The Wal-Mart Mythology is Shattered

And they claim to be looking out first for their cashiers and shelf stockers?  How appalling.

This is corporate eugenics, that’s what this is. They want to eliminate unhealthy employees.

When America learns what Wal-Mart really thinks, their opinion of this company is heading straight for the toilet.

Reader,

Judging from the general social mood of the complaints levied against Walmart it becomes apparent that Walmart’s position in the modern consumer market has become quite scandalous. Perhaps even dangerous (borrowing the concept of corporate tyranny).
The masquerading as a competitor in a free market while manufacturing various technological and economic structures and systems by which to oust competitors and create a form of market and social dependecy from local and regional to international levels, is to proceed in the deliberate and calculated subversion of an unsuspecting (and at times voluntarily ignorant) public. (The willfully blind are sort of like the fellow who goes to the bulletin board at work and refuses to read the postings for fear of discovering facts that might jeopordize his personal comfort and security.)
I recall watching a T.V. program representing Walmart as one of the pioneers of introducing hi-tech scanning and security installations into their public facilities. A type of security and monitoring system that, if it were not for the fact that the very technology was contracted to Walmart as an experimental hi-tech project in reconnaissance technology by the government, would,In fact, under any other circumstances be considered, and still is, a hybrid, hi-tech, commercialized method for systematically violating American citizen’s constitutional rights. From the moment the individual walks into the door to the moment he/she leaves the establishment, that person is monitored by hi-tech equipment including face scanners that store and send information to government information banks. When a check or credit card are presented for a purchase of items the information is instantly collected into a system directly linked to goverment agencies. This same system has been introduced into communist countries (including China - who is suprised?) via Walmart establishments in those countries.
Another illegal practice of Walmart (and I am surprised no one has filed a lawsuit) is the random checking of people’s purchased merchandise at the door(even when the buzzer does not sound). They call it store policy, but this an anti-constitutional policy. It is the same procedure that would be taken with a suspected thief. The worst part is that it is done while the person is still inside the facilities and with a receipt in their hand. Someone could have a real heyday in court with Walmart if they chose to do so.
This type of practice, of course, is a prelude to “big brother” corporate tyranny. By the time this policy becomes brazen and aggressive and even goes to the customer’s house with him/her, the general public will have already grown “accustomed” to having their rights trampled on. The question is quite simple: How many Americans are aware that their rights are being commercialized and politicized away one policy, law and practice at a time? There is a saying among Lawyers: “Those who do not know their rights have NO rights; and those who allow their rights to be trampled on are destined to be slaves!”
Is anyone listening?

Your fellow American,

Dr. Amelio Hinojos

You push carts and shock shelves for a living.  what are you compalining about.  If you want a better job and more money get an education, get a better job. No one is forcing you to work there.  You should only be make a few bucks an hour with your job.  Come on pushing carts can be done by monkeys.  Think about it.  You push carts for a living.  I would be embarrassed.

That’s a great pitch, Travis. You ought to start ghostwriting internal strategy memos for Susan Chambers.

I dont know Travis, from what I have read monkeys have many health issues, that would not bode well for the monkey’s employment future at Wal-Mart.

Well I read the whole “shocking” article and I was shocked. According to the Talking points from the Unions Wal-Mart tells all of its new employees how to sign up for Medicaid. The document not only disputes this claim but also give facts to the contrary. All employees’ full time get health insurance if they want it. They might not be able to get it for there children of spouses if they can’t afford it but who’s fault is that? It seems to me the Nurses Union’s and Healthcare Company’s share the blame on this one.  But if you look at this report it say’s that Wal-Mart’s cost increased 15% a year and they would like to lower that cost, well I worked in a Union shop for 10 years and they were always talking about lowering the healthcare cost also, what is the diff?  And what about eliminating the unhealthy workers in the work place, I wonder if there are any “get fit” or stop smoking campaigns in the work of Union workers? These seem to be the same thing to me!!
One more thing about Dr. Freedom do you shop at Costco, Bestbuy,Fry’s electronics or any other big store like that?  They check receipts also. And how about a casino or your workplace, or another store that you step into. They now monitor the stores with video because people are corrupt and they are thieves, more and more people are stealing and you Dr. Freedom do not turn in a shoplifter when you see them in a store. Why not you ask because it is not your problem you say. Also years ago the law enforcement agencies told the store owners that they would not come out to take thieves into custody and why not? It was a waste of there time, the police have better things to do. And you can blame that on the Law enforcement unions.

So I suggest all of you do a little soul searching because most Americans see thru this veil of concern for what it really is. Union Propaganda

I moved to Florida to care for my father-in-law, who’s health was failing. I had a good job with good benifits in another state, but I wanted to care for family. So, I moved here and my mistake was to work at Wal~Mart. I took the job only because it was close and during a health emergency, I could be close by to help. I had to take a job as a cashier at half of the wages as I could get at home ( I was VERY over quilified for the job). I was told by Wal~Mart that that is just because no one in Florida gets good wages, “that’s just the way it is here”. I signed up for the better health insurance policy, which was my second mistake. I worked hard, trying to be a good employee as I do with all of my employers. But every time I turned around, Wal~Mart was stabbing me and all of it’s employees in the back! I soon learned I wasn’t getting Holiday Pay because “you only get holiday pay if you work over time, and over time was forbidden”. After getting my employee discount card, I found out, it isn’t good for a lot of things, like food. Every place I had worked before, always gave the discount on all items, so I was very supprized! During this time, because of standing on my feet 8 hours a day, I started having major pain in my left foot (above and beyond the pain of standing all day). I went to my doctor but when I told him it was work related, he refused to see me because it was Workers’ Compensation.  I went back to Wal~Mart and forced them to fill out the paperwork so I could get proper health care. They took me to a Workers’ Compensation doctor for Wal~Mart employees, who finally put me on restrictions for the length of time I could stand. However, as a cashier, daily, I was not allowed to get off the registers and take the breaks as the doctor perscribed. After a couple of weeks, I went back to the Workers’ Compensation doctor for a check-up. I informed them Wal~Mart was not abiding by the restrictions and they said “All we can do is make recommendations, we can’t force Wal~Mart to give you the time off that you need” In other words, the doctor was only a yes man for Wal~Mart. I went back to Wal~Mart and told them I had to have the time or I would have to quit. Unhappily they gave me another job, answering the phones, where I could sit to work. I am sure they only did this because I had customers writing into the corporate office of Wal~Mart saying how good I was as an employee. While on the phones, I got even more complements from customers and from the employees and managers at the store of how good I was at my jobs. After a few weeks, I was told by Wal~Mart that the Workers’ Compensation doctor said my injury was “pre-existing” (surprize surprize) and since it was not a Workers’ Compensation any more, I was being put on unpaid medical leave. I never have received anything from the doctor in writing, but I understand they don’t have to send out a formal letter for 90 days. I went back to my doctor again, since it was “Not Workers’ Compensation” but he again said he would not risk loosing his licence and sent me to a specialist who also said, it was not worth his time to fight Wal~Mart. I tryed to seek a lawyer, but again I was told, Wal~Mart is too large to fight and almost none of the attornys would take a case against Wal~Mart because they could not afford to fight them in court. I ended up paying $352.00 to the specialist for the one visit (Again because Wal~Mart’s Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance is worthless and still has not paid anything, nor applied it to the deductable.). Also the specialist would not sign my release to go back to work “because I should not have been put on medical leave.” Therefore, I had to quit! Thank goodness, I had some money in the bank to hold me over until I could settle the estate here and move back home. Also, if I want my perscription filled, I have to pay for it in full, even after a year, because Wal~Mart’s perscription card will not give you a discount until you have paid for it for a year first. And that is after the six months you wait to sign-up for the insurance ( I had a waiting period even though I had previous insurance letter, which they said was a day too long between insurance coverages).  And by the way, after finding out the insurance was worthless, I was not allowed to cancel the insurance until the next open enrollment period!
In short, Wal~Mart may be good for the customers’ pocket book, but I would NEVER recommend anyone work for them! I found out the hard way! I also note, my father-in-law died and the time I took off for the funeral was not acceptable to company policy, he was not a “close enough family member”. Yet another stab in back in my opinion!

What a coincidence.  CNN was talking about the memo.  The lawyer said it was legal and that it was not all that different from the policies at CNN.

Steven,

That’s awful, and unfortunately that flavor of worker’s comp runaround is not uncommon in a lot of industries...like meatpacking and helathcare work. ARGH!!

One thing that I noticed in the memo was the mention of moving clinics into stores not as a realty venture, but as part of a more holistic approach to worker healthcare…

Um, in light of your situation, and how common it is, this raises some major red flags for me. Will workers go there for workers comp stuff? Will they be afraid to? Will they be sent there instead of home if they have something contagious that they really should be home recovering from instead of sharing it with everybody? Who knows?

..and sour grapes, yes, everyone talks about lowering healthcare costs. I’m a proud union member of an admittedly rather small barganing unit (were you a member?), and one of the benefits was (gasp!)...solidarity. Collectively we had enough pull in our contract negotiations to keep our healthcare coverage at no cost to us. It’s not great coverage, but it’s there and it doesn’t come out of my paycheck.

i hate to burst anyones bubble, but can someone tell me why a union would be good for walmart employees, from what i’ve seen regarding companys like gm and ford, with the union involved it just drives the prices for products up, and also walmart is not the only company out there that pays little money for a lot of work, as far as your comment david in zack ar, blue cross blue sheild insuracne is not owned by walmart it is its own insurance company , i know i have it here where i work, and no i dont work for walmart, but i bet walamrts is cheaper then where i work and also has better coverage, i know i’ve seen their plan, and by far is better then my current employer, and i work for an insurance company, but i will tell you one thing, i like going into a store that has everything i need in one stop, and is cheaper then places like the gap, or dillards, or even the local grocery store, so to tell all of you, i cant wait for the bigger stores myself, ithink they will be great, and if you dont like the way walmart pays, then find a better job, it doesnt take a real bright person to figure out if you dont make enough at your current job or your unhappy then find another job, its that simple.

“walmart is not the only company out there that pays little money for a lot of work”

“and if you dont like the way walmart pays, then find a better job, it doesnt take a real bright person to figure out if you dont make enough at your current job or your unhappy then find another job, its that simple”

Do you really not see an inherent, systemic problem here?

Della,

If you are unhappy with your dishwasher, do you sit around and complain that nobody will fix it for you or do you make an effort to fix it or get it fixed? I realize that may be a poor example but I am trying to make a point. If you are unhappy with your job, go find another. I look at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (I read 5 papers on Sundays, cover to cover) and I see 8 large pages of classified ads. What that tells me is that there are hundreds of jobs in a crap city like Pittsburgh that are going unfilled. So don’t tell me there are no jobs out there. The problem with people is that they don’t want to work. You have problem with illegal immigration? Well, we are to blame because we refuse to work those jobs, picking strawberries and scrubbing floors. We are too good for that. So we have illegals willing to work like dogs for a few bucks an hour. We have Korean and Chinese immigrants who come legally and work 90-hour weeks, living in near poverty, so they can save their money and get ahead. These people come here and they can’t speak English, they have little money and they don’t understand our culture. They have no safety net. Yet, they come and they work and they very often achieve success. Is it luck? No. It’s called hard work and education. If immigrants with no money, no support group, no language skills and no cultural background can get rich, why can’t native born Americans? We have every advantage over immigrants yet they outperform us, academically and economically.

Here is the answer: Many Americans are lazy and stupid, with a sense of entitlement and no moral values or work ethic. Americans are not frugal; we have the world’s lowest savings rate. We claim to be poor when our basic necessities are luxuries in many areas of the world. Instead of complaining about where you are, make an effort to get where you want to be.

Della

I quote “Collectively we had enough pull in our contract negotiations to keep our healthcare coverage at no cost to us.”

This is amazing, healthcare at no cost to you.  Who do you think is paying for it?  It is being paid by you directly or indirectly.  If your employer is paying for it, it is coming out of costs of doing business, which could be paid to you.  Otherwise, he has to raise his prices and then he loses customers and inevitably, emplyees.  The money has to come from somewhere.

All the union is doing for you is adding in their cost, which you are also paying.

so again someone tell me, why is walmart so bad? i dont have complaint with them at all. in fact i was offered a fulltime position with them, and when my current employer at the time found out offered me a better position with more pay, which i took, but the hiring process was painless and the benefits package was excellent in my opinon, to this day i wish i had taken the walmart offer, in the long run would have been better then my current employer at the time.

Walmart has the right as a company to implement whatever strategy they choose. If they violate the law, they’ll get nailed. If you don’t like their strategy, don’t shop or work there and they will eventually fail as a company. America will decide whether or not Walmart survives in the future. Judging by Walmart’s current success, it appears that more folks in America are willing to overlook Walmart’s shortcomings.

Ok, I’ll admit, I shop at Walmart and at Sam’s club, for one reason, conveniance.  Its a lot more conveniant and gas saving to tootle up to Wally world, get everything I need and go home, rather than go to this store, and get these things, then all the way across town to get these things.  I can go, get gas, grocieries, clothing, even plan out my garden, get things for my car, mycraft supplies all in one trip.  Conveniance, maybe I don’t like all the stories I’ve heard about them, but when other places get as conveniant....I’ll try them.

Steve in Sapulpa, OK

The only reason I took the job with Wal~Mart was because it was close, I could take any job. I too looked at the benifits package and thought it looked good at first glance. But that is all it was, a package that looked good. In fact, they don’t have what most people have been taken for granted for years at other companies. It is a matter of hidden information in the fine print that hides the truth.

I suggest if you think so highley of them, it is only because you have not worked there and experienced it for yourself!

Also, I managed a store when a union was trying to come into the company and we had a lot of good reasons to hate the unions, even to the point of having sugar put in our gas tanks and tires slashed, but I would still say, there is a time and place for everything. The union is exactly what Wal~Mart needs, because they are not doing things to benefit it’s workers or customers, they are only interested in being the biggest company around at everyone’s expence.

If Sam Walton was alive today, he would be ashamed of how the new management treats it’s employees and customers!

If WalMart did not have the corporate strategies it does, 1uality products for low prices and “get everything here”; there would be no WalMart and no job for you.  We as Americans need to take control of our own lives and stop waiting on big government or big business to give us entitlements.  If you wait for the entitlements you should be ashamed and looking in the mirror to see who’s at fault.

By the way Steve In Sapulpa,

I too worked at other places that had Blue Shield Blue Cross insurance, but Wal~Mart has it’s own group coverage which makes all the difference in the world. In essence, they are self insured and only use the name of Blue Shield Blue Cross. It’s like purchasing a franchise of McDonald’s, once you have your own store, you don’t have to participate in all of the company programs. If you don’t beleave me, ask your doctors if there is a difference in insurance companies, even with the same name.

Steve in Ocala,

Please explain to me how a union helps customers and employees?

Customers will pay more for purchases. Wal-Mart saved American consumers AT LEAST $23 billion last year in direct savings. Studies have quantified this and Warren Buffett, America’s greatest investor, claims that the savings is a minimum of $20 billion per year, just off the top of his head. So all this would do would hurt low income people who rely on Wal-Mart for low prices.

Employees may earn more but they will pay out a great amount in union dues. They may lose jobs because Wal-Mart cannot afford to keep so many workers. This will also deny employment to others since Wal-Mart will not expand. So, the workers will pay out the bulk of their wage increase in union dues and possibly lose their jobs. How is this good?

Please answer these questions. Thank you.

Nick in Wheeling,

Do you understand WHY the prices at Wal-Mart are so low?  You don’t get something for nothing.

(1) It is widely known that Wal-Mart bullies low prices from its suppliers.

(2) Wal-Mart’s wages and benefits are crap.  There is no disputing this.

(3) Perhaps most horrifying, the money you spend at Wal-Mart goes, in part, to China.  And that is one of the big reasons this country is in such serious debt to China.  I don’t know the exact figures, but it’s staggering.

Wal-Mart’s low prices are a sham.

I am very tired of your crap & unwanted & illegal telemarketing calls.

I see wal-mart growing and growing.  I see small communities that overgrow their community because Wal-mart has come to their town.  I’m not sure that these towns were ready for such overwhelming growth.  These are rural missouri towns filled with aging mostly white people.  Once the wal-mart is in place there isn’t enough employees living in the community, so all of a sudden there is overwhelming racial developments so that wal-mart can stock there store with employees.  Amazing, immigrants to work in a home town store.  How did they here of this job?  Well, wal-mart moved them into these small rural communities, offered them minimum wage in a town that has nothing to offer except wal-mart.  So now minimum wage won’t take care of this immigrant family, so we just moved welfare families into our community that was taking care of it’s own, now only to take care of more.  Why?  Wal-mart is not a benefit.  If only people would think outside the box or big box that is.

If Wal-Mart is so bad, how come all these people work there?
Is it better to cook fries in McDonalds that to be a cashier at Wal-Mart? Most of these store jobs do not require much education or IQ to get into but they do offer the opportunity to advance up the ladder. What will be the message to the population if the cashier job was highly paid and with great health insurance - do not study or try to improve, get this job and you can survive. These are starting jobs and should be treated as such. People have all the opportunity to advance and it depends on them. One things Wal-Mart does not get enough credit for is the advnacement from withtin. The ladder is endless and if you chooose to stay as a cashier, your benefits will not be very much.

This is a free country and people can work anywhere. If you dont like it, go somewhere else. It is not the perfect place to work, but what place is. This is a private company designed to bring some profit to millions of shareholders. In the pursuit of low prices, profits are low and expenses need to be controlled. If that is not the case people will have to pay more for what they buy today. In many cases families rely on Wal-Mart for their daily needs and cannot afford any higher prices. It is not a matter of going to a competitor, it is a matter of surviving on a minimum wage.

Oil companies today have 10 times the profit of last yeat and yet people accept that as a fact and do not complain. Wal-Mart on the other hand is under constant attack when trying to lower prices to help the very people whose income is now in disarray because they have to pay twice more for gas.

There are many things Wal-Mart needs to improve on, but they need to be presented as facts and understood by the public, rathen that used as propaganda. In a lot of cases Wal-Mart is simple representing what is wrong in corporate America but should not be brought down because of that.

“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do.” - Samuel Huntington

Although this may not be an organized violence to the humanity, it’s more or less a corporate tyranny in a global scale.

I too worked for Wal-Mart.  I found that Wal-Mart does unforuntately think of its profits more than their employees.  I got injured on the job while my CSM and some fellow employees stood by and watched as it happened.  No one offered to help me and then when it came time for me to apply for workers compensation they tried to make it sound like it was all my fault that I was injured.  I had also received that very day a pay increase but when it came time for workers comp to figure what I was to receive while awaiting for my judgment, lo and behold the raise was not to be found in my records.  Then when I did receive the judgment, I had to voluntarily resign with the understanding that I could be rehired at another Wal-Mart.  Well, that is a laugh and others who have and are in this same place know it to be a fact---you won’t be considered for another job at any Wal-Mart.

Nick in Wheeling

In the Wal~Mart I worked at, I know of at least three of us that had the same foot problems (plantar fascitis) due to standing on the hard concrete floor and all of us went to the doctors at our expence. The Wal~Mart insurance, Blue Sheild Blue Cross nor Workers’ Compensation helped. So, we get stuck paying the bills, large ones, alone! If we had a union, we could go to them and say, we all are having this health problem and can you help us solve the problem? A mediator then could go to Wal~Mart and say, what can we do to stop the health problems. Instead, those who are not as lucky to have money in the bank to draw on, have had to go to the government to get the medical help they need. This creates a drain on the government resources and in time gives the government another reason to raise our taxes. Which includes even those who don’t shop at Wal~Mart.
Check it out for yourself, check with your local government offices, see if they have Wal~Mart employees coming to them for help?

As a small business owner, I choose not to shop a Wal-Mart b/c I have always tried to support the “little guy” In these days and times, that has become easier said than done.  Target, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.... they all are responsible for the mom and pop stores of the past.  However, Wal-Mart as an employer has a right to hire part time workers to eliminate health care costs if they choose too.  If the employees don’t like it, find another job.  I don’t agree with the practice and just gives me more reasons not to step inside their doors.  But it is their right to hire how they want to

Johnathan in Twin Cities,

Let me address your points first.

1. Wal-Mart does NOT bully low prices from suppliers. Bullying implies the threat, or usage of, force. Wal-Mart does not force ANY company to deal with it. There are companies lining up to do business with Wal-Mart, despite all the stories and propaganda. Wal-Mart has to turn away vendors because it just doesn’t have the shelf space. If you are a vendor and you want to sell to Wal-Mart, they have certain criteria you have to meet, just like any decent retail operation. They do encourage you to lower your price. They do not take the difference in their profit. Rather, they pass the entire savings on to the consumer. The vendor is not required to deal with Wal-Mart. It is a VOLUNTARY transaction. Yes, you can live without selling to Wal-Mart.  And the poor vendors? Over the last decade, they have seen their profit margains more than double, while Wal-Mart has remained in the 3%-4% range. And are you going to attack GM, which actually came out with a memo to its’ vendors telling them to shift production overseas so that GM could get its’ parts and supplies much cheaper?

Wal-Mart pays “crap” wages and benefits? Compared to what? If you compare it to a worker at GM or a cardiologist, yes, Wal-Mart workers don’t make much money. But what are they really doing? They are stocking shelves and pushing carts. Is such work worth $30 an hour? If the laws of supply and demand came into play and the only way Wal-Mart could get cart pushers was to pay $30 an hour, they would have no choice. But the market has stated that these jobs are worth $9.68 an hour. You don’t have to work in a union shop at GM for 20 years and you don’t have to go through med school and 8 additional years of training to work at Wal-Mart. If you stay at Wal-Mart, work hard and make some effort, you can move up. There are people on this board grossing $36K per year plus very good benefits and they are not even managers. Wal-Mart buyers earn about $50,000 per year, assistant store managers earn about $80,000, store managers earn $100,000-$300,000, and the district and regional people do quite well, too. There are many opportunities to grow and earn at Wal-Mart. But you are not going to walk into ANY retail joint and earn $18 an hour right off the bat.

Since you live in the Twin Cities area, maybe you’ll explain to everyone here how Target pays, on average, about $1.50 per hour less than Wal-Mart and that benefit elgibility with Target is based on geographic location rather than company wide policy. That’s right. Target pays less and offers no benefits (at least not in the Pittsburgh area). K-Mart pays worse. Sears and JC Penney pay worse. Really, just about any retail store in any mall pays worse than Wal-Mart. Most don’t offer any benefits and they work their people less than 30 hours per week. Why aren’t we attacking Abercrombie & Fitch for their poor pay, lack of benefits and sweatshop clothing sold at huge markup in your local mall?

Oh..........Wal-Mart has 1.5 million potential dues paying employees. HA! That is why the UFCW cares so much about Wal-Mart!

You still haven’t addressed my issues. Since I was so kind as to address yours, perhaps you could reciprocate.

Give ‘em enough rope and they will hang themselves without assistance.

Maybe those of us with less than perfect health should shop somewhere else.

http://www.minotdailynews.com/news/story/1025202005_new25news1.asp

(link to story below)

Wal-Mart suspends work

By JILL SCHRAMM, Staff Writer jschramm@ndweb.com

Wal-Mart halted construction on its Supercenter in Minot Monday afternoon, but contractors are back at work today.

Wal-Mart ceased construction on seven stores in North Dakota at noon Monday before informing contractors later in the day that they could resume work.
“We wanted to be sure that the sites were in compliance with all applicable laws,” company spokesman Marty Heires, in Wal-Mart’s Arkansas headquarters, said.

Two illegal aliens reported by law enforcement to be connected to a subcontractor on a Wal-Mart project in Bismarck were arrested a week ago for gross sexual imposition. The two ­ 30-year-old Carlos Martinez and 15-year-old Julio Alvarez ­ were arrested in a Bismarck motel after they were found Oct. 16 with two missing 13-year-old Belcourt girls for whom an Amber Alert had been issued.

Bismarck authorities since have arrested 28 illegal aliens in that city. They are continuing to investigate whether the people worked for the same or multiple contractors. An employer can be fined for knowingly hiring an illegal immigrant.

Wal-Mart had briefly shut down construction on the south Bismarck project with which the first two illegal aliens were connected. That center was one of the seven sites closed down again Monday.

“We did this on our own. We were not asked by any law enforcement or government agency to do so. After a review of the sites, we have reopened four of them,” Heires said Monday evening.

Contractors at sites in Minot, Williston, Grand Forks and north Bismarck are back on the job today. A Supercenter/Sam’s Club under construction in south Bismarck is among sites still shut down.

Heires said Wal-Mart hasn’t terminated any contracts with construction companies. He said contractors are required to follow state and federal laws and ensure that their subcontractors also meet those standards.

i have a few friends that work at walmart, and i know its not about the people or there familys. its about profit, i know a few friends that get a 40 hour week wage, and were hired knowing they would probably be there more that 50, thats not icluding the little saturday moring meetings that do nothing for the moral of a over worked burntout employee.

i know a guy that worked there that was told that he needs to spend more time at work instead of his family. he was going in to work at 7:30 and leaving around 6:30ish and getting paid for 40 hours a week! so yeah walmart is a big fucker!

oOps, forgot to say ?  i live in bentonville!

I am really surprised by all this “take personal responsibility” crap, how do you do that in a system where your options are limited by monolithic corporations that practically write the law (check out how much WMT has contributed to the Delay Defense Fund). The individual has absolutely no power, post-election that is. It is pretty ironic that most of these “personal responsibility” right winger hyprocites work for these monstrosities and have no ability to discren the facts that they are being manipulated on all ends, media, religion, etc. I have seen this in person and it scares me, I see echoes of Nazism (Goebels, etc.) in the current administration and Wal-Mart both. Wal-Mart does not tolerate dissent either.

I personally feel that Lee Scott and a host of other executives need to be fired for mediocre performance, the only answers to Wall-Street’s ceaseless demands for growth is to “cut costs” and “add more stores”. Wal-Mart is building a house of cards that will collapse without doubt, unless the affect drastic change.

While living in Bentonville, AR for practically all my life. I have seen numerous small businesses be rail-roaded by Wal-Mart and personally know several people who WMT would not make “permanent” giving ludicrous reasons. There is absolutely NO NEED for corporate welfare. Why do I have to finance Wal-Mart’s expansion plans with taxpayer dollars by subsidizing their employees with Medicare/SSI, etc. From its inception, WMT has been run as a cult. WMT’s excuses that they are bringing down prices sound hollow just like Bush’s “Clean Water Act” and “No Child Left Behind”, this administration and past ones eviserating the Union movements just fit well with Wal-Mart’s agenda.

I am not sure what the competitiors can do since we are so addicted to disposable shoes, pens, DVD players that we are willing to overlook how most of our fellow American can barely make it because WMT has forced practically most manufacturing to be moved to China and deals with several companies that are financing the biggest arms buildup in China’s history. By denigrating the US to a “has-been”, the administration and WMT have been traitors to the cause of the American Revolution. I bet if we had a WMT in Boston, we would not have had the Boston Tea Party, we could have sourced tea from Britain at ridiculously low prices, freedom ? it is overrated for the masses.

It is just wrong for a corporation to rake in outrageous profits while allowing us the taxpayers to take care of their employees!  Any money I save at walmart will come out of my pocket anyway in taxes to take care of their working poor.

What has become evident in the whole text of every common citizen’s complaint is the immediate and pressing need for a Worker’s Bill Of Rights for every employee in America. Within those statutes should be a provision that the CEO and/or CFO of any company that hires illegal aliens spend one year in a correctional facility for every alien that they hire. Within those statutes should be a provision that employees that endanger their health by binge drinking on weekends be required to work a 12-hour shift in the local morgue.
Unfortunately, fellow Americans, what you are seeing is the culmination of generations of your predecesors attempting to “get one over on The Man” - and it is backfiring on their decendants.
It is past time for America to accept that a National Health Initiative is past due. It is past time for Americans to accept responsibility for their own health, welfare and governance. No one truly needs the latest, greatest and most expensive of anything. Instant gratification is poverty dancing in a mink coat.
Grow up, kids. We’ll lose the great Nation over sibling rivalry disguised as civil war.

What is this site about?  I don’t work at Wal-mart because it sucks.  I don’t need a web site to tell me that.  Wal-mart is no different than working a Mcdonalds.  ATTENTION YOU STUPID MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:  DON’T WORK THERE.

