What is Wal-Mart Thinking?
In November, Wal-Mart China’s procurement office made controversial headlines for laying off 10% of its workforce. Because the layoffs came just before the enactment a new labor law which would increase the rights of workers, there was much speculation that the cuts were an attempt to avoid rising costs. Wal-Mart’s public relations department immediately refuted the idea claiming the layoffs were merely part of a reorganization strategy.
While the intention and legality of Wal-Mart’s layoffs remain open for debate, a recent news article has added an interesting twist to the story: Apparently, part of Wal-Mart’s reorganization includes moving some of the China procurement office to Africa.
The Truth Behind Wal-Mart’s Layoffs: Procurement Might Shift to Africa [People’s Net]
According to our in depth investigation, Wal-Mart’s procurement center layoffs have an even more profound cause [than evading the new tax law]. One of Wal-Mart’s procurement employees exclusively announced that the procurement layoffs are part of an overall strategy adjustment due to rising manufacturing costs. Some of Wal-Mart China’s procurement maybe shifted to Africa.
Amidst Wal-Mart’s endeavor to expand in China (currently, one of its actually profitable ventures in Asia) Wal-Mart is facing resistance from local Chinese communities, Chinese suppliers, and an American public who is demanding safer goods.
If Wal-Mart wants to continue to grow in China (where local businesses are quickly picking up the pace), won’t moving operations to Africa hinder relations with the Chinese? Or is this move symptomatic of something greater…
Posted by Michael Mignano on Wednesday, December 19, 2007







COMMENTS
Speaking of procurement difficulties…
Hey vantress, bbrd and mary-
Just so you know my approval of unrestrained capitalism and the rights of capital’s interests over labor’s interests, I am willing to pay you each $.35/hr to learn and speak the Chinese phrase for “3 American WalMart quislings betraying their countrymen with their heads up Bentonville’s ass.”
WalMart- When we say “jump”, our ‘war room’ internet frauds say “how high?” And somebody find out if propaganda slobs, shills, fakes and twits can be procured cheaper in India or Nigeria than these $10 million Edelman ‘war room’ fees.
SanDiegoView in
Thursday, December 20 at 03:34 AM
...won’t moving operations to Africa hinder relations with the Chinese?
Retaliation for being force-fed Chinese unions? Is the Beast trying to bitch-slap the Dragon?
And why Africa, of all places? They say capital chases cheap labor, but this is ridiculous.
Or is this move symptomatic of something greater…
And how does hiring all those ex-spy types figure into this?
The plot thickens!
Ken V in Texas
Thursday, December 20 at 03:55 AM
very funny sdv
matthew vantress in gresham oregon
Thursday, December 20 at 07:23 AM
Nice job, limp dish rag...I mean SDV…
bbrd in
Thursday, December 20 at 10:00 AM
What’s the matter bbrd? The ‘war room’ slobs make you clean up the place and wash the dishes after you lose the daily WalMart/Edelman internet propaganda derby?
WalMart- In the true spirit of capitalism and the ‘race to the bottom’ of the Global Labor Arbitrage wage market, you internet trolls, frauds, shills, twits, ass kissing lackeys and WalMart culture whores in our Bentonville office will have to train your own replacements.
SanDiegoView in
Friday, December 21 at 09:51 AM
ass kissing lackeys
I guess that’s my new WMW “Label”, huh, SDV...I mean, “Rags"…
bbrd in
Friday, December 21 at 11:07 AM
slobs like sdv who believe everything they hear are a joke.what next is walmart going to get blamed for 9-11 and the war in iraq?my god get a life people
matthew vantress in gresham oregon
Saturday, December 22 at 03:54 AM
“ass kissing lackeys”
I guess that’s my new WMW “Label”, huh? ~bbrd
Yup! Well...if looks like a duck and quacks like a duck… It kinda rolls off the tongue too!
ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, America
Saturday, December 22 at 01:05 PM
Now Matthew, you of all people shouldn’t be telling people to get a life. Look how often you post on here? Do you ever take a day off? You are an angry, little, bald man with no social life. PLEASE GO GET ONE. There might be some ladies pathetic, lonely and desperate enough to take up with the likes of you. You could find them online on a social network like Facebook, Myspace or OKCupid. You could even decorate your page with Walmart wallpaper. Here’s an idea, go pick yourself up a gal at your local Walmart. She might even leave her blue smock on while you get intimate.
A Better Observer in Gresham, Oregon
Sunday, December 23 at 09:41 PM
you are a pathetic pile of crap better observer.if you were a real person which you arent you would have the balls to put your real name on here instead of hiding behind closed doors like you are.come on get out of the closet and tell us who the heck you really are.you dont know me and you know it
matthew vantress in gresham oregon
Monday, December 24 at 02:22 PM
HA...but I do know you! If I didn’t know you then how would I know that your middle name is Scott. I don’t think you have posted your middle name on here, so how would I know that, huh? Got an answer for that smart guy?
