fortunate enough to receive good coverage are the full time workers. The part time have starbridge and it’s not worth the pay out.

check this out!!!! I hope he gets some bids. This is great!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5670203179&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESE:IT&rd=1

In responce to Ast. Mgr in NC’s comments dated Wednesday, March 01 at 06:53 PM Home Depot actually starts off thier ASS. managers 10 to 15 grand more a year then wal mart does.And to your comment..and please allow me to “cut and paste” so i don’t miss quote you.."Afterall, do you honestly think a cashier should get paid 15-20$/hr??? No, because it does not require a college degree, or that much skill” first off let me start by saying its painfully obivious that you think your far more impotant then you truely are..in my 4 and a half years working for wal mart I have seen many ASS. managers come and go...but you truly well rise very quickly to the top of the wal mart food chain with that attitude.Need i remind you that a store can run without you..but it can’t run with out us..the floor employees..and the sooner people like you understand that...i think wal mart will be better off.Secondly...I find it hard to believe that you could run a register..deal with a line thats 15-20 people deep every day...and have half of them yelling and screaming at you...because number one..you can;t find a CSM and none of the ASS. managers will answer your page.And in closeing i don’t think you even work at a wal mart...i think your here to just stir up trouble...but if you do work at a wal mart...and think that lowly of your employees....what a sad lonely little man you must be.

Someone in USA:

I think Jaq made the point rather nicely!  Just because you can’t quite grasp it...doesn’t mean the point wasn’t made.  In fact...if you even bothered to go the the website that Jaq included, you would have read:  “"Employers are spending more money on health care, and that’s robbing people of wage increases” (January 12, 2006).” Of course we ALL know this wasn’t referring to Wal-Mart.

i love wal mart. im tired of people bashing them about cheap chinese products. so you would rather spend 80 dollars for name brand jeans at macys that were made in china or $14.97 for the same quality at wallies.. hmm tough choice. i like the money in my pocket. not in tommy stinkfingers. also the groceries are muuuuch cheaper. some as much as half the cost.. and many many items you can get completly free just by using a coupon. so its time to face the facts american made products are far to expensive to produce with all the laber costs. i refuse to shell out 200% more of my money to keep an american manufacturer in buisness when i can get simmaler products for much less.. long live wal-mart

Screwed-

You know exactly what I meant by that post. If not then you are a bigger idiot than I thought and need to read some of my other posts on this site again.

to:ast mgr in NC
you have already failed one of the three basic principles of Wal Mart: “respect for the individual”. If you think cashiers are not skilled, then your college education was wasted. You said you paid for your degree with earned Wal-Mart money. . . did you qualify for grants and aid because of your low income? In which case your degree was supported by tax dollars and not Wal Mart dollars since you didn’t get any of the aid from Wal Mart. You seem rather proud of your degree which is no small accomplishment, however I would suggest you keep your options open since experience means nothing at Wal Mart and your efforts aren’t generally appreciated by the unskilled powers that be.

i only work in a division one store in no mans land U.S.A. we are told our wages are based on area comparison and in this area there is nothing to compare to. i make good money for where i live, but i worked very hard to get it, merit raises each year. and in my store those that complain the loudest about unfair wages are those that move so slow their almost moving backwards. these are the people that call off constantly and when they are actually there all they do is cry they need help and pawn half their work off on other people. wal-mart is what you make it. what you give is what you get. i worked my way to where i am. no, good things do not always happen to good people but if you’re not persistant where will you go.

Dear Asset Protection in MD,

Nice rebutle, but oh little do you know.  I started with walmart when I was sixteen, as a cart/pusher maintenance, then worked on a register for um...at least 5 of my six years in several departments, the front end, electronics(d.05), garden center (D-16,56) sporting goods(D.09), layaway, service desk, you name it.  Also mr. Asset Protection, I have also worked in your shoes, as an APA (formerly ISLP-In-Store Loss Prevention), so I’ve never worked for Wal-Mart, oh little do you know.

I am living proof that you can start at the bottom from an hourly-associate and move into managment if you try.  So for your perception of me thinking that my hourly associates are nothing and don’t need a degree, is truly a mis-conception.  I was just stating that in the latest movie bashing walmart, it has people complaining about walmarts pay. Well, how much do you think you should be paid, have you ever expressed these concerns with the right people?

So let me quote you: “Need i remind you that a store can run without you..but it can’t run with out US..the floor employees..and the sooner people like you understand that...i think wal mart will be better off.”