We live in a CAPITALIST society folks.  That means there is a bottom to the food chain in this country.  Somebody has to be there on the bottom to hold up all the fat cats.  As long as society demands inexpensive durable goods, free enterprise paves the road to make that happen and the ones that do it best will do it on the backs of their employees because personnel costs are second in line right behind the cost of the item being sold.  I’m not saying this is good or bad...just the way it freakin is.

Wal-Mart is a deplorable company. Shame on them.

This isn’t that shocking.  Wal-Mart isn’t the only company looking at drastic ways to cut benefit costs.  I’m sure many, many more companies have similar memos floating around. 

Face it, companies use you to make profit for them, period.  The ones they care about: shareholders.  If you are unhappy with benefits being cut back, I would start with the source which is insurance companies or all the losers who sue everyone for every little bruise.  Until then, we are screwed as a working class society.

With the majority of the clerks at Wal-Marts in my area obese to morbidly obese, I’d be afraid of them pushing carts.  This will turn into a massive weight-discrimination plan for WM.

Bring it down from within,

Are you still in Bentonville?  I am sorry if some of the stores tha you liked have gone out of business, but have you considered that, just maybe, they where not as good at their business?  I have lived here for ten years, and yes, some businesses are gone, but many more have started.  Unemployment here is under 2.5%, and has been as low as 2%.

Everywhere I look, I see people living the American dream...opening reastaraunts, hair salons, auto repair, building and fixing homes, etc.  I agree that the area has changed dramatically, but that is life.  I’m sorry, but you sound like your glass is half empty most of the time, not half full.

everyone is entitled to reliable, affordable health care coverage in this country. you cannot discriminate against someone because of their age, physical health or education in this case. for those of you who thumb your noses at others who “push shopping carts” for a living, i challenge you to walk a mile in their shoes. you cannot presume to know the circumstances of one’s life. also remember that wal-mart stores are located rural areas of this country, where strugglig farmers and their children are forced to find alternative sources of income.

i work for a company that employs 3000+ workers in 3 states and Puerto Rico. our health insurance plan is excellent, but we have just as many challenges. diseases brought on by obesity and smoking are rampant here too. it’s the american way. americans as a whole abuse their health everywhere, and they’re a big reason why health care premiums are sky high all over the place. those of us who maintain heatlhy lifestyles are the ones who pay!

if you want to talk about making positive changes, then require smokers and fast-food junkies to pay higher insurance premiums.

This discussion is interesting.  However, it seems to me that walmart is here to stay in a big way.  People shop there because the price is right and it is convenient- everything in one place—if we want low prices then there is price paid for that by someone somewhere—- if the prices go up because of benefits etc—then people who do not have much because of other low paying jobs—or even the ones working there —will be paying more for necessities and so will have less to spend on health care, rent etc.  So what is the answer to this discussion --

It is the same argument with outsourcing of jobs to India --companys do this so they can keep their costs down—this takes away work from many here—but at the same time if this was not done everyone would be complaining at the rising cost of items and services they are used to getting for less—-

The best solution is to cut down on our frivilous and continual wasteful spending - - help our neighbors when we can —and not demand cheap over all other concerns—however I do not see people doing this—they want cheap easy and convenient—even if it destroys the planet and their neighbors suffer pain because of it.

Did someone say that Sam Walton would not like the way Wal-Mart is run today??? Think again---he was the biggist prick to ever walk this earth. He absolutely forbade any union workers to ever build any of his stores. So his family comes by it naturally.  The name of the game is GREED!

CORPORATE GREED OVER PEOPLE !!!!!
AMERICANS SHOULD UNITE AND TAKE BACK THEIR
COUNTRY THAT IT IS BEEN HIJACKED BY “FASHIST-STYLE”
CORPORATIONS, CORRUPT POLITICIANS (BOTH PARTIES)
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS !!!

LET US ALL WAKE UP !!!  THE TIME IS NOW !!!!!

maryanne murphy in orlando, florida

he was the biggist prick to ever walk this earth. He absolutely forbade any union workers to ever build any of his stores

maryanne thats probably because he knew how the union reps work, on they outside they seem to care about the little guy, but its all about profits for them as well, plus with the union, prices go up for things we buy from that company, therefore why would sam walton contribute to the union by hiring workers that support it, when he was trying to supply the amreican people with low prices for products that we could afford to buy. As far as i can see Sam Walton was one smart man, and so was his developement team, to think of putting a store together that the average person could go to, and get everything he needs in one stop, man no wonder his family is rich, thats how most major companys are, tell me of a company where the ones that founded it are not rich or trying to find ways to cut expenses. there simple is not one company out there better then walmart, im sorry, but i think the walmart haters are childish and need to grow up, and realize this is not a perfect world, and there is no such thing as the perfect job unless you are the person behind the wheel collecting the big bucks for starting the business

as far as the health insurance goes, walmart may have its own group coverage, just as we do where i work, but blue cross blue shield is the administrator of the plan, and they are the ones that under write it, and also pay the claims, and from what i have found out about them, their insurance is not the greatest, and is pricy at that. and any procedures you need done have to get their ok, not the company you work for. you can read any insurance plan, and find out there are limitations to coverage, the funny thing about insurance, any it goes for any type of insurance, they tell you up front what you are covered for, and then take it all away at the end of the contract thru the exclusions in the contract.

you know something i just thought of, i dont see kmart haters, or homedepot haters, or target haters or lowes haters, and these companies are just as big as walmart, look at homedepot, they offer about the same thing walmart offers their workers as well, but i never hear anything bad about them. face it, we have become acustom to shoping at places like these, no matter what their business pratices are, we as a whole cannot control them, thats why there is a dept of labor, to put in to place what a company can do, and can’t do in its practices and they will deal with companies that over step the bondaries. anyways i myself dont care about the companies that run their organizations, they don’t effect in anyway that i can tell, in fact sometimes they improve things around you, like the economy, and as far as i can see the crime was there before they moved in, as well as the welfare people, and i have nothing against someone who needs that kind of help, its the ones that take advantage of it that i dont care for.

The Venetian Hotel hotel in Las Vegas offers employees in-house medical care and free generic prescription drugs!  More workplaces need to be like the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas!  By the way our Super Walmart now is huge with Lowes and Kohls and plenty of land to develop.  Wages are increasing in Warsaw, Indiana also.

I shovel dirt for a living and make 4x what a typical Wal-mart employee makes. UNIONIZE OR DIE!

marriane murphy said “Sam Walton ....was the biggist prick to ever walk this earth. He absolutely forbade any union workers to ever build any of his stores”

Is this not surprising? Union contractors tend to cost a lot more than non-union contractors.  This makes sense.  Who wants greedy lazy thugs involved with buildings a place?

Vince; you mean “unionize and die”

My husband and I are retired employment and labor lawyers, and during our careers represented companies ranging from very small mom n’ pop to Fortune 5 (not 500, not 100 but 5.) We were both laughing hysterically at the memo. All employers want to avoid hiring disabled employees (any one with a disability is per se not “in good health”) because they use a great deal of health care and have medical prolems. It is also unlawful to refuse to hire people because they are disabled – a good policy unless society prefers that those 35 0r 40 million people with disabilities just go off in a corner and quietly starve to death living on the average $800 a month that Social Security Disability pays and with no housing available for 2 out of 3 people and Medicare co-pays of 80%. It is also unlawful to refuse to hire people because they are older than 40. It is unlawful to deliberately change the job duties in order to exclude people with disabilities from being able to do the job.

By the way, employment and labor law is a highly specialized filed that generic lawyers, no matter how high-priced, consistently screw up.

In all our years of practicing employment law, neither of us had ever seen a major corporation so deliberately, openly and unabashedly state that it was going to try to implement policies in order to violate the law. To put it in writing reaches new heights of stupid.

Advising the miscreant company who did such a thing would be simple: shut up; immediately disavow the policies; fire all who suggested it; accept you will lose every age discrimination (references to “coronary disease” and “aging workforce” who they want to replace with college students) and disability discrimination case filed for the next decade; and smile nicely when there is consent decree entered in Federal Court putting all your employment decisions under Court supervision for the next millennium OR ignore this advice, spend 100 times the cost in litigation and still get the same results. So goes the cost of stupidity and greed.

18% of PROFIT in wages and benefits - what a joke.

If every person employed in places like Walmart - retail stores, gas stations, restuarants and other low paying jobs - walked off their jobs tomorrow, the US would shutdown.  Someone has to do those jobs to keep society functioning. If everyone in the US held a Master’s degree in engineering, engineers would be making minimum wage.

I will make you a bet.  I bet that Walmart will survive longer than the union who is trying to defeat them.

By the Way.  What is the point of your last paragraph.  “If every person employed in places like Walmart - retail stores, gas stations, restuarants and other low paying jobs - walked off their jobs tomorrow, the US would shutdown.  Someone has to do those jobs to keep society functioning. If everyone in the US held a Master’s degree in engineering, engineers would be making minimum wage.”

What you say is true.  Likewise, if the world came to an end we would all die, but the statement is pointless.

How do we get a progressive agenda done today?

The answer appears in your wallet. I imagine each of you have studied the union movement. The union movement has brought us the 40 hour work week and the minimum wage. The union movement had focused on the individual employers to get these benefits.

Today corporations have taken over the Republican party and even write the legislation that hurts ordinary people.

We need to form our own ad hoc union and instead of going on a work strike we need to go on a purchasing strike. We need to target some of the major contributors of money to the Republican party as they pull the levers of power and they have the most to lose and they can get the pressure every day instead of the officeholders that only run every 2, 4 and 6 years.

We need to go on strike against Walmart, Wendy’s, Outback Steak House, Dominos Pizza, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Eckerd, CVS and Walgreens, GE and Exxon/Mobil.

We need to call these companies and thell them we have gone on strike against them until they get the RNC to hold a press conference announcing that they will accede to our demands of a TEN dollar an hour minimum wage, an unemployment insurance benefit that will last 1 year instead of 6 months, a real prescription drug benefit under Medicare of 80 percent coverage and no privatization of social security and increasing the social security payroll tax,removing the 88,000 dollar a year FICA taxable income limit, and vote by mail throughout the US with paper ballots and an independent civil service that registers people to vote and counts votes. We need this and more. You make the demands, you go on strike. You have the money and the Republican contributors either do as we want or they go broke under our purchasing strike.

Call to action. Stop the Republican Party.

http://tinyurl.com/8ghl8

http://tinyurl.com/b97vk

Where Republicans tread, innocent people end up dead.

.

Last yr the state took over WMT’s workers comp program in Washington State due to WMT continually refusing to follow the law.

Why all the outrage?  This is merely a memo with SUGGESTIONS from a Wal-Mart executive that is about to be presented to the board.  Wal-Mart has not decided whether any of the suggestions will be implemented.  This outburst seems premature to say the least. 

The suggestions are intended to help solve Wal-Mart’s problem of increasing health care cost.  It is not meant to solve America’s problem.  Wal-Mart is not a charity organization like GM.  It’s a business that needs to get adequate return on capital for the risk it takes. 

I’m really perplexed by how reasonable people can blow this memo out of proportion.

walmart has been good to my family and they always have tryed to take care of matters that where inportant to the people i love.have not seen bad from walmart,only if the bad got caught doing something they were not supposed to like looking the other way or stealing.....any company would release an employee for that kind of behavior.anyway i wish the company my best… jim bell oak habor wa.

Let’s all shop and WalMart and help another Walton heir buy their college degree..... Such a shame that Miss Laurie had to give back her USC diploma......

p.s.  I don’t shop there any more… They expect you to find what you need without any assistance and then check out without speaking to a human.....  I think I’d rather deal with a robot.....

My daughter worked at both WalMart and Target. At WalMart, she never got her breaks or lunches on time, had to “til out” late, and never got the hours she was promised at time of hire. She quit after 1 month of BS, just walked out.  She absolutely hates WalMart from the inside. At Target the wages were the same but at least they were honest and consistent about hours and promotions. She stayed for Target over a year and became section mgr before leaving for a better job.

The union should be in WalMart because at least the union has rules and regulations of what to expect as far a discipline and pay. There are very clear deliniations and expectations. I worked as a Teamster and it paid well according to the negotiated contracts. I had to go into a different field due to health reasons but I would say pay a little to a union and at least get a contract in writing so you can’t get too screwed.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield for WalMart is only the paper pusher for the health plan that WalMart is self-insuring for. Other companies such as Aetna, etc also perform this task. The company says what they will pay for and the rest is non-exisitent. As for Workmans Comp. it varies according to state rules. Some states require a specific dr associated with the WC plan others, the patient can see any dr. By the way if you show up at a hospital with a WC claim, they pretty much will take you and file it as WC.

hmmmmmmm, dont see anyone complaining about Kmart and them checking the bags before you leave.  i have never had that happen at Walmart, only Kmart and they totally acted gestapo....sounds like some people would like to socialize America...thats the unions answer for everything.  they want to make hard working Americans pay for everyone else.  I like Walmart...i can afford their prices.  keep the union out.

Everyone complains about Walmart but we have only ourselves to blame. As long as we continue to shop there nothing is going to change. Let’s face it, there are a lot of unskilled workers out there and that’s what Walmart hires (no offense meant to Walmart employees), unless we start shopping elsewhere they have no incentive to change their tactics. So unless you don’t shop at Walmart you really have no right to complain. I for one WILL NOT SHOP AT ANY WALMART ANYWHERE. I would rather pay higher prices and know that the company actually cares about the people it employs.

Walmart should be ashamed at themselves.  Instead of taking the benefits away from the hard workers, why not look at the huge airport that they own.  They also have a personal airplane for each family member, and board member, in Bentonville. 

Also, if everyone knew how they treat the truck drivers that deliver (to warehouses) every piece of item that you buy.  They underpay, and don’t pay them to unload the trailers.  Yet they will pay their own drivers 3 to 4 times as much just to deliver from the warehouse to the stores.  Yet they don’t have to unload.

It is sad to think that the hard workers that work at Walmart, no matter what they do, they are hard workers, will have problems keeping their budgets due to the fact that they will have to pay for the mistakes that Walmart seem to hide. 

I hate to think that some sick child won’t have coverage because their parents work at WalMart, and can’t pay a doctor to help them. 

Also, I would love to know if I applied with a college degree, have years of expierence if I would be able to get a job there due to my “unhealthy” background.  (Due to surgery’s that I have had).  I wonder if someone with a high physical, sound and healthy background with no expierence and no college degree would be better?  hmmmm,…

I have stopped shopping at Walmart many years ago, and will not step into that store.  I figured on my “fixed” budget I can afford the (approx) $11.00 I would save at Walmart. 

WalMart - Sam is turning over in his grave from this, you should be ashamed at yourselves,… start looking into your high bank accounts and start thinking of the people that work for you that need the benefits,....

Before UNION Rich vs. Poor after UNION middle class america created.  why is that so hard for you to understand?

Those of U who want to raise the min wage..  What are you going to do with the worker who are let go, because business can’t afford to keep their staffing levels or prices that shoot up thur the sky to keep the staffing levels.

Any “Major” non-Mom&Pop;store is going to be worried about what the bottom line is.  We have no “right” to health care… but at the same time, if health care cost were “lower” how many people would seek treatment, instead of just going to ER when ill.

Workers choose to work at Walmart
Shoppers choose to shop at Walmart
Vendors choose to sell to Walmart

Everyone has a choice. No one has an obligation.

Welcome to America.

Having read the whole article, I can’t find what is objectionable. Indeed, it seems like a very reasonable response from Wal Mart to a situation that is confronting all of us.

Some of the ideas are very good. In particular, I think Wal Mart’s strategy of expanding the use of in-store clinics is a great way to improve health care service while managing costs.

Like it or not, we are facing massive disruptions in health care over the next ten years. General Motors will probably be bankrupted by their health care costs. Federal and State budgets will bleed red ink with all the Medicaid costs.  Calling this a “wal mart problem” is worse that wrong: It directs attention away from where we really need it.

I Like to eat cheese!!  Not the Cheese-Whiz or Velveta, but its all about the Gorgonzola baby!!

This is in regards to della schwartz’s “it’s that simple (to go and get another job)” comment.  If you don’t have a master’s degree or atleast a bachelor’s degree then it is not that simple to go out there and get another higher-paying job.  Most jobs out there, for people with little to no college education pay about the same as walmart so how is it really that easy or simple?  Why should people in this country be penalized with low wages just because they did not want to go to college.  Some people just aren’t the college type, they don’t enjoy lots of reading and writing. Some people can’t even afford to go to college, even if they wanted to go.  So how can it really be all that easy?

Here in Tennesse people who work at walmar have shoes, gosh darn, aren’t we smart.  The bossman keeps telling us our reward for working hard is in heaven, gosh can’t wait to get dare, can’t afford a greyhound bus ticket or I would go now and gett my reward.  Shoot, the bossman was telling us if walmar higher more immagrunts they could make more money not paying them in shues.  Just think they don’t know English so custamur service will save money and Wallymart can cut wages to the immagrunts and save us and Burt Reynolds even more money.  Wow, maybe um smarter than most amaircans and I cum work as a ezecetive for walmart.  Tank you

I have read many complaints in the above referenced articles submitted by the many people who have provided input on this travesty.  Finally people are coming to see WalMart as the tyrant that they are.  They move into an area, cut prices below all the Mom and Pop stores, run them out of business thus establishing their monopolistic stranglehold on the community and then they raise their prices.  If any of you ever need an attorney that isn’t afraid to tackle the corporate giants we have a GIANT KILLER here in Montgomery, AL in the Beasley,Allen, Crow,Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. Attorneys at Law.  They tackle the corporate giants all the time and win millions for their clients and themselves.  Here’s the link to their website, http://www.beasleyallen.com/ give WalMart hell America.

Considering this group is headed by the President of the SEIU, I would view your agenda with some suspicion. You stand to gain thousands of dues paying members to fill your coffers and fund your political aims. WalMart is a corporation-they exist to make money. Its not the job of consumers to give employees with low or no education a free ride. If you want better pay and benefits change you job. WalMart isn’t holding you hostage. You are where you are in corporate machine because of your education-time to get some. The SEIU complains about WalMart, but yet they’ll hold up a Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital with all types of shenanigans without the slightest thought. Dues before the dead.......

We’re all social slaves that work at Walmart. Every customer has the ability to scream at us and we have to sit there and take it and if we talk back, we get fired. That make any sense?

Joe

Anyone who doens’t think Wal-Mart forces suppliers into cheaper profits, needs to understand that the consumer generally buys what they see.

Now, you go into Wal-Mart, see Mobil oil, and Castrol.
You buy Castrol, because it’s cheaper than Mobil.

Wal-Mart now goes to Mobil - “You need to lower your prices, so we can sell more Mobil oil.”
OK, Mobil, lowers the prices. 
Viola!  Consumer now buys more Mobile!

Wal-Mart - “Castrol, you need to lower your prices, we need to sell more of your oil!”

HOW could this be bad you say?

Castrol - “Sorry, we can’t.  We’re selling enough now that with the price as it is, we’re making a profit.  It’s not a huge profit, but it’s a profit”

Wal-Mart - “We sell 50% of your annual sales, you will lower your prices, or we will stop carrying your oil”

Exexutives at Castrol - “Crap.  If we don’t lower our prices, Wal-Mart will no longer sell our stuff.  That’s 50% of our income!  We will go bankrupt in a year!” “Guys, we need to sell lower pricing, how can we save money?  AH!! Let’s cut the pay of our 10,000 employees.  Lets layoff and outsource our manufacturing.  That will save us enough money that we can lower our prices by 20 cents a bottle!”

Castrol - “OK Wal Mart, since we need the sales you provide, we will sell to you 20 cents cheaper”

Wal-Mart - “Good”

And we as the consumer are benefiting from this?  Perhaps in the SHORT RUN, but not 10-20-30 years from now.  Our children will not have any jobs worthwhile due to practices like that.

I see everyone across America is getting spun around the axle about Wal-Mart and unions.  Americans don’t really understand or see the real underlying problem.  Wal-Mart or China-Mart I as I prefer to call them is China’s biggest trade partner.  Cheap goods sold at an inflated price to the stupid, fat, ignorant Americans. 
America is heading towards being nothing more than the UK, a service oriented workforce.  We are no longer a manufacturing country, almost everything is out-sourced.  China has more factories and imports more raw materials than we do.
Wake-up morons, your own wealthy pukes are selling your future over seas.  Sam’s children are nothing like their father, they are only out to screw you over anyway they can to increase their stock values.
By the way, does anyone relize that T. Woods is an ex-patriot?(ie. ex-patriot is one that claims residence in another country in order to avoid paying taxes on their income) So, all Tigers winnings are so more meaningful when he doesn’t pay taxes with the rest of us.  Go buy more Nike products and support Woods and his wealth.

when does walmart plan change their colors to RED?

What a perfect example of the inhuman values of corporate America: This memo should be used as an example by educators, physicians, public health practicioners, human rights activists, and anyone who cares for their neighbor, of the true nature of institutions who’s number one goal is profits.

We must unite, stop Walmart, support health care as a civil right.

If we truly believe we have a democracy, our government cannot allow people to die and suffer so that the likes of Walmart execs are allowed to consign our mothers, fathers, cousins, daughters, sons and friends to suffer from lack of health care, while they rake in millions.

Solidarity is our only hope. Stop Walmart.

walmart does not give a shit about their employees.  their open door policy is a crock and is laughable, and has been known to be used against the employee who uses it.  for those who work at a walmart, there may be a reason.  something like this, walmart may have been the only employer to offer a job to that person.  just because a person has qualifications for something else, doesn’t mean that they will get a job in that field, someone like me.  i have been trained to do data entry work, but for a few personal reasons, i was out of work and was applying for work in data entry and also applied at wally world.  wally world was the only one to offer me a job, so i took it because my bills were getting to high and i needed to start paying them off.

Wal-Mart is good only for an extra money type job. If you try to make a career out of working for Wal-Mart you will eventually be screwed. Heaven help you if you are in the situation where you are depending upon them for survival and the health of your family. Wal-Mart jobs would be fine for students or retirees but not for young families trying to make a living wage with health benefits.
Unfortunately, in these economic times, many people have no choice other than working anywhere ( Wal-Mart) they can get a buck.

I love WalMart!  Where else can you buy a toaster for $10.00
at 3 in the morning!

If you don’t like WalMart, don’t shop there.  And stop worrying
about the workers.  If they don’t like their benefits, they can
revolt themselves.  Why does everyone feel that they have
to fight battles which have nothing to do with them.

Go WalMart!

By the way, does anyone relize that T. Woods is an ex-patriot?

I wish you would cite your source. I would be very surprised if Tiger would risk damaging his image by doing something so stupid.

My husband has worked for Wal-Mart for over 15 yrs and yes he works hard but he is not afraid of the work and the benefits aren’t the greatest in the world but i had a mother and brother that both worked at a processing plant and when they both died of cancer while still employed there there was very little life insurance for the families and i feel your job is what you put into it and if you don’t like the benefits then find another job .Im tired of Walmart being the bunt of all of everyones problems if you can’t do or get something right then blame wal-mart just because a well to like man made a life out of his dreams ?DO you think Sam Walton had Good benefits when he started working before he came the owner of Wal-Mart,That is very doubtfull but yet his legacy lives on .The great man is gone but everyone is trying to punish his livelywood of his business,i don’t know why but if you don’t think your benefits are good or the pay is good go to work for the State of Missouri,their benefits are great but they hardley ever get raises .OUr son and son in law and daughter works for the state of MO and every yr they keep getting promises of raises and then they get them kicked out from under them so if you don’t like working for Walmart go to work for your state.

I’ve read almost every response on this page. Like some have said, if you don’t like shopping or working for Wal-Mart, then don’t, plain and simple. I don’t work there nor would I ever but, it’s a job for some that has kept those workers out of the unemployment line. Some were talking about China. Do you realize that more and more companies are moving, or having their produts made in China rather than Mexico because of the labor rates? $2.00 an hr in Mexico vs. .50 an hr in China. Are any of those companies passing their savings on to you?............NO they are not. Start checking where your car tires are made now. Wal-Mart is the business to make money, just like the company you and I work for now. Everyone is losing out on medical insurance, not just the employees of Wal-Mart. In fact I wish I had medical insurance where I work. I know it’s over $600.00 just for myself. If I was in desperate need of a job, I’d even take the Mickey D’s or Wal-Mart. I’m not a loafer. Carry on......

I rarely go to a walmart store due to the fact that they NEVER have enough cashiers to check you out.  I’d much rather spend more somewhere else than to wait in line from 30 minutes to an hour just to save a few pennies on inferior CHINESE goods!  And after reading posts from walmart workers, its no wonder they can’t find enough people willing to accept such low wages and to be screwed over by a company that values PROFIT over anything else. 

Walmart is the Anti-Christ

i don’t think the release of this memo will have universal scope of influence over walmart’s clientele. rather, i think those individuals who are well-positioned to choose to not shop at walmart will be able to decide for themselves whether they want to continue to shop at walmart. but the sad fact is that there are many communities where there are no other options. it’s not that the people can’t afford to shop at a different establishment. it’s that in these communities there ARE no other establishments. even if people in these communities wanted to shop elsewhere, they either wouldn’t know where to go or they wouldn’t be able to get to the other places. at any rate, they’d still have no motivation to do so, since low-prices will trump the effort that would be required to shop at an alternative establishment. that is why the release of this memo shouldn’t worry walmart too terribly. they have a sufficient stronghold over their clientele so as to only risk losing the part of their clientele that already live in a competitive market. in competitive markets, like seattle for example, where we only have one walmart in a 30 mile radius, their losses will be negligible at worst. in lagrange, oregon, where walmart is THE shopping center, their losses will be practically nonexistent. the fact is, there are many more lagrange, oregons than there are seattle, was out there.

walmart is a billion dollar company cashiers start out at 6.00 dollars a hour something just not right

i for one am a cart pusher and am not embarased to say it either it may not pay much, but atleast it pays my bills,and put s food in my kids mouth.where i work is one hell of a place to work,and everyone i work with is great ,So from what i have read for one all of this is b.s and nothing more

that’s the great thing about America, if you don’t like your employer; you can quit.

the on e bright spot i saw in the memo was the “we will try to influence the provision of health care at the state and national level” (paraphrasing) part. Maybe as the babyboomer workforce ages and the cost of providing health benefits for employees by business in this country becomes “unmanageable,” the private corporate sector itself will demand health care reform, and Americans will join the developed world in providing health care to it’s citizenry.
Of course the economy would collapse and America will become tomorrows fallen Rome, but that’s inevitable at some point.

K-MART DOES NOT TREAT THEIR EMPLOYEES LIKE THIS!  YOU ALL MIGHT START THINKING ABOUT GOING THERE TO SHOP.

I think every company considers “limited-risk initiatives” and “bold steps” to try to get down their medical costs, and they have to float trial balloons to see what people think. I saw one leaked from another company and the real one turned out nothing like it. One of the best examples I can think of is John Deere: They decided to start their own HMO. And there own employees were saying they did a good job so much that Deere went in the business where they have an existing employee base. Bring on Wal-Mart health care.... everything else they do is a good deal!

I agree that Wal-Mart, and companies like them, are probably doing more harm to America than good, but who keeps this whole thing going in a downward spiral?

It’s the Republicans that let this fester and explode into what it is today. Yeah, they control the House and the Senate........well do something about this you morons! Anyone on this message board that is bitching about the way things are going today better wise up and vote Democrat in the next election before we are all in the poor house!

Wake up America! Bill Clinton may have gotten a little on the side, but oh how America was booming in his stead! I’m not saying that I agree with his morals, or even everything that he stood for, but the fact is we all (at least most of us) were living high on the hog while he was in office.

Wake up in 2008 and get some Democrats in office to stop this atrocity!

The real concern is not just Wal-Mart, there are many companies that treat their employees just as bad if not worse. I know I worked for Target (which is supposed to be SO much nicer and friendlier).  They seemed great until I was involved in a fork-lift accident (in no way my fault) and crushed discs in my lower back and herniating discs in my neck. The company and their insurance company (company owned) fought tooth and nail to deny treatment even when I had 3 different back specialists that said I had to have surgery.

Big companies like Wal-Mart and Target will continue to run over any individual because they CAN. We let them everyday and we stand by while large companies throw money at our elected government officials for whatever “fund” they create. We turn a blind-eye to our laws being changed and ammendended in favor of big business and one by one our basic constitutional rights are taken from us.

