Wal-Mart workers plan strikes

[macoman]

Could be that they got a PhD in something useless (purely academic) in the corporate world, like Womens Studies.

Not necessarily, I have a MBA and I never have luck finding a job in a related field. Even though that when I graduated, tried hard to find something. Even an internship. Right now I work as a system engineer. I waste time and money in an useless degree.

[SierraSonic]

Is your company worth over 450 Billion?

 

--

 

You think it's about the money. It's not. It's about entitlement. These are people with zero education, zero experience and zero value to anyone. Walmart knows this and pays accordingly.

 

It was never a Job designed to support a worker with a Kid. It was designed to give High School / College kids a bit of cash flow by doing a very simple, low responsibility Job so they can have some fun on the weekends with their friends.

 

A 25 year old Woman with a child working at Walmart should not expect more out of Walmart, she should expect more out of herself. This backwards thinking is ridiculous. All too often people are willing to blame other people and not themselves.

 

They don't deserve more Money. Period. Half the time the damn greeter never greets you, the Customer Service never helps you and the staff just ignore you. Do they really think that attitude convinces Walmart to pay them more? Like, "Oh obviously my staff are unhappy, I better pay them more". That's not how things work.

 

It's your Job, do it right. Not because of the Money, but because it's your Job! If you want more Money, get a better Job.

The fact that you value any form of human as trash (valueless) because you don't approve of the type of labor they do for work is appalling. A livable wage is long gone from the work force, and these people are basically slaves, anyone making less than $15 today is making less than a person was "valued" 30 years ago, about 2.5x times less. I see no reason for it, any WORK performed should be paid a living wage, and people who are happy with ever decreasing value of their work are saddening.

 

Look, what happens when all of these positions are taken over by robotics? What do we do with the uneducated work force? Lump them in with people who aren't even willing to work? What about those not capable of more? 10% of people are in this situation, and even if a fraction of them are truly trying to abuse the system for selfish gain, we can't let the few keep ruining it for those that work for it. Maybe by offering something worthwhile we'd have less people trying to abuse it, I believe if you start to work, they cut your benefits and now while working you earn less than when you didn't. The funny part being that, we technically have a higher payout for doing nothing, than we do for work. It's insane, if removing some benefits from these programs endangers peoples lives, how can the minimum wage being valued so low be considered any better?

[Shiranui]

So? He's not superhuman. He very likely worked his ass off, networked extremely well and risked a lot to get there.

But does he work over 1000 times harder than the average Walmart employee? 

 

Any one[sic] is capable of this.

Er, no...

:shiftyninja: 

Anyway, on a slightly related note, this made me laugh (on the inside).

Gotta love Viz.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Again, a lack of compassion on here.

Perhaps the delusion that the American Dream still exists clouds people's judgment on this issue.

A few years from now, all but a select few of us will be joining the ranks of the exploited, competing with hoi polloi for underpaid, insecure jobs for which we will be overqualified.

Amen to this. The American Dream some are pining for has been dead for decades. Reaganomics were a major factor leading to its demise.

[RichardK]

What ever happened to working hard and finding a better paying job?  This is UNION mentality.  The company is in charge, NOT the employees.  I have never understood why employees think they should have any say in anything.  If you don't like your job, find another one.  If you want to dictate terms, then start your own business.

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

I think what I'd object too the most, if I were an American, is that Walmart pays such low wages that many employees end up being eligible for food stamps. So the tax payers are subsidising Walmart, and making it acceptable for them to pay so little. Walmart are draining tax money out of the government, to boost their profits. And it's not about Walmart providing hundreds of thousands of jobs, like as if they could threaten to just pack up and leave the country. If they were not there, there would be other stores / companies to take their place. 

 

I'm sure I saw something on a Morgan Spurlock documentary recently that it would cost the average shopper at Walmart something in the region of $0.30 on the average shopping bill in the store, to give every Walmart employee a sizeable, "living" wage increase. 

 

It's insane to me that this hasn't happened. 

[Shiranui]

What ever happened to working hard and finding a better paying job?  This is UNION mentality.  The company is in charge, NOT the employees.  I have never understood why employees think they should have any say in anything.  If you don't like your job, find another one.  If you want to dictate terms, then start your own business.

 

I'm not disputing the merits of people striving to better themselves, nor do I think the work-shy should get a free ride when I'm working two jobs to support my family.

I just think the floor needs to be raised. And looking at the wealth distribution statistics for the US, it certainly seems possible.

[Hum]

Oh Noz ! :o  I might have to go a day without Wal-Mart.