A Better Observer in Gresham, Oregon
Tuesday, December 25 at 12:02 AM
still not impressed better observer you can do better than that.have the balls which you obviously dont have to put your real name on here.
matthew vantress in gresham oregon
Thursday, December 27 at 04:17 AM
How do you know I have balls Vantress? I could be a woman for all you know? You are just so pissed off that you haven’t a clue as to who I am and how I know you. I mean it really bothers you that I know things about you, doesn’t it?
You must ask yourself how I know these things about you? Did we go to the same school? Am I co-worker or a former co-worker? Are we neighbors? Did we used to be friends or do I know you through a mutual friend or casual aquaintance? Maybe I know one of your ex-girlfriends or ex-wife? Maybe I know one of your brothers or sister?
If you want to test my Vantress knowledge further, here goes! I know your parents are divorced. Dad lives in Oregon, mom lives in California. You have one sister who also lives in California. You have two brothers. The younger one lives in Oregon. Am I psychic or were you just dumb enough to reveal all this info to perfect strangers?
A Better Observer in Gresham, Oregon
Thursday, December 27 at 09:41 PM
wrong my mom dont live in california.you must have spent money on one of those out of date online services that you pay money to find out info on people.you dont have any balls because if you did you would come out of the closet and tell us who the hell you really are.you dont know as much about me as you think trust me.if you know so much then i challenge you to name ever supervisor at every company i have ever worked for that i have had.lets see how smart you really are and lets see if you know as much as you claim to.
matthew vantress in gresham oregon
Friday, December 28 at 03:01 AM
Funny Stuff!
I think you’re sounding a little desperate and worried, matthew vantress.
“you dont have any balls” Are you an authority on this matthew?
It seems to me if someone really was that interested in finding you, they could do it within minutes. You’ve left a trail miles wide on the internet and elsewhere!
A Matt Observer Too! in Cyberspace
Saturday, December 29 at 08:46 AM
cyberspace you are a moron no one cares about your opinion or what you have to say either.i am not worried because i know you folks dont know what you claim you do and never will on here.if people know so much put it on here dont run and hide it makes them look bad when they do that and it shoots down their credibility too.
matthew vantress in gresham oregon
Saturday, December 29 at 05:11 PM
Ah-HA, but you admit your mom did live in California at one time and I was correct on everything else! Nah, would never pay to access info about the likes of you. Hell don’t need too. We aren’t exactly friends so I wouldn’t know if your mom had decided to retire to Arizona or had died or something. If I currently work with you what makes you think I would be stupid enough to post a supervisors name or my own. Some of us value our jobs. It’s a small world and you never know who is out there watching you.
What worries you more. That Iwork with you and can make you even less popular at work? You aren’t well liked there are you? Or do I know someone who has told me some dirty little secrets about you? Maybe I know some really sick, twisted shit about your past?
A BETTER OBSERVER in Gresham, Oregon
Sunday, December 30 at 08:06 PM
you dont know shit so get over it.you dont have the balls to put what you know on here,that proves you dont know shit.you are not a real person and are a big time phony.you dont value shit.you dont work with me.i can sense things.i have no problems with any co workers or any boss or foreman now.at all now.
matthew vantress in gresham oregon
Monday, December 31 at 08:42 AM
Have to give you some credit, you’re getting that much closer to putting the pieces of the puzzle together. I will throw you a bone, NO I don’t work with you. I had never made that claim only listed it as a possibilty. Now why don’t you go back to the drawing board and try to figure out how I do know you?
A BETTER OBSERVER in Gresham, Oregon
Monday, December 31 at 06:29 PM
why dont you just come out and say who you really are instead of expecting me to figure it out.
matthew vantress in gresham oregon
Monday, December 31 at 11:36 PM
“dont have the balls to put what you know on here...”
Sounds like matthew is triple dog daring you, Observer! Are you going to back down from the likes of him?
A Matt Observer Too! in Cyberspace
Tuesday, January 01 at 06:59 AM
Oh it’s just so easy to toy with Matthew. And hey, it gives him something else to bitch about. A refreshing chance of pace from his usual postings.
What else can I say about Matthew without showing my hand just yet. I know where he went to high school. He went to Parkrose High School. Now he’s got to start brainstorming on that one. Did we go to school together or am I friends with one of his old school chums or someone that knows where he went to High School?
A BETTER OBSERVER in Gresham, Oregon
Wednesday, January 02 at 01:08 AM
A refreshing chance of pace from his usual postings.
Can we get an “Amen” from the choir?
Ken V in Texas
Wednesday, January 02 at 05:30 AM
come on knock off the bullshit better observer just tell us who the hell you are.you must be under a gag order from the ufcw union huh
matthew vantress in gresham oregon
Wednesday, January 02 at 06:56 AM
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