I think one of the main problems is that we have become a society of people with little or no morals or ethics. We no longer care about our neighbors and too bad about the problems they are having while working at Company X because it much too convenient for me and I’m going to continue shopping there.

We have good people that run for office but hardly ever get elected because they don’t have the monetary support of these big companies. If somehow these well-intentioned people do get elected and find themselves in Washington ready to make some changes it does not take too many $100k, $250k, $500k or more contributions to their office before they are deep in the pockets of these same big companies and they will be just another in a long line of officials lining up to screw over the average working person. They’ll do it with a smile on their faces and promises of better days to come and we will re-elect them so they can continue to chisel away at our rights.

The only way any of this will ever change is with much more stringent laws in place concerning PACs and soft money being thrown at our government offices. But what government official is going to vote against their own cash-cow?

Isn’t it nice that Wal-mart is relocating to china? Now you fat americans prices for cheap crap will be even lower because of the cheap pay for the 5 year olds working 17 hour days in China! You people who do not learn from this and do better make me sick! You should be ashamed!

If we wait long enough all the Republicans will be in jail!!!

Wow! Does anyone ever stop to think that if we didn’t have bosses we wouldn’t have jobs? Unless we were the boss. If you want to be the boss, go get that education. Who hates Walmart more than anyone? Owners of competing retail stores! Why? Because they can no longer get rich off our labor! They can no longer charge $50 for a god-damn shirt! Their shirts were made by underpaid laborers too! They just can’t buy them as cheap as Walmart because they can’t buy as many. Do you think the workers at Sears have excellent health care? If you do prove it! Everyone beats up on Walmart but they are in no way worse most other retailers, or most other corporations for that matter. I have a friend who works at Walmart. They pay him $13 an hour for stocking shelves. $13!!! Is that anything to scoff at? I was a union mechanic a few years ago. I made $13 an hour. If you want to get paid the big bucks, get an education! If you don’t take care of yourself, if you don’t want to get an education, if you don’t want to work hard, why should Walmart have to take care of you? Please think about this. Sam Walton didn’t open Walmart so he could take care of America. He did it to take care of his family. And now you blame him for rising health care cost and diminished productivity in the American work force? Now jump on my bandwagon!

I have never worked for Walmart, but I love to shop there!

In response to Ben Hawkins in Kentucky…

For those people who just “don’t enjoy lots of reading and writing,” there are options. They can work at Wal-Mart for $9 an hour...OR they can assert themselves, get student loans, find an employer who offers tuition reimburnsement, attend a trade school, etc. I couldn’t afford college either, but I paid my way with loans, scholarships, part-time jobs - whatever I had to do. Higher-paying jobs require higher levels of education. That’s the reality, jobs pay based on a required level of skill and experience. And I would be damned if I spent years in college and climbed my way up in my career for someone to walk in off the street making the same amount of money for a job that requires no skill. Also, there are plenty of people in this country who start their own businesses and become very succesful without a college degree. They have what’s called “ambition.”

Now, with that said, I’m no fan of Wal-Mart. I’d encourage everyone to shop at Target, where the prices are just as low, stores are cleaner, and employees have some of the best benefits in the industry. Wal-Mart is a publicly-traded company; American consumers will ultimately decide its fate. I voice my opinion by not shopping there.

I don’t see how Wal-Mart can really rid itself of the unhealthy employees since most of the employees who work there probably don’t live healthy lifestyles.  The memo writer is a typical human resources micromanagement idiot trying to find a solution to every “imperfection this little green earth God created” has.  Has anyone ever taken a look at the average Wal-Mart employee?  A co-worker and I went to Wal-Mart one day long ago and one of the greeters had a front tooth, it was sharp, sticking out over her front lip.  She was short and fat, with big round hips the size of a walrus.  So, we came up with a new name for her:  snaggle tooth.  Most of the Wal-Mart employees are uneducated, out of shape, and malnurished.  Their many fatherless babies will turn out the same way.  And lead a life of crime consisting of domestic violence and disturbances, petty larceny, and of course, Grand Theft Auto.  Just like in the famous video game Wal-Mart itself sells.
People:  Wal-Mart is Wal-Mart.  It’s a corporation.  Its only sole interest is in its profit.  Change comes from people who are not concerned with buying some stupid worthless super duper plasma or HD television to watch some overpaid athletes perform on a big screen.  It comes from people united with a common goal:  survival.  It comes from people who believe in community and society, like in Finland or Austria.  People make change when they realize there are benefits to living in a social democracy where the goverment tries to protect jobs, unions, and the rights of workers.  Modern day America is not about survival.  We don’t even discipline our children well enough to ensure that survival.  All we do is send them to college or tell them to join the military.  And there are too many people going to college because that has become a big business.
Firstly, the US government spends more than it takes in.  Just like its citizens.  That’s a big mistake.  It’s the exact same thing Rome did before it finally fell to it northern enemies.  Most Americans don’t even work real jobs that sustain the US economy.  Instead, we allowed those jobs to be shipped overseas to China, India, Malaysia, and Taiwan.  We have also allowed Wal-Mart to put other businesses out of business.  What’s done is done.  And unfortunately, there is no going back.

I just finished reading the memo, and to be quite honest, it made perfect sense to me.  Just because Wal-Mart is a huge corporation doesn’t mean that it’s not impacted by the increasing costs of healthcare in this country.  When left unchecked, it will eventually spiral out of control, and someone will have to take the hit.  Consumer-driven healthcare plans are an excellent idea, one that we’ll be seeing a lot more of.  In fact, I think that the idea of recipient responsibility for keeping costs down should be applied to Medicaid in some form as well.

Granted, the idea of trying to hire “healthier” workers may not be the most politically correct one, but the hiring practices at many smaller businesses are shameful.  I once worked in a place where the owner and managers would stand around laughing at people who applied for jobs, dismissing the idea of hiring anyone who was too fat, too black, too gay, or too old.  It’s not pretty, but neither is the real world.  The people who were applying for those lower-wage jobs are likely the same people who would consider working at Wal-Mart, and I can assure you that they wouldn’t be receiving any sort of benefits at the above-mentioned business.

This is not just an issue concerning lower-wage workers who are lacking education or skills, either.  As a college-educated professional, I’m envious of the benefits that Wal-Mart workers receive.  The people who work at Wal-Mart are extremely lucky in today’s economic conditions.  I don’t receive any benefits at my present job as a librarian, and in order to be employed in my chosen field, I’m forced to work part-time even though I’d rather be working full-time.  My choices are to pick up a second part-time job, or work full-time doing something I’ll never enjoy nearly as much.  In my field locally and in many other parts of the country, nobody is hired full-time anymore (if at all), and you’re lucky to hold onto a part-time job.  I’ve watched as nearly 10 years worth of the most talented, hard-working people have lost their jobs.  Who’s left behind?  With a few exceptions, the oldest, least productive, least capable workers.  Why?  They’re protected by a union, and enjoying all of the benefits.  Meanwhile, a young co-worker (with a master’s degree) who lost her job is now working in retail in order to make ends meet.

Of course, I may just be thinking selfishly here, but my problem is the same problem shared by the schoolchildren whose local libraries have been shut down as a result of the same trend that’s spreading across the country.  Why is all of this happening?  Drastically reduced funding by local governments due to the out of control costs of Medicaid.  There is a larger and larger burden on local governments to pay for Medicaid, and unless it’s stopped, there won’t be money left over for such luxuries as libraries, or even police or firefighters.  Instead of looking at the percentage of Wal-Mart employees on Medicaid, let’s appreciate the fact that a significant percentage of employees at this huge corporation actually HAVE health insurance and are not on Medicaid.  I’d be willing to bet that if they weren’t working at Wal-Mart, they’d be without insurance.  And let’s not forget that in this evil memo, one of their goals was to reduce the number of their workers on Medicaid and increase the number of workers with health insurance, even if it’s for PR purposes.  The real problem here is the Medicaid system in this country, not Wal-Mart.  If they weren’t such a large company under so much public scrutiny, once the costs got out of hand, they’d simply cut their benefits out completely, and everyone would lose out.

As a side note, I’ve never been a big fan of Wal-Mart, and I rarely shop there.  I always try to support local businesses whenever possible.  The only reason I’m writing this is because I feel that this whole anti Wal-Mart thing is being blown entirely out of proportion, especially when compared to the experiences of the majority of workers in the real world.

I work for this company and I know how bad the pay and benefits are. I do not think for a moment that upper management has anyone’s best interest in mind except their own. How else do you explain a decision to cut the hours of senior citizens and a hiring freeze two months before christmas?

Here is something that I can tell you about Wal~Mart and how the Supercenter here in Show Low, AZ #1230 handles its employees. I used to work in the Sporting Goods department of store #1230 and the so-call manager who was in charge of my department did not know anything about sporting goods or any thing that was done in that department. My customers that came to me for their needs knew that I would do anything I could to help them and get them the items they needed. When I came into that department they could not get anything from the Arizona Game and Fish (i.e. hunting and fishing regulations, permit covers, notices, pamplets, etc). I went down to the local AzG&F;office and had a caht with them and guss what? I got all the stuff I wanted and then some. The officers there told that if I needed anything from them just come down to them and they would see what they can do for me. Never did they turn me down for anything I needed for my customers. I would even contact the supervisors at the local K~Mart sporting good department and some of the other sporting goods stores in the area and find out what their customers needed and let them know what my customers needed. We would send our customers to each other and we all made sure our customers were well taken care of. And do you know what that manager did to me when she found out what I was doing for my customers? She called me into the office and wrote me up on violating Wal~Mart policies. One day when one of my customers asked about getting some steel shot for the upcoming duck season she was in the department and I had him ask her about why we did not have the ammo they needed. She told him that she would see about getting some of that type of ammo for him and other hunters. When he left she asked me why did he need steel shot and did not use the other lead shot for his hunt? I informed her that it was a federal law that steel shot was to be used for hunting ducks. She then asked when did this law come about and I told her that it had been a federal law for over 15 years. She then told me she had never heard of a law like that. These are the type of people Wal~Mart have working as managers. If I had more room and time I would tell you of more thaings I know that Wal~Mart has done up here in SHow Low. And now they waht to distory another small town up here in the White Mountains of Arizona and that town is Taylor-Snowflake. When well people decide to make Wal~Mart stop that distruction of rural America? When well our politicains stop taking blood money from Bentonville and do what is the best for America and Americans.

I like Steven in Florida who writes of his mishaps with Wal-Mart because he was “overquilified fof the position.” This was one of ten spelling errors by a typically uneducated person who is making $6 an hour and not attempting to better himself. Why blame Wal-Mart for paying low wages. Apparently they are getting what they pay for!

You all smell of fondu! You fat monkey butts!

I fail to see what Walmartwatch is crowing about - this memo should be made public, and the public would support Walmart.  Let’s see, Walmart wants to: lower health care costs to the employees, assist Walmart employees making better use of the healthcare services available, provide in-store health clinics for the employees, tailor the benefits as an individual Walmart employee desires, and assist Walmart employees to live a more healthy lifestyle - at work and at home.  According to Walmartwatch, all of this is BAD, and the memo “shatters the myth about Wlamart”.  In one instance, it certainly does.  The myth that Walmartwatch is trying to convey is that Walmart is an uncaring company, and the memo disproves it.  Just because a plan is good for the company, it doesn’t have to be bad for the employee, and the memo demonstrates that.

Will you get off the Union dues already?  Why do you rail against Unions so?  Pure capitalism results in the rich taking advantage of the poor.  The Unions in this country created the middle class by making sure people were making an honest wage for an honest day’s work. 

People have a CHOICE to work for a Union and pay Union dues just as they have a choice working anywhere.  At least in a Union environment, there is ACCOUNTABILITY in the actions, words, and deeds of the management of the company.  I have worked in both Union and non Union environments on both sides of the table.  Even though Unions have their good and bad points just like any other organization, I would pick working in a Union environment ANY TIME over a non Union environment.

I personally don’t shop at Walmart because you may be saving pennies, but at the expense of suporting sweat shops, child labor and prisoner abuse in foreign countries.  We do live in a GLOBAL society. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. 

In addition, on the practical side, I have found that once Walmart comes in and destroys the competition, they RAISE their prices.  So much for that.

Lets all work and buy at woodman’s! It’s employe (sp) owned and has a large organic section!

Please consider what will happen when Wal-Mart is successful in reducing health costs to zero for employees (at least the non-management employees).  You as tax payers will be left with the burden of paying for their healthcare.  Of course, you will save a percent or two on your purchases, but your tax bill will go up.  When Wal-Mart had a ‘buy American’ policy, there was a reason to shop Wal-Mart.  What reason do you use now to justify ‘shop Wal-Mart’?

I have been an employee of Walmart for 2 years. I enjoy the work because it offers me the flexibility to do other things, such as begin a career in politics, and take care of my mother, who is Ill. I get 2 weeks paid vacation, in addition to sick time and personal days. We also get holiday pay and stakeholder checks. How many other companies can you say hand each of thier employees a percentage of the profits eahc and every year? I personally do not utilize the healthcare benefits, as i have other insurance, but i have heard it is decent from my co workers. I would suugest to all of you before you judge Wal-mart, you talk to some of the workers down south who Walmart is helping rebuild their lives after Hurricane Katrina. EACH AND EVERYone of the associates that were displaced by the storm has been relocated to a store near where they are staying until their store is reopened. thgey also will have a job if they decide to relocate. How many companies offer that kind of job security? very few.
sincerly,
a proud wal-mart associate.

The only drawback to working under a collective barganing
agreement is you make so much money you think you are
a republican. The anti-union crowd has done a good job
brainwashing people into thinking unions are bad.

I werk hear, and itz conveinent from home. I get to help with the bills at our home. My husband doeznt get ani medical insureance but I due. Im happi to evin have a job in todayz econome. It reely helps to have a discount on the things i by at my store. If i didnt have this job i dont no what we wood due. But i thank all of you that due shop hear. Thanks for shopping hour walmart!

Ah, we have all heard and read about Wal*Mart engaging in gouging lower prices for the consumer by playing ‘hardball’ with the consumer, but they also have another tactic that they use as well. The merchandise sold at Wal*Mart is not bought by Wal*Mart. You are probably wondering how that might be. Wal*Mart actually uses a kind of consignment system. Companies are not paid by Wal*Mart for their products until 90 days AFTER the product is sold at Wal*Mart. In the meantime, Wal*Mart is raking in profits in another fashion, by accruing interest money while it sits in their corporate bank accounts. Sadly as stated previously by others , there are suppliers all to happy with this arrangement. This amost sounds like the tactics that Bill Gates and microsoft were targeted by the gov’t for doing. I am waiting for the day states and feds go after Wal*Mart now. Ironically, Sears, Target, Shopko, and KMart all have to pay upfront, but not Wally World.

I also have friends that work for Wal*Mart, some love it and some hate it. It is alright for them to change your hours when they want to, but heaven forbid you ask to have them changed, they whip out your application, wave it in your face and say tough cookies, take it or leave it, some have left and would never go there again. Unfortunately, because of Wally World in some places of rural america, they are the only ones that carry what you need, having previously driven out small mom and pop operations, as well as competitors unable to compete fairly.

Some states have launched investigations into Wal*Mart for its 40 hour per week no overtime policy where employees work off the clock. Others are starting to suggest taxing “box corporations” that offer jobs at minimum wage, but offer no benefits or low benefits to workers.

Has anyone even noticed that we are not past Halloween yet and Wal*Mart already has its Christmas decorations and other paraphenalia out? Talk about comercializtion.

So, what’s a man to do, damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Maybe the backlash of this suggested policy will get Wal*Mart to reconsider, but lacking a cohesive response by employees and consumers, I doubt it.

What bs, i have worked at walmart for ten years and I recieve great benefits, I am fully vested and I have advanced as quickly as any man in the company.It seems the the crybabys are the lazy workers. I have had some tough times and walmart was there to help me get through them. I have raised two children that my husband walked away from, all thanks to walmarts help.

I shop at Walmart all the time simply because of its prices and range of goods.  I once worked at a Walmart vision center and didn’t think much of the quality of its services, but when I was fired due to my inability (perhaps reluctance) to learn their complex cash-register syste (and I’m a college grad), at least they told me why I was being fired.  Nowadays you don’t have to be told why you’re being fired, so at least I had the privilege of being informed.  Walmart has become what it has become because of economics.  Many, many people like to shop there; those who don’t like Walmart can choose to shop elsewhere, but it’s here to stay.

Donkeys Do It Better, you hit the nail on the head my friend. I for one didn’t agree with much of Clinton’s personal “affairs” but at least he had our country making money and wasn’t like Bush & Cheney who are running around like kids in a candy store raking in millions of dollars both under the table and in many cases right in front of our faces like all these exclusive contracts given to Halliburton (gee surely that’s not the same company that Cheney was the CEO of and still holds more than $10 million in stock options in). Halliburton has been awarded more than 20 billion in contracts so far. I wonder how much Cheney will see of that?

This comment could go on forever, but I will try not to. I have worked both union and non-union and I much prefer UNION. I worked for 17 years in coal mining. We struck for a u.m.w.a. contract, but after the u.m.w.a “sold us out” some of us went back to work. (crossing a picket line.) One of my fellow workers was killed by a sniper. No conviction on that one. But enough of that. I have worked for the last 15 years for my local telephone co-op. We are members of C.W.A. It is my firm belief that if we were non-union, the wages would be $10-$15 less per hour. Yes, I do shop at Wal-Mart,but wish that every thing I bought was not made overseas. (Delta tools, Black and Decker, etc.) Presidents, Kings, Queens do not rule the world! The MONEY MEN do! Lets put the blame where it really belongs. Lord help us-we,as workers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Any one wishing to reply, contact docgreenbranch@yahoo.com Also screw Bill Gates, the software dictator!

WALMART IS A BIG GIANT GREEDY BULLY, IT ONLY CARE ABOUT ITS BOTTOM, PERIOD. IT SHOULD BE CALLED CHINA MART FOR A GOOD REASON. I DONT KNOW WHO THE HECK CAN RAISE A FAMILY SLAVING FULL-TIME AT WALMART, IT IS MIND-BOGGLING.

I hate Wal-mart because I worked for them and saw how they feed off of ignorant damn fools and hypnotize them into spouting their corporate rhetoric.  I’d love to see a union not because I think a union will help the employees because it won’t.  Bottom line Wal-mart corporate (Bentoville, AR) won’t lose profit they’ll just pass it on to the consumer as any company would and less people will shop there.  That will be the downfall of Wal-mart, Unionization helps employees who have valuable skill sets, Wal-mart employees DON’T.  They will drive up costs and allow the Targets and Kmarts to gobble up more of the market.  I admit I have shopped in Wal-mart over the years but I can no longer in good conscience do it.  The long lines leading to what seem to be mildly retarded cashiers (not always of course, I won’t exaggerate) to the moderately mentally challenged scum bag shoppers (which I am no longer a member, thank you very much).  Target is the way to go...classy look, decent employees, fast checkout, and courteous cashiers.  Till the Fall of Wallyworld I will continue the struggle!

I’m a current Wal-Mart associate.  I work in the Home Office.  I just read most of the memo and it really didn’t sound too bad except the health clinics in the store.  That would be too invasive for me.  I would feel like someone’s trying to monitor me a little too closely.

I agree the health benefits suck.  Many other benefits are positive and help to counter the suckiness.  However, it’s MY CHOICE to work at Wal-Mart.  Furthermore, I understand that I work in Retail and the profit in Retail does not compare with other business sector’s.  Other businesses have a higher profit margin and with less employees they can afford to spend more on health care.  But what anti-WalMart people seem to miss is that Wal-Mart is just like every other retailer: Target, Sears, etc all have similar benefits and pay structures.

I think this “secret” memo being opened to the public is great in the fact that it is open and honest and didn’t go thru the public relations department before being released.  It gives us a clear understanding of Wal-Mart’s position and concerns regarding the skyrocketing cost of health care. 

Wal-Mart cannot be blamed for a healthcare crisis.  It alone cannot stop the rising costs, although it seems to be the only company that people take shots at.

My wife works for a major airline.  Her cost of medical benefits are increasing more than Wal-Marts although the offering isn’t getting any better.  In fact, the deductibles were increased by 50%.  What’s up with that?!?  Isn’t that supposed to be UNION turf where medical benefits are free and everyone gets free handouts similar to government assistance?

And since I have Wal-Mart experience to share, I’ll let you know about my positive medical benefit experiences from 2004.  I had over $38000 in medical bills during 2004.  My Wal-Mart medical benefits took care of approx 85% of those expenses.  In other words, I ended up paying around $5000; that’s including the premiums paid and also meeting the deductibles.  While I would love to have paid less, I can’t expect to have my employer pay for all of my medical bills.

I do not blame Wal-Mart for its so-called problems.  With our capitalistic system all companies want to make as much profits as possible Contrary to some remarks, I have found every Wal-Mart I have been in to be very clean with very good assistance from its employees Concerning health care, most companies are cancelling or decreasing benefits.  Don’t blame Wal-Mart.  We should either accept capitalism or work for establishing democratic socialism which would include a national health service.

I worked for wal mart for 5 years as an assistant manager and I made far less than half of the $80,000 figure given by someone else. I worked 60 to 70 hours a week and was treated like shit every day. I watched as the manager in my store did his best to fire older, better paid associates so he could replace them with lower paid people.  I was fired for making one mistake after receivig outstanding job reviews every year.  The only people that have opportunity to advance at wal mart are the butt kissers that follow upper management around like ignorant puppies.  The wal mart health plans are below standard at best and wal mart management will use every trick in the book to keep from paying overtime, vacation time, sick time or any other “benefit”.  I have seen it all. Work for wal mart if you dare but you will probably be sorry that you did.

To: Chris in Harrisburg, PA

Are you a freakin’ idiot or what?

You say that WalMart forces companies to lower their prices or else WalMart won’t carry the products and the company will go bankrupt because it will lose all it’s sales thru WalMart.

Don’t be naive.  If WalMart forces its suppliers out of business that means the remaining suppliers have less competition and they would increase the price they charge WalMart. 

If you say WalMart would force the remaining suppliers to lower their prices or else WalMart would stop carrying the item, then I would say the item must suck or else someone else would carry it and the supplier would make $$$. 

That’s the beauty of corporate America.  If you have something someone wants, you drive the deal.  If you’ve got a competitor with similar goods, you still drive the deal but you have less clout.

I work for a Wal-mart distribution Center and have for the past 5 years. My opinions on the health care? it is by far the worst insurance ive ever had to pay for. I am insurance poor and Cant afford to see my Doctor because of how much I will have to pay after insurance pays. I pay $228.00 a month just to cover my husband and myself.  Of course both of us have to have 10 or more visits before my insurance even kicks in just to meet our deductable. I pay when i go to my dentist for my “ free” exam and cleaning. I had to work 1 year before i could get my prescriptions covered.  I currently have a position that allows me to work in all areas of our d.c. I see many things that go on here, and I have the opportunity to meet and talk to many of the “ associates”. I see young men getting hurt on a daily basis. Many of whom will be in pain from their injuries for the rest of their lives. Carelessness? Violating Safety rules perhaps? ...NO. Doing what they have to do to get the job done. Managers watch as these young men load 32 inch televisions onto trucks by themselves. Along with patio furnature, cases of water, pop, you name it. If you can think of any heavy items you can purchase at wal-mart, these guys are loading them by hand alone. They have conveyors going directly to trucks. Those conveyors are constantly running, the loaders are responsible for 3 trucks, at the same time. Extremely fast paced and dangerous. EVERY job at the d.c. is physically damaging. If you get hurt, and if you go to a doctor, walmart will fight you every step of the way. They will harrasse your Doctor daily. My doctors office logged 13 calls in 1 day from wal-mart. They wanted him to release me back to work.  They said they would give me a job that I could do til i was healed. They dont like it if your off work ..that just doesnt happen cause it costs them money to have someone on workmens comp. With a Back Injury they wanted me to push a broom up and down isles of the d.c. and clean racks, making sure I kept track of what i had done so they knew i was earning my pay.  Isnt it wonderful to have a company that looks out for their employees. Allright, lets talk about Unions. How many of you know how, and why Unions got started in this Country?
Just a brief history reminder. There was a time in our great nation when Employers could legally lock you inside your place of work, making sure someone couldnt leave. They could work you for however long it took to get the job done. They didnt need to give you breaks to eat, and many had to get permission to even go to bathroom. It wasnt always granted. They could pay you whatever they wanted, and if so inclined, not pay you at all. They didnt need to worry about Safety. There were no guards placed on machines to keep you safe, no training or awareness of dangers of the job were required. If you did get hurt , you got fired. If you got killed, your family went hungry or homeless. After all..it wasnt the companys fault you didnt have a better education or alot of money. Maybe one of those fatalities was in your family tree? I had 2 Great Uncles who were murdered trying to get a union started at the Mine where they worked in Kentucky. They gave their lives to make mining safer for those who followed them. The right for decent wages and compensation. The right to be treated as human beings and not just another number. Does Wal-Mart need a union? Im not sure it would help. Some say the Gov’t has issued laws that cover most of what unions once fought for. Walmart has worked diligently on being able to skirt those laws. They are big enough to keep lawsuits in the courts for years and years, basically running the lawyers and plaintiffs into the ground financially. Would I join a Union if one tried to come into my workplace? I would consider it and study that option if it comes up.  As far as Wal-mart stores being great places to shop? Not if you saw how that product you were buying was handled before you saw it on the shelf ,you would think twice before buying it. Convenience? Ya..maybe. They are only convenient because they have systematically closed all our shops and smaller family run stores in every communtiy they have entered. We have all gotten used to stocking our pantrys with the same junk week after week. How many of you remember getting your favorite pastry or specialty foods from that certain shop that is no longer there. Bet everyone can remember at least something they miss having. I guess its ok to let some big Corporation dictate to us what we feed our familys. After all..its convenient Let me leave you with one question. Would you be willing to spend 1.00 more on a toaster made in the united states by the toaster factory at the edge of your town that employs 200 people? and if so, would you be willing to go to the “ other store “ that sold that particular item? Or, would that be inconvenient. Think about the big picture.

THANK GOD FOR WAL-MART!

I read that memo - really sat down and read it - and it really changed my opinion of the company.  I used to think that they were looking to squeeze every penny from the working man, but they are actually looking for ways to give back.  They are not just taking away, they are trying to give more to the most productive people, which is only fair.

Their associates are happy - who are you to to put your own judgement about how the benefit should be ahead of the judgement of the employees? - the people that are actually working for them?  Employer matching to the 401K?  Discount card?  Cheap insurance?  My buddy works in a Union shop and doesn’t get half that - just a bunch of dues that he has to keep paying for no apparent benefit.  Oh - and forget about getting out of it, the Union is a racket and once they get their hands on your pocketbook, they never let go.  Protecting the workers, my butt.  Even with no Union, Wal-Mart’s benefits been pretty good - I don’t even get any match at my job and my healthcare is way more expensive than Wal-Mart’s!

Anyway, a company that can do well by its workers and still sell at such good prices is ok in my book.

I am an ex-union worker & can honestly say that I had no problems with my union. I got paid what I was supposed to, I knew my breaks & work schedule & my insurance was great. Nothing could be changed unless it was voted on by the workers per contract negotiations. I personally do not like Wal-mart but I live in a rural area & unfortunately my choices of shopping are limited. The big grocerer here doesn’t carry the extra’s such as clothing, shoes, etc. but they are employee owned which is a great idea as the employee has something to work for & will have a good return in the end. The issue I have with Wal-mart here is that they have decided to build a new “Super” Store. So in the next few months the old store will eventually be empty but per the companies restrictions it can not be leased to any competitor. So, now we will have another grocery store that we really dont need & a huge empty building that cant be used because who isnt Wal-mart’s competitors? Pay wise in my area $8 & up is good money if you dont have a master’s degree so if a company is willing to come here & pay more than minimum wage, it is an incentive here. As far as the issue with Target, if you do your research you will find that Target is a French company & they do not support several, if not most. American non-profit organizations; they dont even allow Salvation Army bell ringers at their stores; now how un-American is that? I will still go to my employee owned grocerer but I would rather go to the local Wal-mart if need be than my local Target.