[ACTIONpack]

The problem is how Corporations is the new god and if you don't follow they're ways then you're an anti American. Similar to what the Christians do today and yesterdays. Use and take advantage of there workers as in not pay them enough. Get the government to get tax breaks and if the workers can't support the income let the government do it aka us. Drive other small businesses out of business because they can't compete with Walmart and then Walmart raise prices when competition is gone.

Even though they didn't make net profit of 200 billion and shy of 205 billion its a loss and they can't ###### off the shareholders. I don't see Walmart getting upset when there products go up like egg and cheese when there is a shortage. But when there workers ask for a living wage, its not Walmart fault but the workers that have no education.

Sorry but we the people should be praying for Walmart to giving us job just because we are poor.

PS. I do shopnat Walmart all the time. :'(

[Hum]

 

 

I'm sure I saw something on a Morgan Spurlock documentary recently that it would cost the average shopper at Walmart something in the region of $0.30 on the average shopping bill in the store, to give every Walmart employee a sizeable, "living" wage increase. 

 

It's insane to me that this hasn't happened. 

When I see price increases at Wal-Mart, it is more than 30 cents, per item.

 

A family shopping trip can cost $20 more for their groceries, if some prices are raised.

 

I don't know where the TV 'experts' get their math from.

 

 

I notice price increases and buy less or avoid trips to Wal-Mart.

[ACTIONpack]

When I see price increases at Wal-Mart, it is more than 30 cents, per item.

A family shopping trip can cost $20 more for their groceries, if some prices are raised.

I don't know where the TV 'experts' get their math from.

I notice price increases and buy less or avoid trips to Wal-Mart.

Your thinking us very narrow minded. The minimum wage would not only effect Walmart but all stores. So yes the prices of food and products would go up. Labor cost would cost more so instead of the corporations eating the loss, they push the cost on the customers because we all know corporations don't give a rat ass about there employees or customers and I'm surprise so many people don't see this.

The problem with corporations today is the lack of respect they give to the communities. They will lie, pay polications to change laws, use cheap labor in China and avoid helping Americana with good job to do it. To save a billion or two of profit when having over 200 billion in revenue.

[Hum]

Your thinking us very narrow minded. The minimum wage would not only effect Walmart but all stores. So yes the prices of food and products would go up. Labor cost would cost more so instead of the corporations eating the loss, they push the cost on the customers ...

And the buying power of the workers getting 'raises' quickly goes down.

 

No one really wins.

[ACTIONpack]

And the buying power of the workers getting 'raises' quickly goes down.

 

No one really wins.

 

Yea but now, the corporation is winner and the tax payers lose because they will get government to pay money like food stamps for them to live. I don't see how you can just say well, if they raise minimum wage. 

[Hum]

I was disappointed -- no strikers at my Wal-Mart today.

I want to harrass them a little. :p

[rr_dRock]

Not this ###### again.

 

Really?

 

Let them attempt to unionize, so they can shut down the stores, like Wal-Mart has in the past.

 

What's better, no job, or a job that pays you enough to feed yourself?

 

I put that in bold, because minimum wage, once again, isn't meant to be the sole income for feeding your family, and you can live off of minimum wage perfectly fine by yourself. (minimum wage in Manitoba is $10.50 an hour)

 

They are unskilled (skilled being something that the majority of people could not do).

 

However. I do think that 25k a year isn't a bad idea as a wage, for someone who's at the top of a 5 year scale (ie: first step starts at 15-18k). I don't usually shop at wal-mart so the inevitable price increases wouldn't affect me.

 

 

 

 

I'll point anyone who has a problem with my "elitist" attitude to the "Entitled children cry, and whine for things they don't deserve" (ie: the fast food workers) thread, as I don't feel like repeating myself.
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1212653-fast-food-workers-threaten-global-strikes/

 

 

 

And I'll leave this here

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1H-Y7MAASkg#t=45

[Hum]

^ Amazing these strikers can often afford a bad cigarette habit and expensive cell phones. ;) But they need so much more money ..

[xrobwx71]

The fact that there are people desperate enough to work for literally anything doesn't mean companies should be lining up to exploit these people...

 

The fact that the US government has publicly stated that WalMart pays its employees so little that the taxpayer has to foot the bill... I shouldn't be subsidizing WalMart's labor costs... I don't even shop there to get the false appearance of savings.

You commented on the "always" truthful and absolutely accurate US Government. Now move on to the rest of the article seen below.

 

 Walmart spokesperson Randy Hargrove described this week?s report as ?inaccurate and misleading,? referring to its use of extrapolated data and adding that public assistance program eligibility requirements vary from state to state.

