They had a showing at our union hall in Bellingham. I missed it because I had to work.

(Yup I am a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union-UFCW)

The issues about Wal Mart have been around for sometime now. Working there as a second job and working there as a primary job are two different things. Those who rely on the job for their sole dependence are the working poor (I am not talking about the managers.)

And there was a time when Wal Mart would NOT open stores in inner cities. They left those to K-Mart. :rolleyes: That in and of itself is why I do not shop at Wal Mart.

How is Target different? It is a conglomerate that also includes upscale retail stores. It does not need to rely on severe cost cutting to offer lower prices in the Target stores, because it has a different relationship with its vendors.

Ideal08, thanks for the link. Robert Greenwald makes some very thought provoking movies.

I understand what you are saying. That's why I said in my initial post, what are we to do? These multi-million/billion dollar companies ALL have something going on that we don't know about. Additionally, it could be revealed that their practices aren't Godly. So, what are we to do? We can boycott, but they will still continue to flourish. I've got to pick my battles, and fighting WalMart isn't one of them.

Personally, I'm going to shop where it's convenient. Right now, we don't have too many options as many of you all have. If it's mom and pop, WalMart, Target, AF AM owned, or whatever, that's where I'm going to go if they have what I want.



How does WalMart continue to make one poor? :confused: I thought individuals were responsible for themselves, not WalMart. :confused:

You've never hear the term working poor?

Wow.....
 

I am amazed at what people do not know about Walmart....

I truly recommend (well actually begging) that people watch the movie...

Yes it is true that corporations have a facist stranglehold on this country but, Walmart has taken it to a different level.

Please watch the movie......

And by the way, I do not mean to be insulting but, if you are unsure of what "working poor" is, you should really decline from giving an opinion.

Why do I have the nerve to type such a statement? Because when I worked for the AFL-CIO (when all unions were still under their umbrella), I have seen more Walmart and "Walmart like" hell holes that would make you cry, scream, or both.

But anyway, here is a short definition of "working poor" from Wikipedia...

"Working poor is a term used to describe individuals who maintain full-time jobs but remain in relative poverty due to low levels of pay and dependent expenses. Often, they have negative net worth and lack the ability to escape their situations. In some situations there are people who choose to reject material benefits or prefer a lifestyle that most would regard as lazy or degenerate. Those people would not fall within the category of working poor.

In contrast to the ideal portrayed in Horatio Alger novels, where determination and a strong work ethic can lift a person from poverty into middle class comfort, the "working poor" are those who work hard yet do not escape poverty."

There are A TON of articles and blogs concerning this issue. Not to mention, the massive tax cuts for the wealthy are killing this population. :rolleyes:

Soror AKA2D '91

When Sam Walton ran Walmart, it was the "made in the USA" that got alot of people rallying around the store and allowing for their phenomenal growth. Then before you know it, Walmart is going overseas, putting manufacturing plants out of business in the US and exploiting the individuals that work for the store. There was a story at a reputable newspaper that found that the a large segment of the Walmart workforce utilizies governmental assistance for its workers with respect to healthcare. Walmart can't have it both ways, they can't be capitalistic when it comes to their shareholders and welfare pimps when it comes to their employees. Their actions are expanding the gap between rich and poor (and keeping the poor, poor) because there are not opportunities for growth if one doesn't have a college degree. So one can work there for 10 years and not receive any real benefits. So you have a person who works an honest job, 40 hours a week, but needs governmental assistance to have health care benefits for their children. With no opportunities for job advancement, no ability to transfer their skills to a competitor and/or start a business to compete against Walmart, one can work their forever and never move into the middle class.

One shouldn't need a college degree to live a middle class in America. Oh, did I forget Walmart continues to hire illegal aliens through "contractors" ?! Oh, and they are so automated they know to the hour how much toilet paper goes on the shelf but they can't figure out their contractors are paying below the minimum wage for their workers..bull!

I feel both parts of the arguement, but I feel that Wal-mart helps those that are poor, able to purchase reasonably affordable items. Im looking at this from a consumer stand point and I ask what is someone suppose to do who is BROKE (like myself) and Walmart and Sams Club are the only places near by that they can afford??

I like Target but sometimes they are little more pricey and out of my range, especially for household items. When I am at Target in my mind, I'll be thinking "Man I know I can get this much cheaper at Walmart"

great discussions...I'll continue to educate myself about this issue, but in reality I would probably will still shop at Wal-mart and Sams Club, I can't even deny that.:o

^^^Exactly!

So Walmart is the ONLY business with these practices (past or present?) NO!

Still, how is WALMART responsible for keeping one poor? working or not?


There are many people with only a high school diploma doing very well. It's about choices, ambitions, etc.

^^^true...

This whole issue is new to me, but not far-fetched cuz once business gets big, 9 times outta 10, it's going to do things that big bussines does. Those things are usually unmoral, unethical, and greedy-esque (which isnt really a word, but I couldn't think of another adjective).

Hmm, but I just saw the trailer, I think I may just buy the DVD and try and get it shown on campus if I can. Looks like something Micheal Moore would put out. Walmart is such a big thing around this area cuz there is nothing out here. Most people don't seem to be college educated. The majority seem to be lower middle class or juss in that poor bracket. A wonder what kind of effect a movie like that would have in an area like this.

So are you saying thay anyone who is poor is poor by choice? :(

I'm a fan of Walmart for the selection and prices. I think they are very different from Target, Kmart or other discount retailers. It is more than just low prices that have made them the global industry leader that they are. If no one wanted to shop there, they would go under. If no one needed to work there, they would go under. They are filling a need in many communities for jobs and low cost items. Yes, the pay is low. So is the pay at the gas station, TJ maxx, McDonald's and other jobs of that sort. It's unfortunate that many of these workers are unable to get out of the cycle of poverty. But that situation was probably already in existence before they started working at Walmart.

CHOOSE to BREAK the cycle!
 

^^^
E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.T

The unfortunate thing is that the current welfare system requires that you get a job within five years. If the only job you can get is at a company that pays ultra-low wages, (and for example, the majority of your pay barely pays for housing, child care, and transportation) you are stuck in the cycle. I guess that is why I am less judgemental than I used to be. Working in social services I see the struggles that many earnest people, trying to get on their feet, go through. And I know that companies like WalMart do not help the situation.

Soror, I will say I do agree with you to a certain extent. I once read this book called Nickel and Dimed which talked about the poverty cycle. One of the things the author pointed out was that when she was working at Walmart she was only making $7 an hour but she was required to buy a Walmart shirt to wear for work that cost $7. It was hard because she said a work shirt cost one hour of her pay. Something to think about....(read the book to gather a better meaning)

However, from a consumer stand point, I don't think that not shopping at Walmart is going to help the situation at all.

This sounds like the issue is more closely related to the national minimum wage than Walmart. I just don't see why Walmart is the main villian when there are plenty of other companies that pay $7 or less. At least at Walmart, employees can aspire to management or some type of pay increase over time. Several of their top managers started at or near the bottom of the totem pole.