My cousin was employed at Walmart loading docks in Bentonville in 1990. While giving manual hand signals to an 18 wheeler while it was backing up to the dock the stop signal was given, truck stopped, she opened the rear doors and suddenly the truck lurched backwards crushing her foot and ankle. She was eventually awarded a sizeable worker’s comp payment and disability. After 3 judges ordered WalMart to pay up they still had not in a 24 month period.
Three and one/half years later another judge threaten a lein and they paid.
This is the HIGH SOCIAL COST of WM’s low prices. Disgusting bunch. We’ve since found many better places to shop and encourage others to do so.

It’s pretty simple really.  If you don’t like them… don’t shop there.  If you don’t like your current employment situation… find a new job.

As far as Wal-Mart outsourcing jobs to other countries… if toys were “made in the USA"… a BRATZ dolls would cost $60.00+.  Sorry Billy… no presents for you this Christmas.

Wal-Mart has not become the world’s largest retailer by mistake… they aren’t going away.  If you would put as much energy into managing your own life as you put into bashing Wal-Mart… you might find yourself successful.

I commend those that bash Wal-Mart and refuse to shop there… at least your doing your part.  But, for the most part, this isn’t the case.  I guarantee that most of the people that support this “bashing” continue to shop at Wal-Mart.

Thanks, and have a great day!

I think that Walmart is doing a great service to many cash strapped States by employing those people who are also receiving the Medicaid services.

Without Walmart employment, some of those Medicaid recepients would probably be on full public assistance too!

Also, I didn’t find anything wrong with the proposed benifit reforms in the memo. Typical corporate entity, trying to contain the costs and improve the bottomline.

As long as people feel that they have a right to free medical coverage; personal injury lawyers continue to chase the ambulances; medical practiceners continue to perform extensive and sometimes unnecessary medical procedures just to cover their butts; insurance companies settle outrageous pain and suffering claims to avoid protracted legal battles and then jack up the malpractice premiums for the doctors, the health care crisis across America is destined to get worse.

Many Americans wish that we have the national health care system for everyone. The misconception these people have is that it will be FREE because it is administered by the government by taxing the RICH. There are not enough RICH Americans RICH enough to pay taxes necessary to cover the rest of the citines. There is no such thing as free health care. The money will have to be taken from wages/ernings just like social security taxes. On top of that, everybody will be standing in line for even the most basic care.
Imagine standing in line at the DMV, or your local EDD / Welfare agency! Only, this time you are standing in line (figuratively), and also you are sick and weak!

in reading some of these comments i have seen for the first time how things are misrepresented by former workers who are ticked off at walmart.  i work at walmart and make very good pay, more than some union workers around here.  in fact much more than all those union workers who no longer have a job because they bargained themselves into the company filing bankruptcy.  wow, that union sure helped them, now didn’t they?
for the person who said you only get holiday pay if you work overtime.  sorry, you didn’t work for walmart when you were told that, or you didn’t hear those words from someone who knew what the heck they were talking about that worked for walmart.  that is not how holiday pay works at all.  it has absolutely nothing to do with overtime pay at all.  all you have to do is be employed for 90 days and full or part time you qualify for holiday pay.  my goodness i am aghast that a company would ask that someone show that they might be around for more than a few months before they dish out free pay for them.  how dare they do that??  i am being sarcastic, i hope you can tell that.
i have worked for walmart for ten years and in five different stores in three different states.  in none of those stores, or states are any new associates, or old associates instructed on how to apply for medicaid.
no wonder people look at walmart with such venom in their minds, they are believing anything anyone says about them. 
one wonderful health benefit walmart offers that many companies do not is no maximum benefit.  i have read how many people have bankrupted themselves over huge medical bills when there is a devastating illness.  once you pay your yearly maximum out of pocket of 1500.00 then the company pays for 100 percent.  if you were charged a couple hundred thousand during that year, as long as it is covered charges, then the rest is paid with no maximum benefit.  how many companies offer that benefit? 
i bet the walmartwatch.com won’t let this comment get posted.  after all it is a positive view about walmart.  that never slips by and gets printed. 
oh and by the way i am not with management, i am an hourly worker who just happens to be sick of eveyone misrepresenting my company.
michelle

Your so right Sayko. My daughter worked for Walmart while she was in college. They liked her and she was very fast on the register. But then she got hurt. She tried to get them to put her on jobs that would not hurt her neck further but they said they could not, they would have to lay her off without pay. She kept complaining.  They had her sign a paper saying she hurt her neck there. She went to their doctor and he did nothing. After a couple of visits he even told her to use her fathers insurance and have some test ran, she did not. She waited on Walmart. She seen this doctor for almost 5 months. All the while nothing was done for her neck. Since she was now seeing a doctor she was put on light duty. All the CFM’s treated her like crap. It was late november and they started getting busy for the christmas season. She looked over her Medical benefits she was suppose to get starting in January. She had been there now almost one year. The insurance was a joke. You had to work there another year before it even paid for any female procedures. And would not pay for any medicines for a year.  It also was very expensive for someone making 6.50 a hour. She found out the week of christmas Walmart denied her cliam.  Right after christmas day they fired her and then would not pay her unemployment. They care nothing about their employees. All the kids that were hired the same time my daughter was they let them go. The older women keep their jobs because they have theirs husbands insurance. I have noticed now a year and half later that they do this all the time.  They hire people and right before they can receive health benefits they get the axe.

Everyone who is commenting on this memo should read it first.  It is not nearly as damning as walmart watch would like you to believe.  It is mostly an analysis of high medical costs. 

One which they frequently mention is that, if medical benefits are not carefully controlled, employees will use it inefficiently.  For example, they will go to a much higher priced emergency room, rather than going to the doctor.  Much of the memo is describing ways to get employees to be more responsible for how they use their medical benefits. 

A second part of the memo, which I was impressed with, is that a large part of their effort encourages their employees to have a healthier lifestyle, including incentives for better eating and exercise habits.  This is ultimately better for both Walmart and the employee.  A classic win-win situation.

WALMART WATCH IS BEING DECEPTIVE IN THE WAY THE MEMO IS BEING PRESENTED.  Also, keep in mind the purpose of this memo.  It is a list of proposals and not an approved plan.  Being somewhat familiar with how businesses operate, I can assure you that the memo would have been dated.  Note that there is no date on the memo.  I suspect that walmart watch chose not to put the date on it, because that would reveal that it is a proposal and not an approved plan.  At one point in the memo, they discuss implementing the approved parts of the plan in September 2005.  Note that Walmart has recently approved the use of HSAs which is mentioned in the memo.

Wal-Mart is doing nothing wrong. This memo shows nothing scandalous. If they do not review all of these things, they would not survive. They have a right to look out for their interests too.The fact that Wal-Mart employees are fatter & getting sicker than the national average makes this type of costs review even more important. They have every right to try & hire healthier employees. This type of memo could be found in EVERY big company in the world.

So long as no one brings Walmart to task for being an unfriendly neighbor, it will continue to make us think we can buy the world cheaper from them. If Walmart was interested in their workers and their communities, they would pay them a wage that didn’t also put them at Welfare’s door. I live in a small town, and if I can buy the product cheaper somewhere else, I do! We have fallen asleep and let this giant come in and take over our lives, and some prefer to leave things just as they are. I don’t like Walmart and I hope I can continue to find other places to shop. The sad part of this scenario is that too few people see Walmart as the threat that it really is.

Nick in Wheeling,

I am interested in seeing who you are to judge the worth of work.
I am a Master’s level professional. I do not think that I have more or less value than others based on the work I choose, or that is available to me.
Often, the employees that you find in the unskilled jobs are people who have been institutionally disadvantaged. These people take these jobs because they are jobs that will pay $1 more an hour than the other jobs they are qualified for. Because of the disadvantage some of these workers have i.e. financially, educationally, socially; they are treated unfairly an illegally by their employer, without the ability to protect themselves. Therefore, I think it is ignorant of you to think that the government (who has a vested interest in Wal-Marts success) will be accessed to step in.

This memo was a fraud and taken completely out of context.  I have inside information and can verify that Wal-mart isn’t trying to eliminate unhealthy people.  WalmartWatch should report the facts and not blow things out of proportion.  The only thing walmart has done is to make America a better place to live.  I don’t hear people complaining when it comes to Every Day Low Prices!

As an employee of Wal~Mart I know there benifits SUCK big time! I thought Blue Cross and Blue Sheild Insurance was the best you could get until they gave us the real package, If we wanted the family plan it was going to cost us 1/4 of our income and before they paid out a dime we had to spend another 1/4 of our income. The insurance is only as good as the plan Wal~Mart buys for it’s employees and the plan they buy has very high deductables and very high premiums.
As for finding better jobs, in a depressed economy that is hard, I am college educated, the last job I had for 21 years closed it’s doors and moved to Mexico.  In the area I live there were several plant closings and layoffs in a very short time and the unemployment rate has been very high. When Wal~Mart decided to open a Super Center I applied and got a job. I’m still looking for a better job and hope I can get out of Wal~Mart soon

I have worked at Wal-Mart and I don’t know why this is so shocking.  They want to hire younger people? Of course they do!  Young people will accept lower wages and their parents pay for their medical expenses. They don’t want life insurance or dental insurance. Granted, I am 21, so I am biased.

As Americans, we like to pay less for our stuff even if that means children worked 16 hours days in sweatshop to make it, or the companies we buy from don’t give their employees great benefits. You know how to solve that problem? Simply put, don’t shop at Wal-Mart.  Put your money where your mouth is!  Wal-Mart would cease to function is people stop buying their merchandise.

Many of you will complain about Wal-Mart today, but go out and buy your groceries there tomorrow. Think about it! Buy Union (even though I don’t think some Unions are all that great).  Let’s not be so hypocritical!  I do think Wal-Mart should change their slogan to “LOW PRICES! ALWAYS! NO MATTER WHAT!”

the walmart argument is not just about unions…

its also about market share, treatment of suppliers, destruction of local communities and a whole lot more.

here’s just one example of where things have gone badly wrong:

Walmart suggest government limit competitors market share…

In comments to the London Sunday Times in 2005, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott suggests that having more than 30 percent of the market in one category is too much. “As you get over 30% and higher I am sure there is a point where government is compelled to intervene,” he said. “At some point the government has to look at it.”

However…
In 2004, Wal-Mart had a 30% market share of America’s South Central Region retail grocery sales (followed by H.E. Butt with 14%, and Kroger with 8%)

And in 2004 Wal-Mart controleld more than 52 percent of the Oklahoma grocery market.

While in Mexico walmart controls a staggering 50% of the grocery market

Wal-Mart today controls 50 percent of the grocery sales in Mexico

At the end of 2002, Wal-Mart was operating some 608 units in Mexico under a variety of names: Bodegas, Suburbias, Superamas and VIPS. The company also had 62 Supercenters, and 46 Sam’s Clubs. Such power was worrying the authorities. The Mexican Federal Competition Commission became concerned that Wal-Mart was using its market share to pressure its suppliers to lower their prices to the retail chain.

In March 2003, the agency insisted that Wal-Mart agree to a new “code of conduct” for dealing with its suppliers. The country’s biggest three competitors in Mexico have now joined forces to try and fight Wal-Mart, but even combined they are still considerably smaller than Wal-Mart.

I am overjoyed at the stupidity of those defending Wal-mart on this message board.  Many of you who are telling those who complain about the work conditions at this corporation to get an education and move on to a better job.  You are demonstrating deplorable written grammar and you are just an embarrassment to yourselves.  You would realize this if you had the “education” of which you preach.

“This is in regards to della schwartz’s “it’s that simple (to go and get another job)” comment.  If you don’t have a master’s degree or atleast a bachelor’s degree then it is not that simple to go out there and get another higher-paying job.  Most jobs out there, for people with little to no college education pay about the same as walmart so how is it really that easy or simple?  Why should people in this country be penalized with low wages just because they did not want to go to college.  Some people just aren’t the college type, they don’t enjoy lots of reading and writing. Some people can’t even afford to go to college, even if they wanted to go.  So how can it really be all that easy? “

Hey Ben, if you’re still reading this blog, we’re on the same page here. I was quoting someone or other.

And tell me about it. My Masters Degree-holding, hard-working, 62-year-old mama had a VERY hard time finding a job that was full time & offered health benefits, and serisouly contemplated Wal-Mart for a while. Her health isn’t that great, either, and the prospect scared the crap out of me.

Thankfully, she’s now employed and able to support herself.

Oh, and to anyone who might blame her for “not planning ahead,” she was out of the workforce for fifteen fucking years raising my brother and I.

Every time I hear the socialist rant “they’re just in
business to make money”, I have to wonder what
the ignoramus saying thinks a business **should** be
in business for. 

The only way Wal*Mart or any other business can
make money is to give people what they want at
a price they are willing to pay.  So, when one
looks at Wal*Mart and whines they are making
too much money, what he’s saying is that Wal*Mart
is giving a whole lot of people what they want.
And this, we are supposed to believe, is bad.

Whether an employee at Wal*Mart earns “enough”
money is clearly a stupid question. He either
chooses to work there because of the money or
because there were other considerations in his
decision (like working close to family or home)
that had some value to him.  Wal*Mart, nor any
other employer, has no obligation to pay a person
what he wants to be paid. The only obligation the
employer has is to pay enough to attract and keep
a good enough workforce to meet its customers’
demands. As soon as the worker decides his
compensation is too low, he should immediately
leave.  At that point, but not one minute prior,
he is free to whine, moan, and complain to his
heart’s content. 

The amount of one’s paycheck is determined
almost exclusively by the number of people
who could qualify for the position. Almost anyone
can work at Wal*Mart, thus the price for labor
at Wal*Mart is low: the people there are easily
replaced at little training cost. To ask that Wal*Mart
pay more (which they do anyway) than the lowest
possible cost is hypocritical unless you purposefully
go out of your way to buy more expensive cabbage
or shoes.  Most people want the lowest cost for
their purchases (of the same quality).  Wal*Mart
already pays more than other retailers, despite
the propaganda the unions gush. 

Wal*Mart also does not destroy mom’n’pop stores.
The fact is that all economic activity increases
when a Wal*Mart store opens.  If any stores do
close, it is those and only those that are not
economically flexible.  People who used to shop there
choose not to anymore because the prices and other
determinants that they (the customers) find important
are lacking in the losing establishment.  How is this
a bad thing? Remember, no business makes money
unless it gives people what they want at prices they
want to pay.

Any person who shops at Wal*Mart or anywhere
else was free to select any merchant he desires.
Once the choice is made, the only time that
consumer ought to complain is if the goods or
services were not what the merchant claimed them
to be.  Caveat emptor is and always has been
the best insurance plan in the market.

Finally, the reason medical costs are so high
today is that there is medical insurance.
Patients do not pay the bills, even the
purchaser of the insurance doesn’t pay
the bills.  No one cares how high the costs
are and so doctors and hospitals can raise them
as far as they like (as long as they do it in
unison--so they won’t be locked out of the
“usual and customary” fee structure). 
If you want affordable medical care, we all
need to dump medical insurance in favor of
catastrophic coverage with relatively high
deductibles ($5,000). 

People in the united States are economically
ignorant, which fact we should blame the
so-called public schools.  The only cure for
the insane and inane whining about Wal*Mart
or Microsoft or any other company is a harsh
look at the realities of supply and demand.
Schools do not even give the children the
basic tools to analyze the issues.  Gotta wonder
“Why not?”

I’ve read most of the posts here, and there are good points on either side.  The bottom line is Wal Mart is in the buisiness of doing what’s best for Wal Mart Shareholders, not Wal Mart employees, just as the Teamsters are out to help dues paying Teamsters.  You get the picture.... May the money happy and it multiplies. 

I used to shop at Wal Mart but avoid doing it now for one simple reason, competition.  I don’t want to live in a Wal Mart world.  I don’t want to have my only options be the three different styles of silverware Wal Mart got at the lowest bid from it’s suppliers.  I don’t want my kid to ride the one style of bicycle Wal Mart got for cheap from China.  THAT is as unAmerican as anything else you can say, and that is WalMart’s goal.  I’m tired of seeing downtown centers dead because local pols approved zoning for WalMart to build a box store on farmland or pasture because of the “economic impact” Wal Mart brings to an area.  Let them play by the same rules as Joe’s Hardware or Millie’s Clothing Boutique and level the playing field.  Stop giving Wal Mart tax breaks to come to your town and screwing the local, or smaller, businesses that took the trouble to put out a shingle in a downtown area.  I would bet that 10 small businesses employing 3-5 people all on a city block provide more in city, county, and state tax revenue than a huge Wal Mart at the edge of town employing 100 people does.  Think about it.  A thriving downtown provides funds through parking meters, sales tax, property tax, intangible taxes, and a host of other revenue streams that are generally waived or not applicable to the Big Box Store at the edge of town. 
When you shop at Wal Mart, you’re killing yourself and your neighbor.  It’s not a Republican/Democrat thing, it’s about keeping a diverse market in place.

How can you people be okay with the memo? The only real argument I have heard is that, “Other employers are worse,” or that, “Immigrants have it worse.” The “picking yourself up by the bootstraps” mentality is a very dangerous one. You are essentially blaming people for being poor. The nature of our economic system currently relies on cheap labor. There is not room in the system for everyone, no matter how intelligent or hard-working, to get a good job. People with the good jobs rely on the people with the service jobs for everything; groceries, haircuts, child-care, etc. You are arguing that instead of improving the conditions of these important positions, that people should just get a different job? It is true that many come to this country, work hard, and succeed. It is also true that they are often supporting several relatives and have very little choice in the matter. If everyone just worked really hard as you suggest, would they all be promoted? Of course not. There are always going to be more workers than managers. You are saying the workers should not complain as long as other people have it worse. Do you not see that your argument completely undermines and devalues the work that low paid employees do? Low level jobs are not just a stepping stone to something better. They make possible everything you do and take for granted in your daily life. Regardless of their ambition level, the employee should be respected and valued. As for the “sense of entitlement” Americans have, how on earth can you complain about it? Do you not see the hypocrisy? If it wasn’t for the American sense of entitlement, you may have well spent your childhood in a factory rather than receiving a basic education. If people had not felt entitled to better lives for their children, they would not have stood up to the factory owners. Think civil rights movement for a minute...did it not hinge upon a sense of entitlement?  I think people have a right to feel entitled to job safety and heath benefits from their employer if they are working more than 30 or 35 hours a week. I’m sure you know, Europeans work less, take more holidays, have better health, and greater job satisfaction. Why not look raise the bar rather than saying, “Well, at least Wal-Mart isn’t as bad a sweat-shop in El Salvador.”

David in Newport Cove, CA

I think that is bullsh!t…
I put in applications to every store and restarant in this area.
(31 different businesses to be exact)
There were two that offered me a job....

The first: Subway, for the starting wage of $5.35 an hour,
and I was promised 30 hours a week.

The second: Walmart, for the starting wage of $6.00 an hour,
and I was promised 31-39 hours a week.

I chose Wallmart because it was closer to home, and because it payed better… But Now that I’ve been working here for almost two years I’ve learned alot about how corrupt it is.

I was injured on the job (i am a cart-pusher) and they tried to tell me it was my fault when someone else hit me with a car. They said that I should stay closer to the side of the isle.
I reported the accident because it want too serious of an injury and showed them what happened on the security cameras. I was standing still with about one inch between me and a parked car. Another car was coming down the isle in the wrong direction. The driver edged the car towards me, and in response I backed myself further against the parked car I was standing near. Again the driver came toward me only this time I couldn’t back up and I was pinned and rolled between the two cars. Walmart tried to tell me that it was my fault for being there, and when I told them to either file the claim with workmans comp for my injuries or they would face a lawsuit, they files the claim anyways. But even now they are still trying to stick me with the bills for my injuries.
I keep getting bills saying that workmans comp still hasnt paid the expenses. And this is more than 8 months after the injury…
Also The store manager talked to me and told me that workmans comp didn’t really pay for ANY of the expenses, instead that the store employees did… He claimed that the employees each lost about $7 from their paychecks to pay for my medical bills…

The reason I decided to work for Walmart to begin with was to save money for college… Now that I am in college I can barely even afford to keep my bills paid for my necesseties… (lights, water, heat, food, gas, and car insurance) So in turn I won’t even get to go to college next semester because the amount of money I am making is far less that what I would be getting from the Subway job if I had accepted it. The reason being, I am full time and promised 31 hours a week or more, But I am only getting 24 hours a week. (on a good week)

Yes I know you would say to get another job.
That’s another point i would like to bring up.
Now that I am in college and barely able to support myself, noone will hire me because they say I will be an unstable employee. (Meaning I have too many costs to cover)

Damn, Nick in Wheeling, do you really have nothing else to do than to post here? Since I’m doing research for a term paper and exploring strategies and information for my externship, I at least have an excuse. For you, all signs point to uneducated, bigoted waste of space.

People like you, honestly, will make the world a better place when you die. I’ll be waiting.

~k

I would like to write something about their wages and how they pay at DC 6029. I was wondering if i can write an article without giving my name. I only have nine years left and i can’t afford to lose my job.

I still mean UNIONIZE OR DIE you scab.

My ex works for walmart and they refuse to give him insurance for our child

When he left me (for his wal-mart supervisior) I summited the child support order and they refused it because it didn’t say wal-mart on it

I work for Target and its the most physical job I have had in my life my pay is 8.50 a hour I work the 3 shift unloading trucks

When I got the job at Target, the state cut the medicade for me and my child, “ you have sufficent funds to by your own insurance”

Do I like my job, no way, but you do what you have to do for your kids and stick it out, and the cost of day care is thru the roof.

I will fight to change my life, but untill I can its retail for me

Out of the top 10 BILLIONS 5 are Waltons and they treat there employees this way. I think there are words to describe people like that! Shame on you!

walmart is shameless! i will forever remember this memo and keep in mind what corporate america is really doing to america. the eagle just doesn’t have tears from 9-1-1 but this more suttle form of terrorism. greed !

Wow, what a lot of talk about a memo that has ideas that haven’t even been passed yet. Or at least it would seem to most people.

1. Health insurance
What “they” (whoever they are), is that wal-mart has already changed its health insurance. That health account plan is available, if an associate wants it. And it isn’t a bad plan., if you don’t go to the doctor much. In fact, when reading the material about, you must meet certain requirments to even get that account, like have one level of insurance below it for at least a year, to make sure that that is a good plan for you. Also, about youg kids not being covered, they just started something new, where all check up visits and shots for a child from birth to 6yrs of age are covered for free, in any of te plans for insurance. Also, did you know there are 4 different choices? Also, the reason walmart seems to worry about insurance and paying, is unlike most companies, there is no limit to how much wal-mart pays. It works like this- after you reach your deductable, you then pay 80/20 (you pay the 20) until another dollar amount is reached. At that point, wal-mart pays everything 100%. Very few companies are willing to do this. And last, did you know that the company hasa goal for each store to try to get every associate who is eligable signed up for insurance? Every store has to make sure everyone has a chance to sigh up. They must meet 100% of associates maing a choice of yes or no, or in fact, the store manager and the personnal manager gets in trouble.

2. Hiring more part time.
There is always talk about this, but the reality the walmart highers realize is that, no matter what they say, it is the local stores that do the hiring. The local stores don’t however, pay the insurance out of there pockets, so the cost of insurance doesn’t apply to them. So the local s stores will hire what they need, not what the company tries to tell them.

3. About this complanit about stores going to small rural areas, well, that was how wal-mart got started. Wal-mart went to areas that other places wouldn’t go. How else do you think that bentonvillie AK got to be headquartes, instead of a place like New York?

4. Wal-mart taking over small mom and pop shop’s? Yes, but
why? Well, I remember going to my local downtown to the local school supplies store and buying pencils for 25 cents apeice. Go to wal-mart, andi get them 10 cents a piece. When I am on a budget, like a lot of people, I go to the cheapest place. Small stores just can’t keep up to that cheap price. Its america. It happens, it’s called free enterprise.

Last, the thing everyone needs to keep in mind is that this was a memo of ideas made buy a group of people looking over figures and trying to solve all problems. There weren’t asked to look at the associates, wether it was right or wrong, just how it could be fixed.  This was not the final say by any means. The group they brought the memo to does get to say, yes this is good, and no, what are you thinking?

I’m impressed that in this memo walmart actually said,(parapharsed) “you know what, some of these things critics are saying about us, are true. Lets change them.”

Oh, and also, go read the final draft at the New York Times at the link below. . It has graphs and everything. Notice in the New York times article. , they said Wal-mart gave them the memo right away no problem. Can’t be too deep a secret if that is the case.

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/26walmart.pdf

This is absolutely vile--either the authors are rather stupid (unlikely) or are deliberately misleading.  They speculate that employees overuse emergency rooms because of previous medicare experiences when in fact most people overuse emergency rooms because they experience financial pentalies or disincentives to precentive care.  And Walmart’s plan to merely get healthier workers is a a unique blend of Machiavellian logic and Three Stooges foresight.  At no point do they address the larger social cost of their schemes--making healthcare less available to those who need it most, thereby pushing the burden onto the social services of the communities of which they claim to be a part.  And does anyone think it’s a coincidence that Walmart--with its shelves of sugary foods, greasy snacks, and sloth-promoting video games tends to attract workers with higher-than-normal incidences of diabetes and obesity?  Grow up, Walmart.  Even you should be embarassed by your actions.

Yesterday, I was critical of Wal-Mart. Today, I am downright disgusted. This company cares about its public relation, but does not give a damn about the people who work there. The memo revealed the company’s cold, almost Machiavellian attitude toward people it claims are like family. And seeing the contradictions… this is just sickening. Sickening. And the sad thing is that the business community as a whole seems to share the same sort of contempt that Wal-Mart shows toward its Associates—Wal-Mart just happens to be among the worst of a hideous bunch. Today I am proud that I have never shopped at Wal-Mart—and determined to let people know the truth about a vile, mendacious 21st century company that models the robber barons of old.

It is such a shame that a company as large as Wal-Mart doesn’t have decent health care.As much money as they turn over daily it would seem they could carry health care for all their employees. I don’t believe in government intervention in any part of our life but when a company as big as Wal-Mart can’t supply insurance for their employees, it is high time something be done. The richest country in history and our largest corps cannot afford health coverage for their employees. There are more than one reason for this crises, but it does need to start with Wal-Mart.Cmon WMT start something, do the right thing.

Wal-Mart is a good company, I’ve worked for a few other company’s like wal-mart and it’s been the best out of all them.  A few people always complain about how they want to stop wal-mart from growing, and not allow them to get any larger.. What if back in the day some one didnt let Henry Ford continue on his cars...everyone would still be getting around with horse and buggy, and Bill Gates, where would this world be today w/o computers, half of the people today wouldent even have jobs.  Another good thing is that wal-marts give you one stop access to just about anything you need at a good price, more than ANYONE can say about any mom and pop shops around! They also give jobs to over 300 people per wal-mart, and have good insurance. I just thing everyone has to complain about somthing why not wal-mart..and let me as you this, how many of you people had family or knew anyone in the hurricane’s. Do you know how much money and supplies wal-mart donated to them.

I was lucky enough to meet Mr Sam Walton.  In spite of the bad things that have been said about him, he was a very down to earth person and I believe that he would be very upset about the way his stores are run now.
Mr Sam was family oriented as far as his stores went and he truly cared about his employees.
I worked for Wal~Mart and now work for Wal*Mart and from then to now there is a large difference in how they care for their people.

It’s hard to believe some of the junk people are writing on this site.

Most of you don’t live in Arkansas so you don’t have the opportunity to know a lot of people that have worked in the home office. I have.

9 out of 10 of them graduated from the Walton College of Business here at the U of A and go straight to the home office to work as buyers assistants or something low-level and similar. Within a year, most of them will quit not due to how bad the benifits at the home office are, but because the people that succeed there do so because they are absolutely ruthless when it comes to buying, cutting employee cost, etc. One class that they teach at the College of Business on workforce managment focuses on treating your workforce with a “supply and demand” strategy. In essence, the idea is to give employees the lowest possible wage and benifits that you can while still keeping people working there.

One important thing to know about these people that have been at the home office is that they are not ‘hippies’ or spreaders of ‘union propaganda’. Most of them came from well-off, conservative families. They had just never been exposed to the corporate eniroment before.

One last thing I need to say is that, though I don’t have a crystal ball, I can make some good guesses about the folks that continually write here saying things like “no one forces them to work there (Walmart)” or “This is the way that capitalism works”. So here go my guesses:

1. You didn’t grow up poor. I don’t mean you weren’t rich, I mean you didn’t worry about where you were sleeping when you were young and probably didn’t pay for your education.