Ok, US the floor employees (most commonly known as sales associates, if you my friend, work for walmart), I have been one, I have been there with the 15-20 people in line, however mine weren’t kicking and screaming, because I know how to work with people, I know how to handle the situation, maybe you need some advice.

I do not, nor will I ever think of my hourly associates as “pee-on’s” or that they are lower then me, your right, managers don’t make the store, the associates do, and I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN THERE YOU INCOMPITENT ASSHOLE!

and last but not least, last i researched, home depot Assistant Managers or (ASS. mgrs, funny joke by you....i think), were not starting at $40k/yr, or I may be wrong, whatever you want to percieve.

So unless you have some ligit arguements, don’t even waste the energy in your fingers to write back.....

ATTN: imagemaker in PA
Thursday, March 02 at 09:52 AM

I’m sorry that you feel that way.  I actually did not get 1 penny of finnacial aid from the government.  I saved, used loans, not grants, and made my way through college.

And another thing, I know the three basic beliefs, respect for the individual, strive for excellence, and service to our customers, and by far I have more respect for the individual than most I have met, What I meant from the cashier $$/hr was that on the most recent walmart movie, cashiers were complaining that they werent making enough money to support themselves, but go to any other retail competitor and you will not make more money than walmart cashiers.  People, no matter their position, automatically think that just because they work for the largest competitor in the world, that they are going to “start out” making $15+ an hour, that is riddiculous.  When I started 6 years ago, I started at $5.40, and when i was last an hourly, I was only making $11.43/hr, after 6 YEARS.  So don’t feed me the crap…

and if it is any concern to the rest of you, I totally disagree about the health benefits myself, lets all take a stand and do something about it instead of posting it on a blog.

LU LU I make 33 / hr because I am a skilled and trained union electrician. I have the knowledge to work on low and high voltage up to 15kv. I am paid for my mech. abilty and knowledge of high tech electrical components.  Why do you think that the only UNION is the strongest in every cornor of the USA and Canada is the IBEW.  We are strong and have a good BROTHERHOOD!!!!!  Do you think non-union electricians can do as much as the IBEW?  HELL NO!!!
Look at power co.  UNION!!!!!!!!!!!!By the way:  my pension is now 34k in my fund.  That’s 6 yrs since I’ve been in the IBEW.  I’m 34 29 more yrs est. 750k in the fund and I elected to take 60% per month and I die it all goes to my wife plus my IO pension which is 30 per yr of service so est.
1050 a month.  NOT BAD!!! Cause ss will not be there when I retire.  GOD BLESS THE IBEW AND ALL UNIONS !!!!!!!!!

ast. mgr in NC as i said before,you will make a fine DM someday.And with your razor sharp wit...i can see why you are no longer an APA...you don’t have the dispostion for it.And yes no matter what you say or how you say it you do have a low opinion of your employees...you can try to change what you said but the fact remains you said it."Afterall, do you honestly think a cashier should get paid 15-20$/hr??? No, because it does not require a college degree, or that much skill”.To me....and i’m sure a few other people on here that really dosen’t sound like a nice thing to say..Your the reason that one day..be it good or bad, that the union will be part of wal mart.You really need to check your attitude at the door sir,your no better then anyone in your store,and yeah trust me i work for wally world.And maybe Home depot diddn’t offer you that that rate..but again they pay more the Wal mart to start....and the ass.manager thing wasn’t a joke...sorry you felt i was calling you an asshole or something.

“Afterall, do you honestly think a cashier should get paid 15-20$/hr??? No, because it does not require a college degree, or that much skill.”

I’m hourly and I agree with that statement. Most Wal-Mart associates are in unskilled positions. They are paid the going rate for such work. It’s capitalism.

asset in MD:

you are such a dumbass to even to begin to understand where i am coming from.  i dont know what kinda people you work with in MD but obviously it is completely different than down here.  I give nothing but thanks and praise EVERY day to my hourly associates so dont take my words the wrong way, which obviously you just cant seem to understand, and sadly you never will understand, because you fail to really read my last message and see where ive come from. Read Someone in USA’s post after yours, its called capitalism, and that is strictly what i based my opinion on.

So yes, one day I will become a MAPM, and hopefully get to work in your store and meet you one day so that we can talk and understand each others opinions.

And for me not being an APA, I truly planned to continue working in AP, but I was offered a promotion, because that is what you do with this company, you promote, over 76% of WM Mgrs are hired within the company and began as HOURLY associates, like myself. 

So for the rest of you out there, if you work for Wal-Mart, I strongly encourage you, if you want a career with WM, to work hard everyday, and always communicate with your mgt. team, and I PROMISE you will promote one day, but you must, must, try.