?More than 99 percent of our associates earn above minimum wage,? he said. ?In fact, the average hourly wage for our associates, both full and part-time, is an average of $11.83 per hour.?

He said the company had no internal figures to share on the number of workers receiving public assistance.

?The bottom line is Walmart provides associates with more opportunities for career growth and greater economic security for their families than other companies in America,? he said. ?Our full and part-time workers get bonuses for store performance, access to a 401K-retirement plan, education and health benefits.?

[Lord Method Man]

Meh, Wal mart here starts everyone at over $9, and their average for store employees is $14.

[xrobwx71]

Your thinking us very narrow minded. The minimum wage would not only effect Walmart but all stores. So yes the prices of food and products would go up. Labor cost would cost more so instead of the corporations eating the loss, they push the cost on the customers because we all know corporations don't give a rat ass about there employees or customers and I'm surprise so many people don't see this.

The problem with corporations today is the lack of respect they give to the communities. They will lie, pay polications to change laws, use cheap labor in China and avoid helping Americana with good job to do it. To save a billion or two of profit when having over 200 billion in revenue.

Just wondering what your thoughts are on why the corporation should eat the loss? Where does it stop? Pay the Pharmacists who have attended school to get a degree the same as the guy/girl getting the buggies/carts? Pay the buggy/cart retrievers $20/hr $30/hr? Where does it stop? Ok so they get $15/hr for retrieving carts, then they strike for $20/hr. We say aww those poor cats, give them $20/hr as we can't be such savages and let them work for less than that. When the money is gone and it's not viable to run the business anymore what then? Where are those people going to get their money then?  Does anybody know what Wal-Mart's overhead is? How much do they pay in taxes? (7.1 Billion in 2013) http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/news/1004/gallery.top_5_tax_bills/  There are 1.4 Million Americans employed at walmart. Do the math at $15 per hour on an average of 30 hours per week. That's $630,000,000 per week.$2,520,000,000 per month. $30,240,000,000 per year just in payroll. Then they have to pay taxes, utilities (on top of lieing and paying off politicians sheesh). It's Goddamn ludichrist. But I guess after allll that the US Government can bail them out too huh? And this is just "Murica" by the way. 

[+LogicalApex MVC]

You commented on the "always" truthful and absolutely accurate US Government. Now move on to the rest of the article seen below.

 

 Walmart spokesperson Randy Hargrove described this week?s report as ?inaccurate and misleading,? referring to its use of extrapolated data and adding that public assistance program eligibility requirements vary from state to state.

?More than 99 percent of our associates earn above minimum wage,? he said. ?In fact, the average hourly wage for our associates, both full and part-time, is an average of $11.83 per hour.?

He said the company had no internal figures to share on the number of workers receiving public assistance.

?The bottom line is Walmart provides associates with more opportunities for career growth and greater economic security for their families than other companies in America,? he said. ?Our full and part-time workers get bonuses for store performance, access to a 401K-retirement plan, education and health benefits.?

I am at a lost here... What are you trying to demonstrate? That WalMart doesn't think they are doing anything wrong? Well that is obvious, otherwise they wouldn't do it...

 

I'll toss you a simple question; what does the US Government have to gain by releasing this information? What benefit do they derive here if they were to be lying as you are eluding to?

[nvllsvm]

Why is there so much focus on how much one gets paid? The focus should be turned to how valuation of currency turned current minimum wages into unlivable wages and how to reverse that.

[Hum]

^ Many people always want to blame someone else for their own problems, instead of taking responsibility for their own life. ;)

[wakjak]

^ Many people always want to blame someone else for their own problems, instead of taking responsibility for their own life. ;)

 

They've taken responsibility by getting a damn job, they should be able to live off that wage. 

[xrobwx71]

I am at a lost here... What are you trying to demonstrate? That WalMart doesn't think they are doing anything wrong? Well that is obvious, otherwise they wouldn't do it...

 

I'll toss you a simple question; what does the US Government have to gain by releasing this information? What benefit do they derive here if they were to be lying as you are eluding to?

My point was that you commented on the anti Wal-Mart part of the article but did not comment on the Pro. It's just like the media I see on Fox, MSNBC, CNN. We only get part of the story and it's usually the part the individual believes or subscribes to. I don't believe much of anything that our Government "says". You seem like a highly intelligent gentleman so I'll let you answer your own question.see here: https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1216387-wal-mart-workers-plan-strikes/?view=findpost&p=596437395 Please don't take this as a personal attack as I respect your opinion and have read and learned from some of your past post and your personal blog.

[Hum]

They've taken responsibility by getting a damn job, they should be able to live off that wage. 

They should also take responsibility for their reproduction, education, and lifestyle choices.