2. You’re not ignorant. I live in Arkansas. There are a dissproportionally high percentage of people who don’t understand how much large corporations make in comparison to how much they pay their employees.

3. You’re not a minority. I don’t mean your great grandmother was an eigth Native American.

4. You’re not a cashier at Walmart or any other large corporation.

5. You’re a Republican. I know this because you offer either vague or no facts, and mainly opinions. Liberals base their views on facts, Consevatives base their views on opinions. That’s a fact.

6. You don’t really know anything about unions.

7. You watch Fox News.

I always used to hope I could change peoples minds by conversing with them. Now I just hope that your kids cant afford to put you in a nursing home that changes you at least once a day because the Walmarts of the world own everything and they work for them.

I work for Wal-Mart.  I don’t hate Wal-Mart by any means, but there is room for improvement, of course.  This is something I believe every associate can admit too.  If we are not improving or moving forward we are failing not only to ourself but to our customers.  Offering these benefits makes working at Wal-Mart more desirable and may attract better people to take care of our customers but we must always remember that people are first in our company.  Along with the many disadvantages that Wal-Mart may offer, there is an assortment of advantages such as actually offering their employees heatlh coverage or even allowing for career advancement beyond hourly positions things that most employeers in these towns cannot or refuse to offer.  It basically balances itself out.  I find that Wal-Mart already employees a plethora of part-time help many struggling to pay their own personal debt, but personally would enjoy a more tailored benefits package.  Many of you have stated that if you don’t like to work or shop at Wal-Mart, then don’t.  We can’t be that polarized: either do or don’t.  We are not robots, we are humans, which means that we are always wanting something more, not a hand out, but a leg up. It is not that easy and simple to most working Americans who depend on their jobs and the savings that Wal-Mart offers no matter what the circumstances.  I believe that in the next coming years there will be a dramatic culture shift in Wal-Mart.  They have to be the example because not only are they the largest private employeer in the US, but one of the most influential corporate powers in the world.  This memo will probably turn a few associates againist Wal-Mart like the pending sexual discrimination cases have.  I am personally not in favor of discrimination of someone for any reason if they can perform the assigned job not matter their race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, body type, ect… Wal-Mart is neither evil or pure by any means, this is a business not a charity, however this era of neutrality will have a damaging effect as they will start to sway from one side to another and where they will stop no one knows and hopefully Wal-Mart sticks to its foudning commitmens of “People First.”

After reading all the blogs on this page I’m completely baffeled.  Yes, WalMart brings jobs to small commutiies but they do it at the expense of running businesses with decades of service to their communites our of town.  What does this mean?  It means that there is no where else to work but WalMart in these small towns, people have no choice but to work for WalMart or work no where.

I’m ashamed of all of you that state “well work somewhere else”, work where?  All the other stores on the old Main Town are gone due to the opening of WalMart.

I’m ashamed of Americans that are happy as hell to get a cheap price on a T-Shirt that was made by a 9 year old girl in the third world.

Yes, your right, we will have to pay more for these consumer goods without the 3rd world sweat shops.  LOOK AT YOUR DAUGHTER!  Imagine her spending 18 hours a day making products for you on the cheap.  How nice for you that you can afford to send her to college and hope for a better future for her.  Good for you.  Are you really morally prepared to produce this advantage for your children on the backs of someone else’s child?  If so, get to a priest ASAP and beg for forgiveness.

Concerning the treatment of WalMart employees, it’s deplorable and stateing inane facts that “well it’s going on in other places as well” does not old much moral water.

I’m happy for you that you can buy shoes and towels on the cheap at the expense of your fellow Americans.  That some of you have the hubris of blaming these people for not obtaining a proper education (who paid for your education, your parents) to get a better job is beyond the pale. 

As far as I’m concerned you are elitist bastards that are so happy to get a tomato for a cheap price that your heart where your compassion should be has dried up and died.

Just remember that the rights you take away from others can equally be taken away from you and maybe someday you will be working for Walmart or any of the other companies that run things the way they do and then you’ll be spouting a different voice.

Those of us that were lucky, had better choices, opportunites etc.  should not judge these individuals that work for WalMart (and I include all companies that treat their employees the same way).  Try to remember that your luck could run out.  Maybe your well to do rich relatives will tire of helping you out and you could be standing behind the cash register at WalMart, and believe me your mind will change.  Don’t assume that that the employees at WalMart are stupid, inbred characters that are worthly of your contempt.

Remember hubris like Ichibus flying too close to the sun crashed to the ground.  This could be you.

I do not ever shop at WalMart and I never will.  The pain I see in the employees faces are too much for me to bear.  You can call me sentimental all you want.  I care for my fellow man, whether they be educated or no.  I’ve known many a person without an “official education” that was far for wise that I will ever hope to be.

I was lucky, the dice fell out right for me but I know that it could have gone the other way.

WalMart needs to unionize.  Have we all forgotten how unions started?  It started by the Triange Shirt Factory in New York where they locked the women in so they could not leave their work stations.  A fire broke out and so many died and threw themselves out the window impaling themselves onto a iron fence.  They perfered to die then to burn.

We as Americans cheered when Poland changed their history with Solidarity, which was a union.  We viewed it as democary, all they wanted was a living wage and a tiny bit of health care.

Why do we have so much compassion for people in other contries but we have none for out own.

Many of the blogs that I read were wonderful but I am ashamed of the those of you that are happier to have a one stop shopping center with cheap prices and the devil take the hind quarters for the people who suffer both her and abroad to make this possible for you.

Think beyond your pocket books.

I pray for al of you.

Having just read the comments above it is clear that the “have’s” and the “have-not’s” are well represented here too.

The cold-hearted comments from idiots like Travis from California speak volumes about these “have’s”. People who live in a state like CA that elected Arnold Schwartzenegger governor should shut up and sit down.

Telling idiots like Travis anything is a perfect waste of time and breath.

Corporations like Wal-Mart and ExxonMobil have the “have’s” eating right out of their hands. These mammoth corporations are crushing local businesses under their feet. When they have accomplished their end the pricing at Wal-Mart will begin to creep up as it has where I live. In fact, the pricing on items in this metropolitan area varies from store-to-store widely depending on the realtive wealthiness of the area where that store is located.

The shelves at Wal-Mart are stocked to overflowing with goods from China. Of course their prices are low and their profits are high...they get their stock from a countries where the people are paid almost nothing and who have no benefits whatsoever.

Come on Travis...this is America. Should Americans be forced to live like third-world citizens? More to the point, should third-world citizens be forced to live as they do?

The mistreatment of and cold-hearted policies of Wal-Mart as regards their ‘associates’ (always beware of a company which calls its workers ‘associates’) is just the tip of the iceberg as to the damage that Wal-Mart is doing to America.

Most American companies are in fact doing things to their employees that the employees do not like. The corporations frequently answer complaints with threats to close their American locations and move the work to other countries where people work for a fraction of what it takes to live in the US.

Wal-Mart is just more ruthless and better at what it is doing to their employees than the other corporations.

I have long since stopped patronising Wal-Mart. I suggest that anyone who has an ounce of decency in them to do the same.

Well ya know seems like most of you have never worked for walmart I have for ten years, walmarts benefits and wages may be crap to you, but try finding something that pays even close to the fourteen dollars and hour I make around Tulsa oklahoma starting out and I would take it in a heartbeat; I have tried for three years, consisitantly Not all states have high paying jobs or great economies oh yeah most of you would say just move to another state so easy to be on the higher end of that economic fence.

After having read most of the comments regarding WalMart, I just have to say that it only represents the fact that the country is polarized.  Not by red and blue states but by thems that got and thems that don’t.
I will wager that those people critical of Unions and, in general, those doing a ‘monkey’s’ job never had to work for minimum wage or never had to go without insurance and are not remotely close to the poverty level.
It doesn’t take a genius to go back about 40 years to see that things were remarkably different.  Back then, a company claimed a profit on the return of their product sales, while still providing benefits to their employees.  Some were as a result of Unions but a lot were from honest business owners who valued their employees.  But over the years, in order to make a profit or an even bigger profit, companies started changing the rules by manipulating full time and part time standards, eligibility standards for benefits and other areas of an employees benefit package that would only add to a companies profit margin.
On the other hand, I also blame the American worker who no longer knows the meaning of the word solidarity.  They do not realize the power they yield.  They have been thrust so far into fear that they do not dare stand up for themselves or each other.
The religious right expounds daily about Christ and morals etc., etc. but I doubt that any of them would sacrifice their lives in an arena and face the lions.
If everyone who worked at a WalMart or any other greedy corporate concern just called off one day...one days wages...do you realize what would happen to Wal Mart and the other companies.
Oppressed countries that were under Communist rule showed us what solidarity was.  When an entire nation calls off and refused to go to work.  Can any of you imagine what a selfless act like that can do for individual basic rights?
Just remember this, Republicans have always represented the Employer, Democrats have always represented the worker.  Neither are stellar examples perfection, but history has shown us time and time again that workers prospered under a Democratic government.  The prosperity of the Clinton years wasn’t all that long ago.  Gas prices are up and the Gas companies say that they aren’t making money when it shows that they are reaping in huge profits.  And who has passed the rules over the past 5 years protecting those companies profits?
Grow up America.  Try to remember what your parents and grandparents work ethics were and try to recapture some of that pride and strength to stand up for what is rightfully yours.  You make the product so why not be rewarded with a fair wage and benefits.
So all of you critics who want to bash the people who wait on your sorry asses at the Wal Mart, get back into your SUV’s and crawl back to the subvdivisions from wence you came.

I’ve been with Wal-Mart almost 20 years. From its entry into this area, people have flocked to each location. If Wal-Mart is so bad, why do people shop there 24 hours a day, year round save for Christmas when we are closed. By the way, it is the people that complain that we are closed that one day. I make a good wage for the area I live and yes I have very good benifits. Four weeks vacation with pay and personel and sick time given out by the amount of hours I work. I work 40 hours a week and do get paid for every minute over that. Sure we have our faughts, but show me any company that doesn’t. Thank you and God Bless

If you think Walmart is bad, you should look into the way Costco treats it’s long term employees.

I’ve read the Wal-Mart memo in detail. It’s two sentences on page 10 that doom them (disuading unheathly people from working at Wal-Mart). Having said that, and to be objective, the rest of the memo seems to be nothing more than a company trying to make smart decisions. Let’s look at it: They evaluated employee morale and perception, they considered a 401(k), they’re looking at MSAs, in store health clinics, finding ways to lower premiums, and looking for more efficient medical doctors. The mention of Medicaid I think was to point out what it’s already costing the governemnt (that would be us tax payers), and that people may have the “all you can eat” buffet mentality when it comes to treatment and make bad choices (like going to ER when an office visit is more appropriate). I’ve experienced “free” or “socialized” medicine and it doesn’t work. This is partly becasue people use it in the wrong ways for two reasons - 1. It’s “free” (which it really isn’t...look at the taxes paid), or 2. The taxes are so outrageous that people “want to get their money’s worth.” The end result is that everyone gets lousy health care.

I would not condemn Wal-Mart for looking at alternatives. I would condemn them for the one statement. Also, for people who can do it, physical activity is good, not bad. Look, MSAs are not bad, in store clinics are not bad, 401(k)s are not bad, in fact, most of what they discuss is not bad. Instead here is what IS bad:

The “associates” aren’t paid well, but neither is anyone else in retail. Why? Well, in part it’s becasue just like most people writing in this blog, we all refuse to pay a little more for products which forces cuts elsewhere. That makes Wal-Mart and others run to China for products instead of buying from US manufacturers and it depresses pay to all US employees. I don’t think Wal-Mart has a bunch of Saints on staff, but I also believe they’re not all running around with horns and hooves either. Will you pay a few more dollars for something made in the US to help? We all share in the problem.

Walmart is the worst thing to happen to America in the last 50 years.  So they have low prices.  You end up paying for it in the end.  Look at all the employees they have on Medicaid that is payed for by taxpayers.  Look at how they drive businesses to China or out of business.  Rubbermaid is a perfect example.  At Wooster, Ohio they closed Rubbermaid HQ and the manufacturing facility because they couldn’t handle the constant squeezing from Walmart for lower prices. Now, for all you meatheads with degrees who will argue for low prices, you’re too stupid to realize that the low prices are just a cover up for piss poor quality.  You DO NOT pay less, you PAY MORE in the long run.  How many of you have bought a TV or Microwave recently and it only lasted 1 or 2 years???  That’s because low prices are facilitated by inferior quality.  I worked for a large pump manufacturer who gradually cheapened their product to the point where it would barely work.  What was once a great, well respected brand is now just another piece of Chinese junk.  Also, they found themselves with a higher than normal amount of lawsuits because of flooded basements.  Imagine that!! 
So, we are not paying less, we are sacrificing quality for quantity.
The only way a company that huge can be run efficiently is by screwing the little guy(s) and that is exactly what’s happening.  I doubt if Walmart’s execs are especially hard working or brilliant.  They just have no problem screwing their fellow man.  If anyone thinks they are God’s gift to the workforce, I’ll buy you a plane ticket to Ohio and we’ll see how hard your pansy ass can work.  Sitting in a classroom for 16 years doesn’t count as work.  That whole “hard work” bit is f@%^ing old.

I WORK AT WALMART NOW GOIN ON 2 YEARS IN JUNE. I LOVE THE MGRS THEY ARE NICE I LOVE THE WORKERS WHO ARE LIKE ANOTHER FAMILY FOR ME...IT PAYS MY BILLS AND MY MORTGAGE PYMT...IF PEOPLE HATE WALMART GO SHOP SOMEWHERE ELSE..I WORKED FOR KMART FOR 5 YEARS AS WELL RETAIL WILL ALWAYS BE AROUND..MOST EVERYWHERE YOU SHOP NOW DAYS HAS A TAG FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT IS HOW IT IS.....JOBS ARE HARD TO COME BY SO I AM GLAD AND PROUD TO WORK AT WALMART.

Hey its all about Control, Power, and Money, this is the agenda with most corporations. Where you are in the ladder of live depends how much of this is going to affect you. Sadly we dont live in a society that is humanitarian in nature, but being a Christian i know what is ‘presently’ controling the mammon ‘money’ of this world.  worked for Wal~mart was asked to work off the clock was manipultated in schedule and after i refused to work off clock so that the store could look good suddenly i wasnt being a team player and my work was then unacceptable and not performing my duties in a timely manner or scope.. and through all that no it is ture once fired or quit once you are marked for non-rehire you are not likely to be hired anywhere in the walmart empire no matter where you go.

While I do not agree with the strategies for the new “lower our costs” plan, I cannot say I am surprised.  Companies are always looking for ways to lower their business costs and not all of them choose publically-acceptable options.

I do have to respond, though to certain things here.

Some health plans provided by Walmart do suck but the one I have for my family is not bad.  The cost to me will decrease in January by almost $100 a pay period and will have the same coverage as my current plan. 

As for the mention of PLANTAR FASCITIS, which is a heel spur, it is individual plans that affect the coverage of treatment.  I went to a Podiatrist for this several years ago, less than a year after being hired.  Not only was my treatment covered by my plan, it also covered the entire cost of prescription shoe inserts specifically designed for me.  After wearing these inserts for several months to get used to them, I had no more pain.  Even after working so many hours on my feet and then having to walk a mile to get home afterward.

Maybe some people get the shaft on things but that is definitely not the case with EVERYone.

Walmart is not the best company to work for.  I have yet to FIND the best.  It is much better than my 2 previous employers.  I worked for over 7 years at the last one and was making only $8.50 an hour after that time.  In a year, we averaged $0.20 in raises.  At Walmart, I get more than twice that much every year, and more with merit raises, which where I work I have to ask for those.  Merit raises are not just given out.  They are earned and asking for them usually means getting one because only those who work hard and feel the truly deserve it would actually ask for it.

I have no problem with the store I work at.  There were some managers who were not great and have since been replaced by better ones.  For the most part, they are tolerant, they are fair and they treat us well.  The ones I work with that don’t feel they are treated well are the ones who want more pay for less work.  IE, “I push a broom or I push mop behind the scrubber all night so I should be paid a lot more than the people stocking shelves!” HAHA I just laugh because I know they will either quit ("I hate this job") or be fired (for not doing their job to the best of their ability).

The only manager we have now that I don’t particularly care for is no longer giving me problems.  We have had our talks and have come to an understanding now.  He leaves me alone.

Regarding low benefits, no I cannot afford the BEST plan (what is that anyway??).  My youngest daughter is on HealthWave because she qualifies and it saves us a lot in bills, though she doesn’t need much medical care.  Her coverage costs us nothing month to month and nearly nothing for each visit.

There are good points and bad with Walmart but it’s the same wherever you go.  Nothing is perfect.  But where I work, it is pretty good.

That’s one way to look at it, C.L.  But Wal-Mart has been propagandizing to make themselves look like a family-friendly, employee-friendly place; yet WM employees across the country tell a very different story.  That’s hypocrisy in my books.

Also, the phrase “attract a healthier workforce” too often translates in practice to “fire the sick.”

As an industry leader, Wal-Mart morally should use its leverage to benefit its employees, its customers, and the country as a whole.  Instead they’re juggling figures to make sure they pay fewer bennies.  And some of those “limited-risk initiatives” would further cement the “managed-care” system into American health care, meaning some accountant in Hartford or New York has more control over my healthcare than my doctor or I.

Wal-Mart may be a leader, but it’s not leading.  So I’m not going to follow.

i work for wal- mart. and alot of what was said true.wal-mart
managment has come up with a not so new policy.now instead of managment giving you the hours that you can work in what ever department you might work in. they are going by what the sales of each department has been forecasted. so if you can only work 7am-4pm m-f and the sales for that department only has available 10-7 thur-m. and there are no such hours that you need available , you in every sence of the word don`t have any hours . and what i understand is that not all wal-mart stores are doing this. it up to the district and stores manament.

AND I RESPECT ANYONE WILLING AND ABLE TO THE THOSE JOBS FAR MORE THAN THE CANDY ASS UPPER CLASS IN AMERICA THAT GROAN AND MOAN WHEN A DIME IS EARNED THAT THEY CANT HAVE. THE ELITIST ARE KILLING THIS REPUBLIC BY DISRESPECTING THE BASIC WORKERS BY RIDICULING THEM FOR NOT BEING A PART THIER OWN CLASS . THERES A HUGE FAILURE OF MORALS AND ECONOMIC KNOWLEDGE WHEN THE UPPER CLASSES TAKE FOR GRANTED THE BASE WORKERS.YES I SAID REPUBLIC NOT DEMOCRACY. THE WHOLESALE PROPAGANDA OF THE CORPRATIONS TO TRY CLAIM THIS IS DEMOCRACY IS JUST THAT A LIE TOLD SO THAT THEY CAN MARGALIZE AND DEGRADE ALL AMERICAN RIGHTS AS A FREE AND EQUAL CITIZEN IN A FREE REPUBLIC WHERE THE RIGHTS OF THE CITIZEN TRUMP THE RIGHTS OF CORPRATIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT . AMERICA WAS FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPAL ALL MEMBERS ARE EQUAL. IN A DEMOCRACY THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO THE STATE . IN REPUPLIC THE INDIVIDUAL IS THE STATE WE THE PEOPLE REMEMBER?

BALLS TO THE WAL-MART

Sam Walton was a self-made man
Who left an empire for his clan
He sold goods made in the States
And touted this for his low rates

But Wal-Mart’s had a change of face
Since Uncle Sam was in the race
Now the goods come from the east
To stuff the belly of this beast

The price is low, but not the cost
When you look at what’s been lost
Labor rights and health care booted
Local infrastructure looted

Value lies in public “Commons”
Not the lies of corporate shamans
Whose promises have plasticized
Since Wal-Mart has metastasized -SDS,
8/10/05

this company is a joke and they should be ashamed cause i worked for wal-mart and i can add more gasoline to that blaze cause i worked there for 6 months and i know a whole lot of things. i can’t believe that company - shame on them i know alot of co - workers so now they are gonna lose their jobs due to their ailing sicknesses they are cruel and heartless oh i would love to let the whole know what i know and they con people and simply lie to their customers and have an attittude and store mgrs flirting it is sickening

It’s all just a big conspiracy, right?

If we really want to look at the facts, it all comes down to one equation. When Wal-mart implements or enforces a rule, it uses only one formula. Lretsw look at the topic of harassment. Dictionary.com has the following definitions:

1) To irritate or torment persistently.
2) To wear out; exhaust.
3) To impede and exhaust (an enemy) by repeated attacks or raids.

From the company perspective, if Wal-mart harasses its associates and a profit was made for the company, then no harm was done. The associate should have done more to protect him or herself. However, if the associate retaliates or harasses Wal-mart in exactly the same manner, they are in violation of one of the core company beliefs - Respect for the individual. The use of double-standards is at the core of Wal-Marts infrastructure. It has resulted in broken and threatened marriages for the associate, severe depression of the associate and complete mental breakdown. Its “all in a days work” according to the Wal-Mart culture. If Wal-mart held itself to the same standards as is imposes against those who are not part of its system, it wouldn’t have grown to the size that it is today. This world has a cancerous tumor on it and it’s name is Wal-Mart. When a company begins to treat its associates like a grape processing plant: Pull them in, squeeze them for all the resources they have, then shove them out the rear door as quickly as possible, it is then time to disassemble the walls of that entity so that it is no more. The stench of this corporation continues to seep out into the streets of this world and has finally reached the front door of my house, yet Wal-mart totally rejects the idea that they are at fault. That, my friends, is called a delusion. I almost forgot, my name represents the very thing Wal-mart did to me when I stood up against its treatment of fellow associates.

In my opinion, the problem isn’t Wal-Mart paying low wages. The problem is the effect it has on other jobs in the region.

Wal-Mart comes in and pays their employees, say, $8.50 an hour. The small chain discounter down the street, who used to pay cashiers $11.00 an hour, now has to cut their employee’s wages. Still, competition is almost always futile.

We should be paying for employee’s heathcare at the checkout line, not in our taxes.

Wal-Mart is the prime example of what I call “anti-social capitalism,” or to quote Frank Zappa, “Greed’s the key.”

What we need is a “social capitlalism,” that serves society as well as stockholders.

The complaints come from a minority. If that were not the case, walmart would not be producing such massive profits. if the majority of north americans were morally opposed to walmart’s antics they would shop elsewhere. period.

Geez,

Thank god I live in a city that doesn’t have a Wal-Mart. It seems that here in Seattle we have it pretty good. The average wage here is quite a bit higher than the national average and health care coverage hits a wider percentile than the national average. Union membership is also twice as high as the national average. Unlike in some small towns in the midwest with two or more Wal-Marts where underemployment seems to be the standard and medicaid is the rule we here in Seattle can rely on most of our big companies to take care of us as long as we take care of them and not all of them are union.

Wal-Mart will not come here because they have no place here. We don’t need them and I feel terrible for the areas that have been monopolized by WM. That’s what they do, they stifle competition in a geographical market and keep the people there on the bottom line so they have no choice but to allow their lives to revolve around WM and substandard wages and benefits.

Cynics tell WM workers to “get another job, it’s that easy” when if they have ever had financial problems they would know that quitting one job and finding another when you have little education (or means to an education) is very difficult. Cynics are a bitter and tired people - they lack passion, clarity and a sense of beauty.

My heroes are the coal miners who went on strike for themselves and for their families, the textile workers, the machinists and grocery workers. THOSE WERE NOT JUST UNIONS THOSE WERE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME.

Anyone who can doubt the resolve of the WM workers is a cynic and can go to hell.

I work at safeway and i’m glad that i have UFCW unionization. So what if you have to pay 33 bucks a month. If safeway wasn’t union, i’d be getting paid minimum wage.  The difference in pay is plenty enough to cover union dues. Also, can’t really complain about prices at all, especially compared to kmart or target, who are non-union btw.

And to all these democratic theorists, everyone in america does NOT have an equal opportunity. There are people who have no means of working anywhere but walmart, mcdonalds, target, etc. They’re called the lower-class.

At least they seem to be looking at the problem. In Canada, the healthcare issue is gone, since we have universal healthcare and do not have to pay (other than through taxation). Maybe if the same energy was put into forcing your gov to provide universal healthcare, you wouldn’t need a handout from private corporations. If I owned a company, I wouldn’t want to pay. Funny how employees dont get that. I think WM has a certain profit margin on huge volume. If you have a million employees, then any increases are significant. $1 an hour on 40 hrs/week.....that one dollar now means 2 billion a year!!
I don’t get the obese thing though. I could lose about 20lbs, but what’s with the 500 lb people at Walmart? Maybe WM should put some gyms in the store.

I’ve been working for Wal-Mart for almost two years, and over this time period I have begun to realize how badly we’re treated. I work the Customer Service desk, which is probably the most overworked department in the entire store because:

1) We ALWAYS (no pun intended) get our breaks and lunches late. After anyone works six straight hours without clocking out for lunch, the register system will automatically lock an associate’s operator number out. I’ve been very close to the lockout a number of times, and have actually approahced operator lockout twice. The CSM’s will also screw up the schedule and send someone else who got there before me to break or lunch. I will bring it to their attention and they’ll just tell me to wait.

2) Management NEVER kicks out customers who become hostile, when the store policy says they have to. We get the usual verbally abusive customers on the daily basis, but on occassion we’ve also had people who get physically aggressive, to the point where they’ll throw merchandise back at us that we couldn’t give them a refund for. Even after such occurences, management has never done what they’re supposed to do...kick them out of the store. Instead, they give the customer what he or she wanted, which infuriates the associates who took all the abuse because they deserved otherwise!

3) We NEVER leave on time. We may “do nothing but stock shelves and push carts”, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have lives outside the workplace. Management recently added a rule whereas no Service Desk associate can go home until all returned merchandise is sorted out per department. I work at one of the busiest stores in our district and it is nearly an impossibility to do this. We always end up going home AT LEAST an hour late.

On top of all this, many Wal-Mart CSM’s get big-headed and treat the cashiers and Service Desk associates unfairly, but they’re probably as overworked as we are. Fortunately, I’m getting educated and I will be done with some computer training I’m receiving into early next year, which will be my ticket out of Wal-Mart. Unless you absolutely have no other choice, I do not recommend employment here. The retail business is tough enough as it is. At first you will be treated nicely, but just because you’re new. After that, it’s all downhill. I’m literally waiting for Wal-Mart to collapse under its own weight because it all looks too good to be true and it’s scary that they’re as big as they are now. However, throughout history, all great empires have succumbed. It’s just a matter of time now.

YOU ALL ARE CRAZY!!!
WALMART FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I work for wal-mart in a small town in Indiana. They constantly put unreasonable demands on people to do large loads of freight on night shift. This is why there are so many work related injuries coming from a wal-mart store. People don’t realize the amount of physical exertion put on a wal-mart employee when stocking. It is one of the most physically tiring jobs I’ve ever had. The subterfuge in the store is like none I’ve ever seen. I’ve been promised raises on several occasions, only to be told later that the “home office” won’t allow it. Wal-marts doing a big injustice in turning it’s back on the older population. Yes, they have to pay out a lot in healthcare, but the majority of people that work in wal-mart are older citizens. It will never be appealing to the younger crowd because of the physical exertion they put on them and the little pay. Every day they put unreasonable demands on me that couldn’t be reached by the HEALTHIEST employee. They have something there called the “open door” policy, which is basically a way of them finding out where you stand at wal-mart so they can decide whether to keep you or not.  Wal-mart has basically put a stranglehold on all the smaller companies and other retail outlets around here. They offer you people lower costs, but what good is that if there’s no jobs because of it.  THey “influence” producers to go overseas to cut down costs. So what happens to the economy. Other retailers try to compete with WAl-mart, they start sending their producers overseas, pretty soon the US is a non-producing country, and wal-marts sitting on the cash cow grinning. Whatever happened to ethics? Is that a thing of the past? So wal-mart doesnt earn an extra couple million. Sam Walton is rolling over in his grave.

Anyone defending Wal-Mart here should read the report on Wal-Mart Watch about how they squeeze their suppliers so hard, their suppliers often end up outsourcing to other countries where the wages are low, low, low and workers get no benefits and there are no enviornmental or other regulations.

If you are an American worker defending this company, you are cutting your own throat, because your company may well wind up sending your job to a Mexican worker in Mexico where they will pay him a fraction of what you make. What’s the cost of “everyday low prices” at Wal-Mart?  Your job. That’s the cost.

I am getting sick and tired of all of you nay-sayers when it comes to Wal-Mart and China.  You people are constantly stating that Wal-Mart buys all of its merchandise in China.  C’mon...get a grip.  The next time you go make a statement about China or any other imports, look around.  Where are the clothes you are wearing made?  Bangladesh??  Korea??  China?  Where was the computer that you are visiting walmartwatch.com made?  Probably not in the USA.  What kind of car do you drive?  Where were all of the parts that make up that “American Made” car made or assembled?  Get a grip...stop blaming Wal-mart for everythying....

Secondly, if the great unions that all work for Ford, GM, and Chrysler would build an automobile that was as good as the Europeans or Chinese, perhaps that would help out the situation.  You all know that foreign cars are more reliable than American cars, right? 

Think about it....and then pull out your paystub and look at your union dues amount.....what did that pay for????

Hey people...for 5 yrs I worked for the US Chamber of Commerce the worlds largest business loby in DC.  Walmart contributes over a million dollars every year to make sure the Congress sides with big businesses, not business in general .... but big business.
Walmart is so big at the headquarters in DC. they have a conference room named for them (many large companys have this privlidge because of their large contributions)
The chamber states it represents over 3 million of the 26 million busniesses when in actuallity they only have around 50,000 paying members and the bulk of the money comes from large businesses like Walmart.
The problems is not businesses but the large corporations who are turning the USA into a 3rd world nation. Tens of thousands of jobs every year are going off shore, Walmart is no different....What happened to Sam Waltons policy if its made in America he will buy it no matter what the cost....Whats made in America anymore?  Look to the corporate greed and the thousands of people who lost their jobs at Worldcom and Enron...Walmart and others will follow suit, and if they do...are we looking at a depression down the road? 
The Root is Corporate Greed.... look at the gas prices and how those prices are now dropping at the big 5 oil
producers get ready to post 28Billion in profits.....

Bottom line---What will we as voters do to stop Corporate Greed!!!!!

WlaMart good to me.  Pay fifty cent hour.  make good junk for WalMart.  Get rice ration good.

walmart is like a teenager with a credit card their going to use it until there is no credit left and no interest left. Supercenters are like a sponge in the citys soak up all the resouces and leave it dry. And the question of the day is why do we let these companys and the goverment and private sectors walk all over us and say they it’s good for all the states in the u.s when are we going to take back the goverment and throw out big companys!

It appears time for an economic revolt against the companies that fund George W Bush and the Republican Party.

http://www.hoflink.com/~dbaer/petitions.htm

Walmart is the result of a society that worships personal monetary gain over the good of the society. It amazes me how people, who make incredibly large salaries and benefits, can even suggest how to reduce wages and benefits for the working poor.  They then justify their actions by saying using the tired excuses of having a better education and the need to pursue ever-increasing corporate profits. In reality, these people have forgotten that a organization, country, planet is only a strong as its weakest link. No wonder the US is in such a sorry state!

First I have had dislike for walmart for more than 20 years.

I have never worked there.

Do you realize the average IQ in the US is less than 100?

I have never been to a Wal-Mart and found anyone with an IQ of more that 100.

So stupid people work there and stupid people shop there.

So there you go… a stupid company with shrewd money grubbing executives that hires only stupid people.

Just because you have money does not make you intelligent.

Looks like the collapse is starting.  I hardly go to Wally-World anymore (except in the VERY early morning).  In additon to the crowds, I can hardly find what I am looking for.  Sometimes, I have seen where someone just taped over a box that was torn open and place it back on the shelf.  Heck, I think that KMart (now that it has gotten their crap together), looks better than the Wal.

If you don’t want to work there go somewhere else.  If you don’t want to shop there shop somewhere else. 
If you would quit worrying about their policies and do something productive the country would be better off.

walmart bullies companies into providing their products to walmart for lower and lower prices.
walmart is so large, that the threat of not being able to sell your product at walmart has huge implications. That is why companies give in to walmart’s bullying on the price issue.

walmart looks for many ways to decrease the amount of money spent on each employee (wages, health insurance, benefits) all the while increasing the amount of money they are putting in the pockets of the walton family.

When walmart does not pay its fair share of the health care of their employees, the rest of American taxpayers pay for the healthcare of walmart employees, through Medicare and Public Assistance.

To tell walmart workers to just “go get a different job” is not a reasonable suggestion. The divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots” in this country is growing ever larger. Not everyone can afford to get a decent college education, so just getting a better job is not as easily done as it is said.

walmart is putting out of business so many “mom and pop” stores that we are losing workers who understand how to run a business that is good for both the community and the workers. walmart’s only goal is to increase their profits. They do not care about the long-range consequences of their actions, other than how much money they can stuff into their pockets.

I refuse to shop at walmart, because I would rather pay more for something, knowing that it was not created in a sweatshop, and that all employees, all along the production and sale of the item have been treated fairly.

SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!
WAL-MART IS YOUR MASTER, SO SHUT UP AND BOW DOWN NOW YOU FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did the easy thing. I emigrated to another country. Gave up my American passport. Recieved a very fair wage, a better quality of life, and a hell of a lot more respect. Oh yeah, and some excellent heathcare at almost NO cost to me out of pocket.

I refuse to shop at any “chain store.” Sometimes this costs me a bit of money but at least I am supporting the wages of people who earn a good sum of money for their services. Spending an extra dollar (Euro) or two to keep Wal-Mart or Starbucks out is worth it to me.

I just hope to whatever is above that Wal-Mart stays out of Holland.

From looking at the blogs in this newsletter it explains a lot. Monkies work at wal-mart,stupid people work at wal-mart. I have an extremely high I.Q. and I work at wal-mart. Leave it to Americans to put their egos into play. The bottom line is Wal-Mart is INFLUENCING people to produce their product overseas! Yes....a lot of companies do this to compete with prices, but when you have the majority of the product on the shelves made in another country there is a problem. Wal-Mart leads by example. All the retailers that are competing with them will follow suit just to stay in the competition. What does that mean for the American economy...total collapse, and to say that all we want working at Wal-mart are younger healthier people reminds me of another person....Hitler. A superior race of Wal-Mart employees...what A Utopian dream. The people that work at Wal-Mart are there out of circumstance. I worked in a factory for four years and it moved to south carolina is why I work there now. The fact of the matter is that, yes Wal-Mart does need younger people to help with the immense flow of freight coming in every night, but they pay their unloaders 6.50 an hour. How many other places do you know of that pay so little for a warehouse environment. From this blog I can see that us as a nation are hopeless. It’s a war between the have’s and the have-nots and it always will be. Whatever looks good on paper. They could save such and such millions of dollars if they take out the elderly and the sick...Darwin would be proud.

I go to great lengths to avoid Wal-Mart.  Whenever I can I go to Costco.  Unfortunately they are not in New Orleans yet.  I stay with relatives is rural Mississippi sometimes.  WalMart has put many other businesses out of business and sometimes I have no choice.  Costco is great.  If Costco can give good insurance to everyone, why can’t WalMart.  The answer is greed.

all Walmart does is to perpetuate its own customer base by making sure its employs cant afford to shop anywhere else

Wal-Mart sells for less . . . because they squeeze their suppliers for lower prices.  The suppliers lose profit margin.  To make it up, they start sending American jobs overseas.  The unemployed need a new job . . . some of them will end up wearing the blue vest.  With their new, lower wages they can only afford to shop at the Wal-Mart store.  There is a serious macroeconomic issue here . . . Cheapskates are saving themselves and the rest of America right out of work.

This line is hilariously ignorant..

“To make up for it, they start sending American jobs overseas.”

American jobs.  Why are these jobs only entitled to Americans.  Do chinese people not deserve jobs that they are willing to do for less then Americans?  Is it because Walmart was founded in the U.S. that people think that it should get all it´s labor from the U.S.  Well maybe China, Japan, India, and Europe should ask their companies to get all of their companies´ jobs out of the U.S.—and since we gain more jobs from foreign companeis then we lose overseas from our domestic companies—you morons condon the overall loss of jobs in the U.S.

America is rich in intelectual capital and we gain alot of jobs from overseas that come here for exactly that.  Since that is what we are good at, we concetrate on that, and those are the sectors that are growing.  If you havn´t gone to school (which is apparantly the case) look up comparative advantage in any high school economics textbook.

China doesn´t have alot of intelectual capital but it does have alot of man power.  They are willing to work for much fewer dollars than we are, and therefore americans get much cheaper goods, and the Chinese workers get better pay (5$ an hour in China is alot there.)

100 years ago over 80% of U.S. worked in agriculture.  The same crap was spouted then as machines and corporations took over about them stealing jobs and putting people out of work.  Today, less then 2% works in agriculture—and you know what—it´s called progress.  Instead of working on a farm, bill gates started microsoft, and so on.

Being poor in the U.S. is nothing like being poor in india or China.  Take 15,000 a year to those countries and your living pretty.  Somone is always on the bottom, and those people are always complaining because they feel they deserve so much more—as if they are entitled to a great life just for being born and being average.  You educate yourself and you compete for resources and wealth—no one owes you anything.  If you push a cart at walmart, it´s your fault, and your job is probobly worth a whole lot less if it wasn´t for minimum wage.  Foreign people with no resources and no education come to this country and do better then you do in 10 years because they are hard working and understand that you have to compete, and work hard to get anywhere.  Not sit on your ass as a casheir for 10 years and think you deserve all the luxuries of life.

Hilarious that everyone is going after walmart as well.  Do you think that you´d get paid more as a casheir somewher else?  You know how many jobs would be lost if walmart went under?  How much more expensive goods would be?  People on this forumn are so obviously ignorant and un-educated in everything they say, it´s not wonder they´re working minimum wage.

Take a hint from darwin.

walmart is a big bad beast!! walmart has a love-hate relationship with this country. if you hate walmart - shop elsewhere!! all employees of all companies are mistreated, walmart is the flavor of the minute. i used to work for walmart - i didn’t hate it, i was only abused by the customers who were so pissed off that we couldn’t sell something for less or that we couldn’t manifest an item from midair. walmart actually worked with my schedule while i was in college, i even had healthcare!! i don’t think a union is the answer to any problems. i used to belong to a union while i worked at kroger, and it just took my money, it didn’t do anything for me (i was not eligable for healthcare, but i had to pay dues anyways).
walmart is an evil entity, so is george w bush - but we can’t stop him either.
yes, the goods sold at walmart come from overseas. i wish they could come from america, but you know what? NO ONE would pay the price they’d have to charge for something made in the states.
what about the healthcare offered at mcdonalds
what about the healthcare offered at costco
what about the healthcare provided for our elderly??

Just one question for any employee of Wal-Mart???
At what point did Wal-Mart come knocking on your door asking you to come to work for them? If I understand the way APPLYING FOR A JOB Work, you probably went to wal-mart,,applied for a job, got a call,,,,interviewed,,,at some point you accepted what wal-mart offered.......and you went to work....Please help me understand what part of that whole deal has wal-mart screwing you?
I have shopped wal-mart for many, many years and of the entire wal-mart uniform (smock ) I have yet to see the chain that is holding anyone there. WAKE UP AMERICA!! The life you lead was the life you chose,,,,if you don’t like the way the ball rolls, change it’s path.

rikku,
I agree, most of what wal-mart sales may be made over seas,,and the reason for this is; American workers have become so greedy that they want to be paid $75k per yr to assemble a picture frame, or sew a garment,,,,,if we want more products manufactured and bought in the good ‘ole USA,,,then we as Americans have got to learn to live a more humble life, drop the greed,,, we complain about paying $3.00 for a gallon of gas, yet we will spend $5.00 for a six pack of beer which equals 72 oz. and at a cost of $.06.9444 per oz. this equals about $8.89 per gallon for BEER? Yet where’s the media jumping on this one? Where’s the greedy American complaining about the cost of a gallon of Beer?,,,Again I say,,,WAKE UP AMERICA!

wait a minute,,,,,,,,,$8.89 per gallon of Beer????  man I wished I hadn’t took the time to think about that,,,,dang,,,now I hate to buy beer LOL

I don’t see any real issues with the memo on Wal*Mart’s health care initiatives.  I have to agree that attracting a more healthy workforce makes sense to most companies.  They are talking about improving benefits by implementing methods used everywhere else (i.e. offering HMO’s, encouraging workers to live a healthy lifestyle, discourage use of emergency rooms and encourage regular doctor visits, etc.  Is this whole campaign against Wal*Mart union-driven?  Almost sounds like it is.

I think the whole “Scandel” concerning Wal mart is a bunch of emotional wish wash that soemone thought up because of some totaly irrelevent personal issue.
as Scott said: you APPLY for a job. If you don’t like the pay you’re getting, get a new one! but don’t blame it on the company. they’re trying to grow just like any other company. and honestly, it sounds really hypocrytical and foolish of people to be gettign mad at Wal mart for wanting to grow bigger and better when all they’re the ones wanting more money.
Everyones driven by riches these days, and NOW peopel are starting to get mad at each other for it, cuz they’re getting in each others way.
I mean really, Look at all the Starbucks and Macdonnalds that are consistantly popping up all over the place. why is it that Wal mart has become such a big concern, and Starbucks and Micky D’s are left to roam freely??

I absolutely agree that Wal-mart’s practices regarding labor are dishonest.  I worked overnights there for about four months, and in that time, I saw many people asked to take four-hour “lunches” so Wal-mart could avoid paying them overtime for a twelve-hour day they were required to work.

are you people just not seeing the real picture about wal-mart. not only are they bad to their employees, they are bad for the consumer also. CHEAP PRICES, CHEAP PRODUCT, wake up and smell the coffee will you people. they also run small town mom amd pop business’ out of business, what is it going to take to get you to realize that!!! and another question, does any, any of the walton family or the hierarchy of wal-mart shop in their own stores?hmmmm, mKe you wander does’nt it

hi,

i disagree with wal mart. the reason why i don’t shop there is, because of the sweat shops. the sweat shops disgust me most of all.\ i don’
t agree with how people get payed under mininmum wage, to do hard work. they should be getting at least minumum wage. maybe higher., cause minumum wage is n’t enough to live off of these days. especially not considering how the costs of daily living, have sky rocketed. also, i believe that walmart needs to treat their employees better. once, i met a woman on a bus that i was catching, that told me she had quit her job at walmart. why? it turns out that even though she had told her boss that she needed to leave early to catch the last bus home, he kept her overtime. as a result, she was forced to walk home in the dark. this is unsafe. employees don’t need to be treated such disrespectfully. as a result, unless walmart is willing to give their employees better benefits, let them leave earlier, if they’re dependent on public transportation, and give them better pay, i will boycott them! this is my way of letting them know, hey, give people their rights!

Walmart, quite simply, is a very ungratifying shopping experience:  who actually enjoys going there for their purchases?  Overcrowded aisles, under-educated employees, off brand clothing, its alot like shopping in Mexico.  No thanks.

OK PEOPLE, I’m gonna say this O-N-E M-O-R-E T-I-M-E
people have a choice,,,work for wal-mart,,,don’t work for wal-mart,,,,,shop at wal-mart,,,don’t shop at wal-mart. why do so many people complain, put down, piss and moan about something they have control over,,,ya know, if ya don’t like the song on the radio, for cripes sakes change the freakin channel. :o)

and by the way, it doesn’t take a high IQ to figure this out, look where I’m from LOL

Mexico. Mexico. Mexico.  Walk the aisles at Walmart and it feels like Mexico:  special “i know that brand, but cant believe they made that version of the product offerings” I’m wearing my sombraro next time I go to Walmart.

I can’t cipher wehter use folkses likes complainin’ or jess likes to see whut you is rightin on this here fancy typin machene, yunses is callin folkses that wurks at wallyworld dumb or stupid when halfen of yall spells worsen than i dus.  But i undirstand yunses frustrations when a bunches of yuns haft ta spind your hard irnd muny that you made at earls grease rack/bar and grill/antique shop -->do yuns wont fries wid dat, spint it at waw-mart. tern off this dang puter and go kiss yur yunguns and tell em dat you luv dem, and firgit all dis bichin

Inbreeds.  Complete inbreeds working for Walmart at the corporate office.  You actually wake up, look yourself in the mirror and contribute to such a company.  Lets face it, you could be a part of influencing the companies policy.  Or just push the paper and the politics.  Inbreeds.  Total inbreeds.

another emloyee of jack in the Box

My God!  It’s frightening and disgusting to read the comments from people whose attitude is simply “If you don’t like it, find another job.” Are they too blind to see the big picture or just too stupid?  Too brainwashed is probably more accurate. These are people who would tell those who died in the Triangle Factory fire that they deserved to burn to death since they chose to work there.  What astounding ignorance of history!  But then what do you expect when the average person would rather park his/her fat behind in front of the tube than take the time and trouble to read a book.

These are also the hypocrites who happily take their sick leave and paid vacations and holidays, all the while complaining about the unions.  I am an engineer who worked for a large aerospace company for some time.  The engineers were not unionized but the blue-collar people were.  The non-union types often complained about the union, but by God when those union benefits happened to trickle up to us, nobody had to twist their arms to take them. 

To those who look with disdain on their fellow man who happens to be in a position to be exploited by thieves in business suits, watch out.  You never know when, through no fault of your own, you might find yourself in the same vulnerable place, hoping for more understanding and compassion than you were willing to show your neighbor.

As for the Walton family, they are simply beneath contempt.

wow, the “entitled” right is really pounding this web site.
they want blame nurses, and the people who work at wall-mart for the fact that they are unable to afford health insurance.
I have 2 words: MAXIMUM WAGE.

Walmart is nothing but a arge store attempting toraise income and lowe expenses.  Thetseem to no be able to strong arm suppliers as much ast hey have in the past.  Ever notice that they really have limted merchandise as to kind (ie.  few brands ofc anned goods), If you ask about variety you are told that they only buy the best sellers.  How can they know what is the best seller as they limit their purchasesa s what they can buy the cheapest. THEY BUY CHEAP, PAY EMPLOYEES CHEAP, TREATTHEIR EMPLOYEES CHEAP.

I read about half of the responses regarding the memo. I’m NOT suprised by its contents. I work for a large competitor of Wal-Mart and I can safely say they too are slowly forcing their employees to HSA’s. Well I don’t like it, especially being a baby boomer, there’s NOT much I can do about it.

I will also say, for those of you that have a company provided health plan, be prepared, because you too will be FORCED to using an HSA.

Someone compared companies such a Lowes and Target, in regards to size, to Wal-Mart. Such companies are no where close to Wal-Mart. After all, they are the largest company in the world.

It is APPALLING to read comments that are hostile to unions, and that reveal a vicious hatred towards organized labor.

It was thanks to the great organized labor victories of the 1930’s that workers in the United States were able to make enough money to become part of the American middle class.

The great industrial unions in this country were built without thinking about the impact of “passing the higher costs of unionized labor over to the consumer”.

Hostility to unions because the increased cost of union labor gets passed on to the consumer just shows that the person that makes these comments has no class consciousness whatsoever.

To put it in simple terms:

If you are a capitalist, employing workers and making a profit by making them work hard, UNIONS ARE BAD FOR YOU.

If, on the other hand, you are a worker, making a living by earning a wage, UNIONS ARE GOOD FOR YOU.

There are, unfortunately, workers who have spent entirely too much time watching FOX News, CNN, NBC, listening to the Rush Limbaugh show, and other sources of bull shit. As a result they end up believing the crap that gets dished out to them on TV and radio.

For these morons, the world is very simple: The whole world is made up of only two entities:

1. Consumers

2. The Corporations that make what the consumers consume

Therefore, anything that is bad for the corporations is bad for the consumer (in other words, bad for workers because 99% of the consumers are just workers, people that need to earn wages in order to live).

Reality is VERY DIFFERENT: Society is made up of two distinct classes:

1. The capitalist class: That small percentage of the population that makes money by having everyone else work for them.

2. The working class: Everyone that has to work for a living.

What is good for the working class is bad for capitalists.

What is bad for the capitalists is good for the working class.

I am sorry if this sounds didactic, but the level of ignorance that is apparent in some comments is just amazing.

The real problem is not so much the outrageous behaviour of Wal-Mart, but the lack of class consciousnes among American workers, their hide-bound conservatism that leads them time and again to side with their employer and betray their own class.

Every worker in this country should support the Wal-Mart workers in their effort to improve their working conditions.
If a union at Wal-Mart causes their goods to be more expensive, THAT IS WAL-MART’s PROBLEM, not ours.

Workers at Wal-Mart will still get paid the same wage, regardless of whether Wal-Mart made $100 billion in profits, or “only” $50 billion.

Good day

I know that our e-mail would come to you by surprise
coming from a total stranger but i want you to read
our mail carefully so that you would understand the
reason why we contacted you.I am hereby writing to
seek for your help and assistance.

My name is george bakary the son of Late Dr bakary an ex
Mine Director of the republic of Sierra-leone. My
father was murdered by rebels of Sam Bockary during
his visit on a new site of gold exploitation and
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of our country. After the death of our father, the
life became very difficult for us as we were
constantly threatened by the rebels.

Considering our difficult situation, my mother
arranged with one of the best friends of my Late
father who brought us to Abidjan Cote d’ivoire. My
mother took on her all the possessions of my father
which she successfully summuggled out to Abidjan Cote
D’ivoire and lodged it in a security company for
safety purpose.The possessions contents two big metal
boxes including the sum of ( 1.210 USD one million two
hundred and ten thousand american dollar ).She told us
that She did not disclose the real content of the
trunk to the security company,She made it’s content
known to them as family treasures/Valuables. Again,She
deposited the trunk with her name while I stand as the
next of kin of the deposit.

Considering the unstable political climate in IVORY
COST coupled with the fact my father have many
relationship under the region, my mother decided to
look for a partner to invest this sum outside the
country in good Profitable business,before her sudden
death in january 2003, leaving my sister and i alone
in a country where we know nobody. Presently i had all
the important documents of this deposit. I and my only
sister are in Abidjan Cote d ivoire as a political
Refugees, which we have been praying to GOD to direct
us to a good person that will assist us to retrieve
the trunk deposted in a security company here for
onward transfer to oversea for a profitable
esterblishment.
so this is the reason why we contact you.

We have in mind to give you the 15% of the total sum
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Good day

I know that our e-mail would come to you by surprise
coming from a total stranger but i want you to read
our mail carefully so that you would understand the
reason why we contacted you.I am hereby writing to
seek for your help and assistance.

My name is george bakary the son of Late Dr bakary an ex
Mine Director of the republic of Sierra-leone. My
father was murdered by rebels of Sam Bockary during
his visit on a new site of gold exploitation and
diamond situated in 230 KM from FREETOWN, the capital
of our country. After the death of our father, the
life became very difficult for us as we were
constantly threatened by the rebels.

Considering our difficult situation, my mother
arranged with one of the best friends of my Late
father who brought us to Abidjan Cote d’ivoire. My
mother took on her all the possessions of my father
which she successfully summuggled out to Abidjan Cote
D’ivoire and lodged it in a security company for
safety purpose.The possessions contents two big metal
boxes including the sum of ( 1.210 USD one million two
hundred and ten thousand american dollar ).She told us
that She did not disclose the real content of the
trunk to the security company,She made it’s content
known to them as family treasures/Valuables. Again,She
deposited the trunk with her name while I stand as the
next of kin of the deposit.

Considering the unstable political climate in IVORY
COST coupled with the fact my father have many
relationship under the region, my mother decided to
look for a partner to invest this sum outside the
country in good Profitable business,before her sudden
death in january 2003, leaving my sister and i alone
in a country where we know nobody. Presently i had all
the important documents of this deposit. I and my only
sister are in Abidjan Cote d ivoire as a political
Refugees, which we have been praying to GOD to direct
us to a good person that will assist us to retrieve
the trunk deposted in a security company here for
onward transfer to oversea for a profitable
esterblishment.
so this is the reason why we contact you.

We have in mind to give you the 15% of the total sum
for your effort input, while 5% for all your expencise
to see this transaction through.We are waiting for
your urgent response and please keep this
confidential.

We will send you our pictures and the deposit document
if we receive your urgent reply.HERE IS MY PRIVATE MAIL BOX dj_george20@yahoo.fr
Thanks and God bless you.
GEORGE and sister

I have never liked shopping at WalMart, but when I learned that FOUR of the Walton family are on the 10 Ten U.S. Billionaire list, I was even more appalled. 

I have no problem with businesses making money, but not at the expense of their employees, as WalMart is blatantly doing.  This is an issue where the consumer needs to vote with their feet.  I know I won’t go there again.

Wow Linda in Evansville Ind! What Walmart do you work at! I have worked at Walmart for 5 years and have not received one stakeholder check.They always come up with some excuse as why we cannot get it.

I am keeping track of everything that happens at my store.I acually went 7 hours yesterday with no break or lunch and this happens at my store on a regular basis.

So why don’t I leave?Yea right...Both me and my husband work and we have 4 kids to feed and take care of so I can’t afford to leave and Walmart knows this.

I work as a cashier and a door greeter and I can tell you that almost all of the cashiers at our super center have to resort to food stamps to make ends meet.I am going and applying this month.

I am a member of the Board for the League of Woman Voters and a sister to Richard Espino who was an employee at Wal-Mart and this is his story:  Richard Espino went to work at Wal-Mart while still attending College in an effort to pay for his schooling and where he encountered the worst kind of physical abuse by Wal-Mart Supervisors and upper management; not only did 3 employee’s walk off the job within 2 weeks of their full time employment but later he was asked to go home when a Supervisor came in and was shouting at the top of his lungs and no one knew why; when he went back to inquire if he was fired the Supervisor said no and that he would be transfered to the pet department; when he went back he was informed that the transfer had not been done and was asked to work in unloading a truck instead, which he did; he then went back to the following day once again to see what had happened; only to find that he was fired; when he tired to find out why; no one would give him an answer.  Here is a man who was in the top 1% of his class, received top honors and worked hard for Wal-Mart only to be treated in this shameful manner.  When this was reported to the Corporate office in Bentonville, Arkansas and the Regional District Manager in San Bernardino they could care less attitude was just beyond words and to date he still does not know why he was let go not to mention loss of wages for 1 week while they lied to him about been transfered.  When he tried to report this to the Better Business Bureau and the Labor Commission they would not even take the complaint because there is no law that protects employees from abusive behavior from a Company.  Where does it say that an employer has the right to abuse and fire without cause!  You would think that Wal-Mart would know better seening that they have already been sued by employees in the past!  There should be a place an employee can go to notify and report this Company for bad practices against employees in an effort to prevent this from happening over and over again!  I personally do not shop at Wal-Mart any longer because if they don’t care enough about their employees they can’t possibly care about the consumer!!!  I continue to monitor Wal-Mart employee practices so that I can report this to the Newspapers in our area in hopes of stopping this abuse.  NO ONE....NOT EVEN A COMPANY, CORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION HAS THE RIGHT TO DEMEAN ANYONE IN THIS FASHION!!!!!

Not only does Wal-Mart BULLY there way into communities across America but what is so SHAMEFULL AND APPALLING IS THE WAY THEY MIS-TREAT EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NOT IN MANAGEMENT!!!!!!!!  I am all for a boycott to send a LOUD MESSAGE THAT THIS BEHAVIOR BY WAL-MART IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!

I wonder just how many of the “pro-Wal-Mart” messages here are posted by EDELMAN, the PR firm Wal-Mart hired to discredit those who have valid concerns about the company’s culture and business practices?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/01/business/01walmart.ready.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1130952193-G9EaHOXF08M0Y1a2QnlCSw

http://www.edelman.com/

Reading through some of these comments bring some concern for me. Many have asked the question, “Why work at Wal-Mart if you don’t like it, find another job”.
Unfortunatley, Wal-Mart does offer a benifit package unlike many other retail companies. It may not be employee friendly, like many comments stated, but they offer and people with little-to-no education will flock.
It’s quite sad the direction coporations are heading. The trend is moving toward massive profit over employee well being, a fact that every American must come to terms with.
I would also like to state that there is absolutly nothing wrong with working in retail. If someone wants to make a career working at Wal-Mart, Target, JCPenny, then we should respect that. There wouldn’t be these services without the people who choose those occupations. They are over-worked and under-paid, anyone who feels above these people should step off their high horse.
The first step to bringing the injustices of major corporations is for all Americans to stand together, irregardless of social status, income etc. and hit these fuckers head on.
It’s not just Wal-Mart people, it’s happening in every state, city and in every industry.
It must be stopped.

Not to mention that they are terribly dreadfull structures to look at.  And-Their shoe selection is just totally indicative of their overall feelings about what is an acceptable sense of culture.

Did anyone notice in reading the entire Wal-Mart document that obese people seem to be the driving factor in health care costs (heart disease and diabetes in particular)?  Perhaps it is time to base insurance premiums on weight so that obese people will have a motivation to improve themselves. 

The obesity thing is so out of control here and in Europe, too.  I see huge people everywhere now.  When I look back at photos from the fifites and sixties, there are hardly any obese people.  Now, they are the majority of people in America.

Reading further in the document, they clearly showed that normal weight people have a completely separate set of priorities than obese people (the majority).  Normal weight people were concerned with college savings, mortgage assistance, and retirement plans.  Obese people were concerned with health care costs and discount cards.  I find this fascinating.

This is very useful information.  I didn’t find the report to be as outrageous as most of you.  In fact, I thought it was good that they wanted to add physical activity to sedentary positions to help people lose weight.  I think everybody in the country should read it.

Joshua

Heh...ignorance will cause this nation to implode on itself. It’s black and white to the have’s. I don’t think anybody’s saying that Wal-Mart needs to give people a 50 k a year salary. I think the issue here is abuse towards workers. I don’t think the conditions in China or other places are acceptable either. You morons try to justify it by saying...well..China works for scrap...so should we! Sometimes you have to compromise in life...make decisions for your family...people don’t apply at Wal-mart to become millionaires..they do it because of life circumstances, but they call it the rat race, because of rats like robert h or scott in sc. It’s not acceptable for “ANY” business to be abusive towards its workers, and if you people accept it and say...well that’s the way it is..the problem will spread like a disease, and eventually maybe creep up into your job. The comment about Chinese people deserve to work, too is insane. Nobodys saying that they shouldn’t. If you go to China do all their stores have MADE IN AMERICA stickers on their products...I think not.  Yes..Wal-marts being scrutinized because its an uber store, but it became an uber store by abusive means..therefore it should get knocked back down to size so that it doesn’t become standard practice in the workforce that the only way you can become a successful company is by treating your workers like crap.

Wal-Mart embodies what is wrong with the corporate-state relationship we have in this country.  Almost all financial, legal, economic and legislative forces are dramatically aligned with corporations, NOT individuals.  This is the problem and it will only get worse with jerks like Bush in office that bolster those corporate positions. 

Wake-up America!!!!  We don’t want an entitlement society like Europe but we sure as hell don’t want corporations calling all the shots on simple stuff like supply and demand of the labor market.  All the Republicans will scream and cry that we need free markets: bullshit, we don’t have free markets in this country.  If Wal-Mart doesn’t like a law or a regulation or any anything contrary to their global dominance strategy, they will spent millions and millions of dollars on lobbyists until some sell-out in Washington changes the law. 

Case in point: Wal-Mart wants to change the rules that dictate what ingredients can be allowed in organic foods.  For what purpose??  If Wal-Mart wins in watering down the standards for organic foods, they can use their highly refined methods to buy cheap ingredients and put them on their shelves with a big fat ORGANIC label on them: if that’s not manipulating the market, then I guess I better go back to school.

Wal-Mart represents everything predatory about corporations, including the desire and willingness to exploit labor, suppliers and the environment to achieve their ends. 

Culture of Profits or Culture of Corporate Responsibility: we Americans must choose.

I have read this blog, and many like it over the past few years. The arguments (such as they are) from the pro Walmart hard liners are always the same, with little variation. It’s sort of scary to think that there are people out there who seem to have made this into their obsession, but whatever floats your boat, right?

“Walmart is a very well-managed company, using the American capitalist system to their best advantage”. By doing so much business with a communist government? Interesting.  If you want good examples of American capitalism, what’s wrong with companies such as Dell, General Electric, Apple, or Microsoft?

“If you want to live better, get a better education, and get a better job.” Okay, but here in Massachusetts, a lot of engineers and scientists, some with PhD’s, have been out of work for a long time. A better education is not a guarantee of a better job. There are no guarantees. Agree or disagree?

“You’re just picking on Walmart because they’re the biggest retailer”.  This is an odd one. In the 70’s and early 80’s, the number one retailer was Sears. No one had any problem with Sears, and many people earned a comfortable living working in their stores.  After Sear, Kmart was the number one retailer.  I don’t seem to remember anyone having a problem with Kmart either.

“Unions are Evil!  We must do away with them!!! “ Perhaps we should do away with all the gains made by labor over the past century. Perhaps you would like a return to the system used by coal mining compaines, where the company paid miners in company script, which could only be used at the company store. The company also owned all the housing.  Would you be willing to live under such a system?  (Yes or no.)

FInally, a question for the pro-walmart hard liners, and I don’t expect any of them to answer it: You say you are a strong supporter of Walmart. You shop there, and you will not tolerate anyone saying anything negative about the company. You spend hours and lots of bandwidth on sites such as this one, using all the above arguments.  Fair enough.  So,,,

Would you be willing to accept a job as a Walmart associate, and support yourself and your family on this job?  This is a yes / no question. It does not require a 500 word diatribe on “the world according to me”.

Good night.

All I read on this website is a bunch of crap by people who only know what is said in the news and what is put in the papers.  Yeah I work at wal-mart and I love it.  I have a college degree and wouldn’t work anywhere else.  Everyone can piss and moan all they want however, you are wasting your breath because Wal-Mart isn’t going anywhere in this lifetime.  To everyone who bitches about healtcare I have full coverage on me and my wife for less than $50 a month.  All I pay is a $20 copay for my first three visits, then I have to meet by deductible.  Don’t tell me it is not affordable.

I do not know where these people get their facts from.  This is always a one sided issue and the American people love to feed on negative publicity and love to see the bad in people.  Why don’t they spend their energy into the good things that Wal-Mart has done for the community.  Also, Wal-Mart sets aside funds for associates who are in critical need.  No questions asked, they get the money.  Tell me a company that would do that for their employees.  So tell me what can the Unions do for Wal-Mart.  Absolutely nothing.  Also people set their own destiny’s.  If they want to move up in any company, whether it be Wal-Mart, Target, or who ever, they can.  I’m tired of everybody blaming other people for their misfortunes.  And as far as Mr. Greenwald is concerned, he is a million now thanks to Wal-Mart.  Wal-Mart did not put him out of business, he put himself out of business.  But he fails to say that he opened another business and is selling stuff that Wal-Mart does not sell and is very successful.
Also, why would anyone want to pay high dollars for stuff when you can get the same quality at a lower cost at wal-mart.  I’m all about saving money

I work part time at Walmart and have never had any problems.  I was promoted within the first year and have been treated well by all management, etc.  I’ve never had issues getting time off, and the raises have higher then what I make at my full time job.  I do not have the insurance as I am covered by my other employer, but I have asked others I work with about the cost, coverage, etc., and the numbers they give me are all in line with what I pay at my other job.  Face it, insurance costs rise every year, it’s not going to get any cheaper.  All large companies are trying to do the best they can to keep costs down and provide halfway decent coverage.  I don’t understand what the big deal is about Walmart.  If you don’t like it, don’t go there.  Plain and simple.

Walmart sucks ... plain and simple. It is an evil company that exploits people.

And ...

If we (Americans) don’t stop shopping there, we only have ouselves to blame. No, GWB it is not a “global economy”. How in the hell can America “compete” in a so called “global economy” when the cost of living in places like China is perhaps $1.00 per day (if that). No, we can’t “compete” because circumstances are NOT “equal”.

A recent South Park show joked about the very issue of Walmart ... and went on to show that inspite of everyone hating the place, they still went there “undercover” to “shop”. No one wanted to admit to stooping so low, so (in this Southpark show) they all come out in the middle of the night. It made me think of child molesters ... to embarrased to admit their behavior.

Yes ...

Walmart may have good prices. However, just like the drug dealer my parents told me about while growing up ... he (drug dealer) wants to give you drugs for “free” so that he gets you hooked. This is what Walmart is doing. When they drive other companies out of business, they will surely jack up their prices ... in the same way an airline does once the “competition” is no longer there.

And ...

If you think no children are being exploited over there in “China”, and no prison labor is being used to make all that inexpensive “stuff”, perhaps you should look on ebay for a good price on the Brooklyn Bridge.

You all have it wrong!!  Why do you support the small business owners who make us all pay more for the same products?  What you are arguing is that we should support the middle-class business owner instead of helping poor people pay less for staple goods.  If a specialty store truly has a WANTED specialty item, Wal-Mart will never put them out of business. In my neighborhood, the regional, specialty grocer is doing incredibly well even though there is a Wal-Mart 3 miles away. Wal-Mart serves a purpose of helping poor and middle class people pay LESS for goods.  What is wrong with that?  Those of you who don’t support that are hypocrits and snobs.  Why should we be forced to pay more for toilet paper, toys, and food items?  And, if you work for Wal-Mart and don’t like it...GET A BETTER JOB!!. Anyone can do the work there, no education, intelligence or motivation required. Why shouldn’t they pay low wages???  No one forces you to work there. If you want more money, there are plenty of options.  Foreigners come to this country, work their butts off and are successful, why can’t Americans?  You want to earn $10 an hour for being a check-out clerk? Be for real!

And by the way, all of us are paying for health care costs.  I earn a decent salary (in my opinion) and work for a big corporation and I still have to pay about $3000 a year (plus co-pays) for my health care coverage.  That is the cost we all have to bear.  Wal-Mart is no different.  They cannot be blamed for exponential health care cost increases.

The whole Wal-Mart issue really bugs me.  Why are they such a threat to everyone?  I just don’t get it.  If you don’t like it, don’t shop there; go to the local store and pay a lot more for the EXACT SAME ITEM. In this day and age, we will only stay competitive as a country and as individuals if we leverage our limited funds by paying THE LEAST POSSIBLE AMOUNT FOR TOILET PAPER...FOR GOD’S SAKE. Wal-Mart has the best distribution system in the world (hence their low prices) and yet some dumb liberal is going to complain about that?  Go ahead, moron, PAY MORE FOR TOILET PAPER (and please forgive me for resorting to name-calling, I’m just so mad at this whole issue!!).

iD Rathar pay a dollar more for a toy than not have a job to work at. If we’re not producing the majority of the products being pawned at wal-mart then it doesn’t help the poor and middle class, because if you dont have a job you cant buy anything.

Ok,

Let me address some things here.  First, Walmart is a shining example of what is so wrong in this country:  GREED.  They obviously care about money more than anything else.  Walmart knows that people NEED jobs in order to survive and they use that to their advantage.  They know they can get by paying little, while making rediculous profits, because they know that if someone quits, someone else who is desperate for a job will take their place.  It’s such a shame that they use desperation of people to their advantage.  Where are their morals and sense of compassion?  I doubt they will find them in isle 5.  Yes, people have choices to work and shop there, and I choose not to work or shop there.  However, because many people in this country are poor and have little education due to extenuating circumstances, they are forced to shop there-- even their own employees who can probably ONLY afford to shop there.  I also think it is despicable that Walmart is also trying to dominate other venues of business--i.e. banks, hair salons, eye centers, etc.  I mean, come on-- what’s next?  A WalMart car dealership where you can get your very own 2006 Sam’s Choice 4 door sedan at the always low price of $4000?  Not only are they playing off of their own employees, but to their consumers.  They know that people want the lowest price possible so they jump right in, buy so much in bulk that their vendors give them discounts so they can charge cheaper prices.  That is precisely how they run small businesses out of business.  I would rather pay .50 or a $1 more for something at a smaller business than put more money in the wallets of the Walton family, whom I highly doubt even shop at Walmart or buy soda with Sam’s name on it.  Why stop Walmart though?  After all, they are making a fortune at the expense of their employees and consumers.  They are money hungry and seem to only care about themselves; But hey, that’s America for ya.

Did anybody really read how informative that memo was? I am absoutely sure that it is on the desk of the board of directors of every major company.  I want Susan Chambers to come and work for me. ( I know I cannot afford her, she’ too good ). Every word of that memo was carefully thought out and the presentation was impeccable. Does anyone still wonder why they are the biggest and best?
The solutions presented will surely be implemented in one form or the other as the analysis of the problem hit the nail on the head.  I find it a crying shame that the general public is not intelligent or aware enough to read a memo like this and not see the caliber of people that run the company.
I am not a Wal-Mart lover and have a lot of issues with many of their policies but I will give credit where credit is due. The way the health industry in this country is going something must be done or else all will fall down.  I am an employee not an employer but I can see their reality. I have a vested interest in working with healthy productive people.  Instead of finding fault with the memo I would add some ideas of my own. Have an exercise room wher the TV is powered by the treadmill, encourage and subsidize afterhour sports activities for the employees and their families, have someone assigned to pro-actively monitor the employee’s health with independence from Wal-Mart management to avoid the “big brother” syndrome. All they do is try and spot potential health problems before they become big ones.
I have done zero research and shooting from the hip but I have read some of the other blogs and all I seem to hear is a lot of emotions and hot air.  I am pretty sucessful in life and it is because I not only do I work hard I plan and play a lot of “what if” scenarios.  Drink another beer or study for the exam that will give me a pay raise?
Don’t get me wrong. I work hard but I play harder. There is a time and place for everything.
Nuff said

I would like to say a few things. The first one to Travis who said if we don’t like Walmart, why don’t we go out and get an education. Some of us Walmart employees live in towns where there is not much job opportunity with or without a degree. So don’t assume everyone that works for Walmart is not educated. And second of all are you an employee or have ever worked for the company? If you haven’t, then you have no right judging the complaints of others that actually do work there. You obviously have no idea what goes on within the stores or you wouldn’t have made that statement.  There is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed by working for Walmart. And you say we don’t deserve better pay? Let’s see you go stock heavy items off of 12 pallets a night for one month and I know without a doubt you’d be complaining with the rest of us. Yeah cart pushing is easy. That’s why they make lower than anyone else. But some of us pour our blood, sweat, and tears into that job daily for almost nothing. So don’t presume to tell any of us how we should be. I am grateful for getting a job there. But there are alot of problems within the company.
Sam Walton is probably rolling in his grave right now. Walmart does not go by what Sam Walton envisioned for his company. Yeah his ethics are posted everywhere but never followed. If they were, Walmart would be the best company to work for. Instead you have coworkers and managers treating others terribly with nothing being done about it. Using The Open Door Policy is pointless. Doesn’t work. So you have a bunch of people running around being jerks knowing they can get away with it.  They do not value their associates at all. If they really valued them, they would give better benefits and pay and also adhere to the ethics and values this company was founded on. But you know. There is corruption in any job. But what gets me fired up is saying that your company stands for values and ethics then completely doing the opposite.

I work as a cashier and a door greeter and I can tell you that almost all of the cashiers at our super center have to resort to food stamps to make ends meet.I am going and applying this month.

Walmart Mom in NY
Wednesday, November 02 at 10:41 AM

My first tought when i read this was that no one should work as a cashier and actuly think that you have a career.  Jobs like this are ment for part time or a second job.  Everyone picks on wal-mart but tell me one store that you can make a full time job out of being a cashie.  Sears?  Home Depot? 
K-Mart?  Cost Co?

I keep reading all the anti-walmart about how I work as a cashier at walmart and i dont get the full beniefits for it, Its becues its not meant to be consider a full time job.  No other department store or any kind of store will give you full beniefits for a simple job that most kids in high school do.

Over five years ago, just before the holidays, I started working in a high volume Wal-mart store as an overnight receiver (stocker). It started off as a second job for the holidays. It was a little overwelming at first but over time, it became easier. It wasn’t glamours or difficult. Open a box, put the merchadise on the shelf, and throw the box away. For all those who have worked third shift “NOTHING GOES BACK” ....lol

After six months, I decieded to make a career at Wal-mart. I applied and was promoted as a department manager. For the next year, I did anything and everything to “SERVICE THE CUSTOMER” and yes, even that Wal-Mart CHEER. This meant going outside (in snow and rain) to push carts, assist customers to their cars with heavy items, and many other “customer service task”. Trust me, It wasn’t something I enjoyed, but understood it was best for the store. It felt like I was doing everything but being a department manager.

A little over a year later, I was promoted to the assistant manager program. During ths training time, there ways never a secret policy on how to “ruin an associates life” was covered. Now having been a manager for the last three years, my first priority is TAKE CARE OF THE CUSTOMER! Sometimes this means sending associates outside to collect carts when the stockman calls out or is overwelmed. The concept with our associates at Wal-mart is teamwork. This means helping out each other when there is just too much for one to do.

My goal is to defend in-store management and the policies we must inforce. Do I enjoy inforcing all of them? Can’t say I do, but I understand that some of the polices were put in place due to lawsuits (Meal exceptions - for all of you that have received a coaching or two from this will understand what i’m talking about).

Ex-associates must understand that each store is run by one individual. I have run across some “hardcore” store managers (as the one who promoted me to the program) and even assistant managers. Some are great at merchandising but lack in the people skills department. Not everyone is the same and some of these “hardcore” managers are no longer with Wal-mart. It’s not fair the classify every store the same.

On that same note, lets not blame only management. I have seen a number of associates that want to do nothing and complain how there not paid enough. Or can only work 7-5 monday thru friday..... HELLO PEOPLE… this is retail, over 40% of our business is done over the weekends. You do the math.

Lets end it here for now. I hope this is submitted by Wal-martwatch.com. I think these forms are a great and people should be encourage to speak out.  KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!

Steele Nation

Im no fan of Walmart, but they do have low prices. I am a student and work only part time so I must shop in stores that keep their prices low. People have said that Walmart doesn’t care about their people, only profits. However I think most companies in North America are guilty of caring more about profits than their employees. For instance I work at an organic food store, at the store they sell a lot of Fair trade items, and they also give money to charitable causes, so you might imagine that they treat their employees very well. I am a cashier at the store and I get a little over minimum wage, i ‘m pretty sure they could afford a higher wage. Also i signed up for the company health care plan, but then i found out that it didn’t cover prescription drugs for me , because I am not in management! I found that pretty ridiculous, because I can sign up for blue cross coverage on my own, and recieve almost the same services and have my prescriptions covered. I guess my point is, not much will change until North Americans society stops its obsession with money, profits and consumerism.

Waaaaa, OK, I read the article, Granted Wal-Mart is going to suffer a great deal of its share of lawsuits because of this womans letter.  If youre refused a job at wal-mart, blame it on the letter, sue them.  The money they save by cutting costs will be replaced by litigation against them.  The fact that Wal-Mart has just made the biggest mistake of their corporate life, ie… hire more part time employees and get rid of the full time employees to save on insurance, medical and retirement costs, is going to be their downfall.

What the public doesnt seem to grasps is that their own states, while looking for the tax revenue generated by Wal-Mart, should demand full medical coverage for any worker who works for any company, wether it is full or part time.  Wal-Mart is like any other company out there, they want more proffit at the employees expense, thats nothing new.  What did surprise me is their blantant life insurance payout of a meesley $12,000.00 maxium.  It costs around $15,000.00 to be burried today, and thats a cheap burial, no frills, just a hole in the ground and the company laughing all the way to the bank as the survivors are trying to figure out where they are going to get the extra money to burry their loved ones. 

Wal-Mart, If I were you, I wouldnt admidt that I am in management at your company that supports trampling on the health and well being of your employees.  Your in my opinion (freedom of speach) are a scum sucking company that wants to make 30 billion proffit compared to 27 billion proffit by cutting the bennifits of your workers by giving them a choice of more of a discount card for your cheap crap you have on sale, why not give your employees the items at costs, that would be better, hell it cant cost you that much seeing most of your merchandise is from third world countreies that pay their workers penneys a day to make the garbage you sell.  But of course, thats my opinion and like I stated, I have the right to speak my mind, I earned it, I am a Viet Nam Veteran, and after reading that bile letter from Susan, I wont be shopping at Wal-Mart any longer and I will not re-new my Sam’s Club membership next month.

I am glad my Mayor refused to let you build a super center in our city, who knows, you might be getting your chicken and beef from countries that have the bird flu and the mad cow disease, I wouldnt put it past you after reading that internal memo, You are probabbly buying tainted goods because someone else suggested you do it in another hidden memo to save on costs of food and thus boasting your proffits, but that is strictly speculation on my part, I hope that you are not doing it, but if you are, and I find out about it, well lets just say, I will be at the court house in the state that brings your lame butt into court.

Well I have said my 37 cents worth, opps, lets make that my 1/2 cent worth, I just saves myself 36 1/2 cent by posting this on the internet instead of buying a postage stamp, see I am guilty of making a proffit at your expense. 

So Wal-Mart, you have my name and City, come and sue my Butt for speaking my mind!!!!!!

Guys You must realize that benefits are simply a form of compensation, just like wages.

Reducing benefits to the work consitutes a pay cut.

Ok - what really freakin bothers me about this website - is that I just read a page about the Higher Expectations Week - and it had a page for people to submit sermon information and any religious activity.  Uhhhh excuse me - why is religion being discussed and what does it have to do with the WalMart watch site and its goings on?

That makes this whole entire “movement” bogus in my opinion.  Religion has no place in this movement and now that I see that this whole entire thing is probably backed by some crazy bible thumpers - well - Im not supporting it anymore.  I still wont shop at WalMart - but I wont support this effort against it anymore either.

This is the way of the world people.  Thank your President.  Thatnk that guy that you people put into office.  Its all about the gobbling up of small privately owned companies.  Its all about corporate globalship.  You cant stop it.

I learned the hard way.  The very hard way.

Anyone who supports Wal-Mart is ignorant of their abuses. You obviously have not worked there. Yes, most companies cheat you to save a dime, but Wal-Mart takes the cake. What other company would deny the maintenance men who work the hardest cleaning toilets and emptying garbage their deserved vacation hours when they have been working full 40-hour weeks but are “conveniently” logged into the Wal-Mart personnel system as “temporary” employees and therefore ineligible for vacation time? This is just one example of how Wal-Mart’s methods are despicable. Anyone who supports them in ignorance is despicable as well.

MAYBE WE SHOULD THINK HARD ABOUT WALMART.  WE ALL KNOW THEY MOVE INTO SMALL TOWN AND DESTROY THE SMALL BUSINESSES, FORCING FORMER STORE OWNERS OUT OF BUSNESS, AND THEN THE ONLY JOB THEY CAN FIND IS WORKING FOR WALMART AT A THIRD OR LESS OF THEIR FORMER INCOME, AND NOW THE ONLY PLACE THEY CAN AFFORD TO SHOP IS, YOU GUESSED IT, WALMART.  THOUSANDS OF GOOD JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST AND COUNTLESS COMPANYS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTRY ALL TO SLITHER TO THE TYRANY OF WALMART.  ASK ANY FORMER EMPLOYEE OF VLASSIC PICKLES WHAY THEY DID TO THEM. OR ASK RED FLYER, MATTEL, OR THE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE BENT OVER AND LET WALMART STICK IT TO THEM.  OR BETTER YET, ASK THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR WALMART.  WHAT IS NEEDED IS A ONE WEEK BOYCOTT OF ALL WALMART STORES.  I HAVE’NT SHOPPED AT A WALMART IN 4 YEARS AND HAVE NO INTENTION OF DOING SO.  (NOR WOULD I BUY A JAP CAR, BUT THAT’S A WHOLE NEW STORY) SO HOW ABOUT A ONE WEEK BOYCOTT SAY THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS?  THINK MAYBE WALMART WOULD BE A “KINDER GENTLER” STORE? I THINK NOT.

Please note this from a Blogger:

My God!  It’s frightening and disgusting to read the comments from people whose attitude is simply “If you don’t like it, find another job.” Are they too blind to see the big picture or just too stupid?  Too brainwashed is probably more accurate.
Karen in Clovis, CA
Tuesday, November 01 at 09:57 PM

AND WE WHO SAY DON’T WORK AT WAL-MART IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT THEY OFFER ARE STUPID? PLEASE READ “BEFORE” YOU POST KAREN,
IF WAL-MART HIRES YOU AND YOU TAKE THE JOB BEFORE YOU KNOW WHAT THE PAY IS, THEN YES, THEY ARE SCREWING YOU,,,BUT I BELEIVE THAT YOU PEOPLE ACCEPT THE JOB KNOWING WHAT THEY WILL BE PAID, AND THAT SAID, IF THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT, IT’S THEIR OWN DAMN FAULT! WAKE UP AND GET YOUR HEAD OUTTA YOUR LIBERAL ASS
LOLOLOL

Yes, Wal-Mart moves in to small towns and yes they sometimes put the small guy outta business, why? because they offer the products that the small guy does not and if the small guy does offer it, then it, then the mark up is so damn high, no one will buy it, so they take their business to another town taking the economy boost to that OTHER town. Do any of you realy read the newspapers or watch the news? or do you get all your info off the internet where we all know that it’s the golden truth if found online.
We have a small town hardware store here in my little town that offers little more than a few nails and screws,,,<--considering that, should we not allow Lowes to build here, and just take our business to another town?
GEEEEEZ,,,did any of you even gradutate high school?

Stop complaining and make a difference, open a store of your own that offers what wal-mart does at the same savings, then you’ll have the right to bitch about it. Hey I know,,,,let’s all stop eating out at McDonalds, Outback,,Applebees,,,Ruby Tuesdays,,,because ya know,,,we are just gonna put the little Diner on the corner outta business, even though they are only open from 7am to 5 pm........you people really need to get out more. And by the way,,,,I would be willing to bet if I knew about 100 of you,,at least 85% would be seen at Wal-mart LOL

I really dont understand how anyone can rationalize this companys practices. This was a company that was built on the made in the usa label, now imports a vast majority of crap from overseas. Yeah, it saves consumers money....Really? lets see, I go buy a chinese wrench from walmart for 5 bucks. A week later I go back for another after it breaks,. ...or I just go buy an american tool for nine bucks, use it for life, and have the satisfaction I helped a fellow American worker keep his or her job. Why oh why in this era when we are all supposed to be so patriotic, that it only applies to soldiers and ignores the american worker.

“They say patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king...:Bob Dylan’s “Sweetheart like you”

I don’t work for wal-mart. I know many who do. Most just get by on their meager wages at best.  Wal marts health coverage,
if you can call it that will put most into poverty at the first health crises. This article just points out wal marts indifference
to its employees to improve its bottom line.

This website bringing this out into the open drew my attention as to why they would do so.

I read the “WHO WE ARE” section here
and found this.

Wal-Mart Watch is a joint project of The Center for Community & Corporate Ethics, a 501c3 organization devoted to studying the impact of large corporations on society, and its advocacy arm, Five Stones.

I also checked http://www.whois.sc
and found this.

http://www.whois.sc/http://walmartwatch.com

Registrant:
UFCW INTERNATIONAL UNION
1775 K Street, NW
Washington, PA 20006
US

Domain Name: WALMARTWATCH.COM

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
UFCW INTERNATIONAL UNION Whois Privacy and Spam Prevention by Whois Source
1775 K ST NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20006-1502
US
202 223 3111

Record expires on 02-Jul-2012.
Record created on 02-Jul-1999.

Domain servers in listed order:

NS1.GIPPY.NET 66.220.23.253
NS2.GIPPY.NET 66.220.23.254
NS3.GIPPY.NET 207.36.196.54

So in reality walmartwatch.com is, UFCW INTERNATIONAL UNION

http://www.ufcw.org/

Funny they didn’t mention that in the “WHO WE ARE” section.

I see many comments made suggesting “if you don’t feel Wal-Mart is treating you fairly, get out” or “find another job if you don’t like it.” The inherent problem with this logic is that the person making it is not aware of what WalMart has done to so many communities across the country.

In many locations, Wal Mart moved in under the auspices of taking care of the community. Deals were made with City Councils, mayors and other business leaders. Because of the low cost of goods and services, many businesses that existed int he community prior to WalMart moving in have been put out of business. In some communities, WalMart has become the only major employer in town, replacing hardware stores, home stores, grocery stores, etc…

What disturbs me most about this memo isn’t decreased spending on health care. This is the trend with most employers. I find the fact that reducing the status quo of associates to people with no more than one year experience, is an effective way to disenfranchise consumers. Perhaps a person with no more sense than a monkey can do some of the jobs within Walmart, but do you want to be served by people that have absolutely no experience.

In addition, workers should have some prospect of moving up the ranks to positions of greater responsibility and pay. Denying associates this potential is simply irresponsible business practice - the fruits of which are realized by store owners alone. Making money is a necessary part of doing business, but buying a yacht because you are able to treat your employees like slaves, is just another form of slavery. WalMart has a foothold in communities throughout the United States, and it is our job as consumers to let WalMart know that cheap consumables are not worth the the exploitation of their workforce.

ihave worked for wal-mart for 4 years and have been disappointed time after time with my of the horrific things wal-mart has done to me and the rest of the “associates” why do i stay? simple security. as bad as it is to work there being a mother of two at 24 i feel as though i have no other options. and management is very quick to “remind” you that there are not a whole lot of jobs out there that will “work with you when you need time off to care for young childeren” I know there are those of you out there thinking we dont deserve money because we dont have an education but yu can not judge every sitution without having first tried on everyone else’s shoes

Want to shop in a place that has great prices, pays it employees fairly and is a good member of the community?  Costco!  I am not an employee or stockholder of this company.  I have shopped at stores here in Florida and in California.  Spent time talking to mangement and employees in several stores, many of them former Wal-Mart employees.

These people seemed very happy with their jobs and how the company is a great place to work.  One of my favorite quotes from one employee was “A bad day at Costco is way better then any day at Wal-Mart.”

Vote with your dollars.  That is the only thing large corperations understand.

Dan

Amanda in florida…

We we do the the Wal-Mart cheer everyday, what do we say when we ask “who’s number one?”, it’s “THE CUSTOMER”. Please keep in mind that without the customers, we all don’t have jobs. Customer’s don’t care if your 24, mother of two and have no education. All they care about is coming in the store, getting what they want, and getting out fast. It’s sad but true.

Management has the challenge of making the customers, as well as the 200-500 associates, as happy as we can. WE ARE PEOPLE TOO, with the same problems as our associates and make the mistakes as well. I live in a very small town in NH and still there are 2-4 pages of employment opportunities every sunday. I think sometimes we think we are “better” than some of the opportunities out there. I think we all should feel that we could do better, but when the time comes to pay rent.... do something.

I’m not saying it wouldn’t be great to have a top of the line benefit package, but I accepted what they offered. I’m sure, some of the people which work at Wal-Mart and recieve state aid, do it because they can. It’s like seeing a customer using food stamps while talking on their cell phone and driving off in that $50,000 BMW. The state and federal agencies can be to blame for some of this. It’s real easy to get help and not need it. I don’t blame the people, I blame the goverment.

Steele Nation

I think it is something definitely wrong with the way some people are treated as employees at Wal Mart. I also realize how they have affected communities negatively.

One of the things my company has tried to implement is an alternative healthcare solution for their employees and everyone else for that matter with our memberhsips as well as provide those who are interested with part time careers.

If interested in working with us and helping people in this country get access to affordable health benefits, please contact us by visiting our website.

http://www.iabnew.com/kenetra

A company that makes 10 billion dollars in profit a year should be able to provide a living wage with decent health benefits without having to be on any kind of public assistance.(be it medicair/medicaid or food stamps).  Walmart can afford to pay a living wage and decent health benefits, they just choose not to.  Therefore I choose not to shop there.
And to those of you out there who insist on insulting those workers at Walmart who think they are unfairly treated, nothing is as simple as you think it is.  It rarely is.

I like to think facts.  There are 1.3 million employees at Wal-Mart.  Some are managers and are good, some not so.  Therefore, some employees have good experiences and some not so.  Wal-Mart, like any company is a micro society projecting the actions and beliefs of the people that work there.  If Wal-Mart is evil, then the 1.3 million people that work there are evil.  What is Wal-Mart was not there.  Where would all those people work?  How many of them would be on welfare?  Who would be paying for their welfare?

Another fact walmart workers with disabilities are disproportionate that that of the population.  This means that either Wal-Mart handpicks say obese people (don’t think so) or because of the work environment there, people are more likely to become obese.  I think Wal-Mart has a moral responsibility to make sure the workers get enough exercise.

Finally, I believe the 80-20 rule applies.  Say 80% of the healthy people pay premium for the 20% of the not healthy that use them.  This is fine as long as the probability that any given person get sick stays constant.  However, we all know how people abuse the system.  Is it not unfair to that 80% of the healthy Wal-Mart people to pay for those that willingly or not “waste” health care dollars?  What about those people?

I am only going to give credibility to an objective, and constructive criticism.  If some one tells me that 1.3 million people serve an evil cause every day the go to work and they can not do anything about it, I just say please do not insult my intelligence!

I haved just recently learned about Wal-mart and they politics.
In Denmark we don’t have any Wal-Mart (thank god)
but LIDL a big German “Wal-mart” haved just recently installed a couple of stores in Denmark, they was using the same politics as wal-mart, but before they could come in to Denmark they haved to remake the firm politics, for the Danish marked. wery small wages and really bad conditions for the employers are not allowed in Denmark, either by the coverment or the citizent, if they have bad employer politics the citizent will just not shop there.
i don’t understand why the americans by stuff from wal-mart, if it where in Denmark i will by my stuff in another place where i now the employers are being treated well.

Sorry for my bad writting i’am not that good to write english;)

Nick Svejdal
Denmark
Copenhagen
sannick@vip.cybercity.dk

As long as people don’t care where or how they get their underwear 10 cents cheaper, Walmart will thrive.  It is unacceptable that in country this wealthy one cannot survive working a fulltime job for a multi-billion dollar corporation without government subsidy.  Why do people work at Walmart?  Because Walmart makes promises they do not keep.  If you were to go into the Walmart here, you would see different employees each time.  There is a tremendous turnover as there is with every other retail store here.  Walmart represents a society where the less fortunate are deemed less than…

What a bunch of snobs some of you people are.

CHINA DOESN"T HAVE A LOT OF INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL
Sorry Robert H.  In North Carolina that is not true, because......

If a country of a billion people has only 20 percent of its population university educated, I think that that number stands at about 200,000, 000 people with “intellectual capital”.  That is over half the population of the United States of Walmart. ( Oops, sorry- my mistake. Insert apologetic grin here) This is soooooo dumb- we in the West think that those Eastern foreigners just can’t be as smart as we are.  Not so.  If we are not careful, we will find our measly 20 percent of “intellectual capital” AND our 80 percent of stupid (which seems to be the other guys thought process, ___NOT MINE____") working for THEIR “intellectual capital,” while their army of how many million kicks our asses to make us do so.  Maybe you should take a hint from your friend Darwin.  (How can a right wing person believe in Darwin- I thought ya’ll were voting him out of the curriculum- another thing China is not going to do, as they prefer alive and godless to religious and dead and teach the evolution of viruses and things accordingly and in light of H5N1 we in the west should stop thinking that evolution is a fallacy.  )

To the fellow Westerners on this site who are fighting Walmart I give you my support, and am very sad that those on the other side are intellectual dunderheads, and don’t know how to spell.

I am sorry I am sarcastic and biting, but I honestly do not see the value of cheap trinkets that mean nothing, and a new 5 dollar tee shirt made by some little kid who has been locked in a factory for fourteen hours a day.  That is what our parents and grandparents generation fought against - the curbing of freedom, and the stupidity of following along blindly when something is clearly wrong.  I am so disgusted with the Health Care Memo, and I am even more disgusted that here in Canada certain provinces are trying to import your special brand of hell- private health insurance- to curb costs.  When Health Care costs are a leading cause of bankruptcy, and now even that option has been taken away from the people by your ever so caring government and corporate cronies.......well the odds that we in Canada will improve upon those things with a private system seem pretty remote......

As for Worker’s Comp and its effect on a persons life, I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has been F&&**ed over by them and a “big Company” so write me at bantam2004_2005@yahoo.ca.  From personal experience I cana tell you that if you have a union and are injured at work you are in a much better position than if you are not.  Think T y s o n f o o d s....... cheapest sob’s ever, highest rate of injury in their industry, and how they still GET covered by WCB is beyond me, but here in Canada they fought unionization..........they lost, but if you hear worker’s stories who have been injured it sounds much the same as what I see here.

Back to China- the bottom line is that the person who called Wally’s China-Mart was partly right, but we all better get use to be called “little China” if we continue to finance and OWE the Chinese our livelihoods and lives......

Everyone should be aware of how bad Wal-Mart is. Sure, they’ve got “good” prices but in the long run, they’re more expensive. Seeing as how they don’t give benefits or healthcare everyone else has to pay for them through our taxes, paying for someone elses’ healthcare because they work at Wal-Mart is something we shouldn’t have to do anymore. We need to at least get people to stop working/shopping at Wal-Mart. For ourselves, for America, for the little ones making Wal-Mart products, for the world.
Let’s just get rid of Wal-Mart.
*Amen to you Jim of Wisconsin*

I think These Are all liberal assholes that need to get past the fact that they cant even make it at wal-mart. My older brother is working there fulltime and he has bemnifits and all the whole 9 yards and he is useing that money to get him through college their is nothing wrong with wal mart!… If u liberals were smart you would get a clue and do that exact same thing....who knows maybe you will go somewhere?

god bless america.

If this is the true .They have lost my dollars!

I have only read a few of these comments, and it makes me sick to hear some of these people saying it is not hard to find a new job.  I challenge Everyone to read the book “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich.  It sheds light on working in a place like Wal-mart, and others.  If you have time to read this blog, you have time to pick up a copy and skin the few pages on the monster we know as Wal-Mart.  The ignorance here is ridiculous.

Are you kidding me, I understand that some people have better opportunities in this world than others.  HOWEVER we all have the chance to get off of our asses and strive for better.  IF YOU HATE WAL MART, stay away!  I for one LOVE WAL MART, and I thoroughly enjoy every shopping experience I partake in.  If it is such a bad job, set your standards a little higher and work until you achieve your goal.  We all have to work hard to get what we want in life.  For goodness sake, I am reading blogs from people who can not spell simple words such as CONVENIENT. . . . . . perhaps that is why you are taking in the ass from SAMMY’s boys! ! ! with love and luck, and the ability to get off your duff and strive for better I am, SICK OF THE GRIPING IN ILLINOIS

I’m a Wal-Mart associate currently.  And a female.  And have had frequent promotions and pay increases.  It’s disappointing that people have to complain excessively about anything and everything.  It’s a great company.  I work hard every day so that my customers get the best service possible.  Do you really want someone serving you who is more concerned with the paycheck than the customers?  I certainly don’t.

Look if you dont like them, dont work for them. No becuase of all this crap this “walmart watch” is pulling prices are going to go up. Then you all will be really complaining. You dont like them go work for Walgreens or shut up.

Although I agree Walmart does many things they should be ashamed of…

I don’t see really anything wrong with this memo. What is wrong with Walmart wanting to attract healther workers?

If YOU started a company, wouldn’t you want a healthy staff?

Walmart has the right to want a heathly work force—they’re
not a government program or a charity.

WalmartWatch is great, but this Memo is Much Ado…

So many people are posting that their jobs’ benefits packages suck just as bad as Walmart’s. I work for the state; our HR dept just renegotiated contracts with new health insurance companies. Why, to reduce costs to the state and maintain current levels of coverage for employees with little increase in costs to employees. In the past 2 years, we have had mandatory increases in health care costs.

The last insurance company I had was a joke, they denied EVERY claim we submitted for not preauthorizing it. Sorry but I am not going to call my ins co at 11pm to get their permission to take my 18month old son to the emergency room because he scraped his cornea. For this, I do not blame the state of AZ, I hold the ins co responsible. I pay 10% of my monthly salary for my family health plan and that’s no small sum for me. I don’t get paid by the state what I would get paid for my job in the corporate sector. But I choose to work here, I could look out there but I have my reasons for working here and don’t plan on leaving soon.

Cutting costs is not Walmart’s issue, this is the issue of every business and corporation in America. Walmart pays salaries equal to every other store in Tucson as I’m sure they do in every other state. The health care problem is also not Walmart’s fault, it is the due to the fact that we have one of the most expensive health care systems in the world.

It is a low paying job with some benefits. So is every other supermarket chain and department store in America. The only difference is, Walmart makes public claims that they treat their employees better than any other store. False advertising? Maybe, but so is every commercial on TV and every ad on the radio from every other retailer. If I drink light beer, will I have a buff and tan body, all the energy to boot and will the girls fawn all over me? Absolutely not but every light beer commercial on TV boasts such claims with their advertising-they just don’t come out and say it openly.

I shop at Walmart, my mother works there (and she hates it but she won’t try to get a better job for which she is qualified-whose fault is that, Walmart’s?) and I will continue to shop there because, as someone else put it, “it is convenient” and it is also less expensive than any other store in town for most products. Why are they cheaper, because they cut costs in order to maintain low prices...low prices attract shoppers...its called doing business.

I don’t know why this “organization” has their sights set on Walmart except that Walmart is too successful and boy do we as Americans hate it when someone becomes a huge success and it’s not us. Personally, I think Walmartwatch should take a good hard look at Walmarts competitors to see how they “stab their employees in the back” and launch a campaign to topple every national conglomerate retail chain who doesn’t treat their employees the way they should. Oh but wait, where would we shop then?

It is really sad everyday to hear and see so many negative publicity about Walmart.  I can understand how someone reading all of these false statements about Walmart could start to believe them.  When it comes down to it all the negative examples are either completely untrue or come from a motivated individual to hurt Walmart.  I have worked with Walmart for over 11 years and plan on 19 more.  Nothing is more satisfying to work for a company that you know you can grow if you put your mind to it.  Where else can someone start out as a cartpusher and become a store Manager if they want to?  I’ll feel bad for those individuals that have had bad experiences working for Walmart, but isn’t there going to be some when 1.3 million people work there.  From what I have witnessed over the years the unhappy people are the ones who want something for nothing and feel Walmart is so big that they should get it!!  It’s just sad that all of this publicity is motivated by such untrue statements.  By doing all of this you are not only trying to bring down a great company but are hurting 1.3 million proud associates everyday.

Walmart is an American success story… Oh yes I forgot, some Americans hate people and business that are successful because they must have stolen something from others…

Grow up! It’s called Capitalism and has made the US the power it is today… To bad the hate American group gets this kind of press but that’s called freedom of speech!

So let’s see… the government forces Walmat to pay more in health care… the cost of business goes up, the cost of products go up, the cost to consumers goes up. Walmart is less competitive, looses customers and reduces employment… So who really wins?
!

It would appear that Wal-Mart has gone the way of other corporate giants with its management structure forgetting the principles on which Sam Walton based his life and business.  I have worked at Wal-Mart in my younger days and know for a fact that the majority of the work is performed by part-time, underpaid associates while a few salaried management walk around and watch.

This however seems to be the trend of both corporate and government entities.  The greed for the all mighty $Dollar$ continually blinds seemingly good people to the fact that everyone deserves to have a slice of the pie and not just the rich and pampered.

The people that say wal-mart is a good place to work for are the ones that don’t do anything during the day. Try being a night stocker for once and see what they put you through. Our store is so understaffed now that they told us we had to do twice the work with half as many people because sales are down. I understand a business has to adapt, but it isn’t like wal-mart had a bad year or anything. They’re doing fine. Never once is ethics brought up into this scenario. Wal-Marts memo was horrible. You can’t weed out senior citizens and the sick. You CAN make them not the ONLY people working there, but Wal-Mart doesn’t have competitive wages, and their insurance is unaffordable relative to their wages. Certain jobs you can say the pay sucks, but at least i have good health care, or vice versa. At Wal-Mart everything sucks. At my store if you’re a healthy male you’re expected to do twice as much work as everybody else on night shift. That means those big TV’s you people buy, who do you think lifts those. There’s normally only 1 or 2 guys there a night physically capable of doing it so they continuously get used until they develop health problems.

To anyone who would like to send Mr. Lee Scott and/or his wife Linda a personal letter to let them know what they think, here is their home address:

61 CHAMPIONS BLVD
ROGERS, AR 72758

Did you catch the line in that memo about “people think of us like GM?”

That’s a great example. GM has wasted a lot of money over the years supporting seat belt laws, giving money to organizations like MADD, wasting a billion dollars trying to sell electric cars to meet a lefty California mandate, and rolling over to give their overpaid union employees and retirees extraordinary health benefits at minimal cost. Meanwhile, they’ve been making cars nobody wants to buy.

GM is now at bankruptcy’s door, because that’s what happens when you run a business for the benefit of employees and activist third parties instead of serving customers and shareholders. Hopefully, Wal-Mart won’t follow that path.

I always said WALMART SUCKS!!!!! Always did! Always will!!! Glad you guys are exposing these cockraoches for what they are a GREEDY, lying, deceitful, meanspirited company that doen’t give a rat’s a#$ about their employees and they import cheap stuff from CHINA & only try & make as much $$$ as they can while bulldozing anyone or anything in their way.

They put an American flag sticker on their stuff & use that goofy smily face like a form of brain washing that it is a magical kingdom & it is all good!  What a crock of bulls#$%!!!

Unfortunately, these dogs are America’s biggest employees & the largest employer for many of our states too. Walmart “Always low pay!  Always!.”

Take your pick; you have to go to Iraq & trade blood for oil in JR Bush’s dirty, immoral war or work at walmart! How is that for a scary thought!! Or what if you came back from fighting in Iraq for Bush to have to go back to work at walmart.  What would yo do?

Tell walmart to go F*&^ themselves!!!!! 

CHeers to all ani-walmart folks!!

dear walmart haters,

Beware of scum bags from the Ivorty Coast who promise you a large sum of money if you help them out financially. Bite sucker bite! These dirty dogs from africa have no shame so don’t say you weren’t warned!!! They post their scam on this page above! Let’s hope they stay in Africa & don’t come here becasue they may wind up at walmart working for slave wages! See the tie- in!!!!!

I as a consumer refuse to shop at Wal-mart any longer. Most of the goods on the store shelf are made in Communist China. The same China that has done a poor job to improve human rights issues among its own people. Chinese workers are the new slaves of the world and buying products made there is supporting the new world order slave trade. I believe in Freedom and Democracy for all people and that includes Chinese. The way to befall the Chinese Communist goverment is not by making huge american profits in the name of Freedom and Democracy. Our forefathers would be very disgusted at what the CEOs of the American ME generation are doing in the name of Freedom.God Bless America or should I say GOD HELP AMERICA!!!

I think that people have become so used to goverment entitlement programs that they have been robbed of any kind of work ethic.

I know people who only work 3or 4 months out of the year because if they make too much money their goverment benefits will be cut. Now the point I am making is how many of these people nation wide do this, and what is the effecton the companies they work for?
I have a friend that works at Wal-Mart and he has insurance coverage from his wife’s employment. He told me Wal-Mart offers insurance up front but it is really expensive and does not cover much. He said that after six months he had to formally refuse to be covered by Wal-Mart insurance. He said that next year that he will put both him and his wife on the insurance because it is cheaper and provides better coverage,
As far as the unions go - I recently watched a program o NBC where it was showed that employees of several car manufactures were getting paid to sit and read books, watch movies, play video games etc. You see the union put in their contract that the employees would still get paid their wages ( Sometimes as much as $30.00 an hour) even when there is nothing to do. So I figure that the car companies have to get the money somewhere so the the bottom lie is that the price of the vehicles that you and me buy go up. Oh and yes the unions still get their dues so I guess that situation is good for them. The point is that nobody ever went into business not to make money, Wal-Mart is in business to make money. And when did making money become such a sin?
My friend said that he likes the fact that he can talk to any manager at anytime and if he was in a union he would have to go through a union rep. to talk to his boss. I know what he is talking about. A couple of years ago I was contract labor at a union controlled construction site, some tools were needed by me to complete a job, I went to the tool shack and was in the process of getting the tools when I was told by a regular woorker not to touch the tools that the tool guy would get them for me. Well I thought that was stupid as the tools were right there and I told this man so, he told me that if I got the tools the rules would be violated. So I waited about 2 hours for the tools got them and finished the job I was working on - Except It took 2hours to complete a job that would take only 15min.
I for one am for Wal-Mart and I am trying to get hired as I write this.

The national debt is at an all time high. We owe China a total of 40 billion dollars for international trade. The Republicans just introduced a bill that cuts medicaid, cuts student loans by 14 billion dollars, and gives people that make 400,000 plus a year a tax break! This is Wal-Marts philosophy,keep the poor poor and the rich rich. I’m not saying that wal-mart is the only low-life company out there, but how does that justify it..honestly. I don’t think wal-mart should be the highest paying job around, and I think that they should try to make a profit, but when the difference between treating your workers fairly is the difference between making 10 billion a year other than 12 billion...treat your workers fairly for christ sake.  That 2 billion is just going to go to some fatass CEO that hasn’t worked an honest day in his life. If Wal-Mart was fair to it’s workers you’d see a LOT less employee lawsuits, a lot less employee theft, and less controversy about them. Their egos have gotten way to big..like they can’t be touched. If you watch CNN whenever they’re talking about it.. the person against Wal-Mart always has valid points and the person for Wal-Mart just sits there with a smug look on their face and doesn’t have any valid points whatsoever..like there’s nothing you can do about it...we advertise on this very station..do you think they’re going to turn their heads on a huge sponsor. We need an ethics committe in Washington and their sole job should be researching these 10 billion + companies. Look at Exxon they used a national catastrophe to boost their profit ratings. Should they be held accountable? Damn straight. You know why they won’t? Because many people in office..including George Bush, earned their money in oil. That would be a bad investment choice for him. The only people that’s going to save this economy are the working people. Don’t just say well that’s the way it is..say THIS is the way it should be, or one day we’ll end up like France where the unemployment rate is 10 percent and people are burning down the cities. The illegal acts of Wal-Mart paying garment making children overseas 12 cents an hour has to be stopped! Not only for those children, but America can’t compete with 12 cents an hour. If it means paying a dollar or two more for something..so be it. Americans will have more higher paying jobs and our nation will prosper. Without jobs it doesn’t matter if it’s a dollar or two less..you can’t buy it.

The bottom line is that American consumers make too many unneccessary purchases. Americans, as a whole, are stuck on instant gratification, which is the way the people of privlidge want it. As long as we continue to settle for low quality goods, Wal-Mart will prosper. The real issue at hand is that the present American government stands by while we flush our county down the toilet. Look at how many jobs have been lost to over-seas competition. This is because we will settle-for-less, for less, as consumers. Companies would not succeed in moving production out of this country if it were not true.
We all want more money. Problem number two. Don’t you think that the CEO’s want more money too? People say that it is discusting how much most CEO’s make. This is because, once again, our present government stands by and does not prosecute corporate criminals the same as civil criminals. Its not ludicris how much COE’s make, most have worked very hard to get where they are at, while others have worked very hard at exercising their connections to get to where they are at (Haliburton.....).
The bottom line, people stop buying stuff you don’t need (plasma sceen t.v.’s, Escalades, another toy for you child that already has more they can play with). Insist on better qualtiy goods, manufactured in the U.S. Stop whining about not making enough money. Our Greatgrand parents would walk miles everyday to work and provide for our families. Nowadays if it isn’t right in front of me, it is too much work.
We are our own worst enemy. If you can’t see that than you will forever be caught in the middle.

I don’t understand what you guys are getting all worked up about first of all you complain about health care but tell me a job that’s low in a store where you make like 7 dollars that you can get health care i don’t know to many and secondly go to just about any store and youl find just as many products not made in the united states, maybe it should be directed at allot of the big retail stores and not just wal-mart
and oh by the way welcome to america this country is all messed up you need to look farther than wal-mart

I watched the Wal-Mart movie last evening and was shocked at a lot of the things claimed by it.  If you believe everything presented you are nieve.  If you don’t believe anything you’re blind. I used to work at a Wal-Mart when I was a kid and and was not put through any of the “new hire training” anti-union rhetoric.

Wal-Mart is a good place to work for a high school student to make some money.  It is a poor place to work for a career.  For those of you that work at Wal-Mart as your primary income I’d urge you to look for better employment.  If you are not depending on the income for food, healthcare and the like, it’s an OK place to work for minimal spending money. 

If anyone was to put most companies under the microscope they’d find much of the same.  The working conditions in other courties are horrifying but a reality.  Cheap slave-like labor........anyone who participates in this sucks. 

No wonder America is hated in most of the world!  But why does everyone want to come here?

Just my two cents......

you guys are full of bull shi*

why do you think every time you see a walmart..
the parking lot is full? do you think people are there to protest? i dont think so. no.....theyre there to go shopping, and that’s all wal mart is trying to do. theyre trying to make money, by having the lowest prices around. THATS IT.  even our local radio station around here, they heard on of the ridiculous wal-mart watch commercials, and they were critisizing it on how dumb it was. you guys are fuc*ing idiots, and you all deserve to be killed.

thanks for your time

I would like nothing more than to be an active participant in proudly disassembling Wal-Mart. Your cause is valid, urgent, necessary & overdue. We need to bring focus to the ignorance that is rampant. Wal-Mart has destroyed America already. My hope is that we can recover from what has already happened. Anyone who can overlook the true magnitude of what is “TRUTH”, should hold back on their poor interpretation of the situation.

YOU ALL COMPLAIN, BUT WHEN YOU BELIEVE ONONE IS WATCHING YOU SHOP AT WALMART TOO!!!!  EVERY COMPANY HAS SOME TYPE OF ISSUSES THAT NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH.  GET OVER IT SHOP AT WALMART.  I KNOW YOU ALL WILL BE FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

I worked for walmart for many years.  I do not now.  I don’t like their attitude, period.  When a Director wants everyone at a meeting to clap and cheer because a competitor goes under, that is disgusting.  They said the unemployed of that company could come work for walmart.  Where?  The stores are understaffed as it is, not for lack of applicants, but for higher profits.  They don’t care how many people they un-emply, as long as there is no competition for them.  I worked at the home office.  Using my brain instead of my back earned me a $3.00/hour cut in pay.

You like $10.00 toasters?  Be prepared to replace it after a few months because of shoddy workmanship from overseas.

Do you like clothing that falls apart after 10 washings?  Buy at WM.  Don’t you know all their clothing is seconds?  Not the best quality.  I remember when Catalina and White Stag were top quality items, and expensive, and lasted, like purchasing merchandise that was American Made.  It used to be.  Say what you will about low prices.  I would rather buy at Target, where the quality of merchandise is much higher, and has been for many years.

I have dealt with Vendors who say that Target buyers are the best to deal with, and WM the worst, because of their demands for rock-bottom prices. 

Ever buy canned food at WM and it ISN’T dented?  That’s a rarity. 

Wal-mart’s vision is to absolutely be the only store in the WORLD.  If you who do not work there do not realize that, I hope you are ready to receive $1.00 over minimum wage, give 150%, and do this with absolutely no avenue of help.  This is what will happen if WM is encouraged to continue with its ‘expansion’ plans. 

Sam Walton said that wm should pay the managers more so they could encourage the workers to work harder for the pittance they received, but the workers should not be paid more, for they were a dime-a-dozen.  THAT is wm’s philosophy.  Hourly workers are expendable.  And, those of you who tout the advancment program, how long did it take you to advance?  When some moved on.  There are not that many manger jobs per workers.  Moving from the store to a warehouse is not an ‘’advancement’’.  It’s harder work with no lunch hour and no overtime.  I never worked in a store, but I know that when the associates are not helping a customer, they are not smiling.  Does this sound like happy employees?  You walmart supporters are lowering your standards for lower prices and lower quality.  Walmart and the government are destroying the middle class.

I firmly believe that Wal-Mart is the Antichrist of retail and standard of living for our world

i was at wal-mart one night with a terible headache and i asked one of the people who worked in the pharmacy if they could help me find some medication for my headache they lady looked at me really weird and said really rude IT IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. she gave me really weird looks like i was stupid or something.

hahahaha Jeramie in dallas? what planet you from? “Wal-Mart has destroyed America already”????? huh? i could see Katrina… 9/11… drugs… terrorism… but Walmart??? haha cmon dude, get edjamacated.

other than that, Keep up the good work Walmart people… Susan chambers, we love ya…

paying walmart employees LESS… lets me spend LESS… you pay a walmart employee more, and i spend more.

:)

“unemployed” mom in anysmalltown

nuff said.

You know, no one makes you come through those doors to shop.  I’m sure everyone knows of other stores to shop, but as always, they come back, why?, because of good products and better prices.  So, here is your cry towel, and I don’t want it back either.