Wal-Mart takes aim at Democratic critics - What can we do about it?

[chat_noir]

(cross-posted from GD http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2459299 )

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Wal-Mart Stores is hitting back at some leading Democratic presidential hopefuls who have joined with the company's critics recently.

The world's largest retailer announced it is sending out what it terms a "voter education guide" to its 18,000 Iowa employees, criticizing politicians who have recently joined with the union-backed group "Wake Up Wal-Mart" for a series of rallies. Iowa holds the nation's first presidential caucus, and potential candidates are already visiting the state.

"We believe it's wrong for these political candidates to attack Wal-Mart and the transformation under way at our company," the letter said. "We would never suggest to you how to vote, but we have an obligation to tell you when politicians are saying something about your company that isn't true."

The company's critics charge that Wal-Mart fails to provide health care for more than half its workers, pays what it calls "poverty" wages, and helps to shift U.S. jobs overseas by selling low-priced imports.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/16/news/companies/walmart_politics/index.htm?section=cnn_topstories

[Mr_Spock]

1. More of us can join the boycott

They give 90% to Republicans along with all the other union busting and bad things they do.

They are like Bush owns a department store to me.

[LiberalEsto]

2. They are disgusting

When rethug NC Sen. Elizabeth Dole first ran for election, Mall-Wart printed up thousands of 4-page color brochures -- the exact same size, style and paper stock as their weekly sale circular -- extolling all the goodness and virtue of St. Libby. Pastel photos of her, not a breath of a word about her campaign directly mentioned.

They had these inserted in Sunday papers all through North Carolina a short time before the election. A batch of these accidentally got inserted in the Maryland edition of the Sunday Washington Post, which is how I happened to receive one. I nearly puked.

They spent an incredible amont of money on this newspaper ad insert.

I'd suggest Democrats display "Boycott Wal-Mart" bumper stickers.

[napi21]

3. Could this be considered a "donation" to the candidates they are

backing? IF SO, those candidates must declare the "like value" on their FEC reports, and follow the restrictions placed on dorporate donations.

I truely don't know, but I was surprised, when I worked for the Dean campaign, at the different things that ARE considered donations or political contributions! There were several businesses who voluntered their conference rooms (that were always unused in the evenings) to the campaign volunteres to hold their meetings. THAT was considered a "political contribution" and would have had to be reported as such. We were always supplied with STAMPS, PAPER & ENVELOPES to send all those personal letters to ellow Dems in other cities because justt using your own stamps and materials was considered a contribution too!

[MysteryToMyself]

4. Walmart isn't all bad

They make it possible for the underpaid workers to have a higher standard of living.

Walmart should contribute to Democrats and the unions. The more the middleclass and the poor earn, the more Walmart's sales will go up. Democrats help make a bigger money pot for the middle class and the poor.

Actually Walmart pays better than other places in our area.

I think the Democrat Politicians should stay out of it, too.

[chat_noir]

5. Wal-Mart workers on Medicaid - taxpayers subsidize Wal-Mart

HARRISBURG -- Almost one in six Wal-Mart employees in Pennsylvania was enrolled in the state's health care program for the poor and disabled last year, a newspaper reported Thursday.

Wal-Mart had the highest percentage of employees on Medicaid out of the state's 10 largest private-sector employers, according to data provided to The Philadelphia Inquirer by the state Department of Public Welfare.

The company, which is Pennsylvania's largest private-sector employer, had 7,577 of its 48,000 employees, or nearly 16 percent, on Medicaid, according to the figures. The annual cost to the state was $15 million, the newspaper said.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_429434.html


Wal-Mart No. 1 in employee Medicaid


MONTGOMERY (AP) — Many workers at some of the largest companies operating in Alabama get insurance for themselves and their children through state programs and not from their employers.

During a meeting last week with Alabama Medicaid Commissioner Carol Herrmann, state Rep. John Knight Jr., D-Montgomery, expressed concern about major companies that do not offer health benefits to some of their Alabama employees, the Montgomery Advertiser reported Tuesday.

"We spend a lot of money to get them in this state," said Knight, chairman of the House committee that writes the budget for Medicaid and other non-education state services. He said some of these companies receive incentives, such as tax breaks, to locate in Alabama.

Retail giant Wal-Mart tops the list of companies in Alabama whose employees have children on Medicaid, the Advertiser reported, citing state records. Wal-Mart workers' children account for 3,864 children on the Medicaid rolls at a cost between $5.8 million and $8.2 million.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/050223/medicaid.shtml


Wal-Mart Increases Medicaid Spending, Decreases Wages

Wal-Mart increases Medicaid expenditures by an average of $898 per employee, according to a study presented on Friday at a conference held by the company to examine the impact of Wal-Mart on the U.S. economy, the New York Times reports (Greenhouse, New York Times, 11/5). Wal-Mart held the conference, called "An In-Depth Look at Wal-Mart and Society," to address criticism of wages, health benefits and workplace policies and "examine its effect on jobs, inflation and income growth," Bloomberg reports (Bloomberg, 11/4). Wal-Mart commissioned the independent economic research company Global Insight to manage the conference, conduct a study and solicit research (Joyce, Washington Post, 11/5). In total, nine studies were presented at the conference (Grant, USA Today, 11/7). For the Medicaid study, economist Michael Hicks, a professor at the Air Force Institute of Technology, examined the impact of Wal-Mart on government aid programs. According to the study, Medicaid expenditures increase by 1.5% for every 1% that the market share of Wal-Mart increases in a state. The study also found government cash aid to families decreases by 3.3% for every 1% that the market share of Wal-Mart increases in a state. The studies also indicate that Wal-Mart decreases wages in the communities in which it operates, Bloomberg reports (Bloomberg, 11/4). Wal-Mart does not increase expenditures for welfare or food stamps, the study found (New York Times, 11/5).

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=33206

That's just sampling.

[MysteryToMyself]

6. It isn't accurate unless it goes by percentage

because Walmart employees more people than most of the other business.

Am I understanding that the states give the workers medicaid to get Walmart in the state? That is unfair to taxpayers....or is it?

The cost of food is cheaper because of Walmart. That saves the state money on food stamps. They say Walmart alone is keeping prices down because others have to compete. Medicine costs less at Walmart. Walmart keeps inflation down.

I agree all need raises. The value of the dollar's buying power is down 40% to 60% and no minimum wage hike.

I just think the party needs to learn to negotiate. Like I said the middle class and poor are Walmart's customers, so doesn't it stand to reason that Walmart should want to raise all of their income? It would be a win win situation for both. But it shouldn't just be put on Walmart, all should pay more.

I really think this is being instigated by other retailers or Republicans. I heard one the other day say "We shouldn't force a wage price. Wage control is as bad as price controls."

I don't recall any mom and pop stores offering good wages or insurance. They mostly hired their family and well to do friends. Before Walmart we had to work at the chicken plant or the summer canning factory.

[China_cat]

7. You forgot the sarcasm smilie.

[MysteryToMyself]

8. I didn't forget

:yoiks:

I am totally honest about this and wasn't being sarcastic.

My sister started working there 3 years ago. She had worked at two other places for many years. She wishes she had always worked for Walmart. They get profit share and other benefits. She says she would be ahead if she had worked all those years for Walmart.

They employ a lot of older people who need to shore up their retirement. Trust me, there are worse places to work. It is fairly easy work and out of the weather.

Do I have to hate Walmart to be a Democrat? I would rather fight the cost of health care & warmongering.

There are a lot of people who shop at Walmart and are a lot of people who work for Walmart. They all have a chance for advancement. It hurts the Democrats to make fun of Wally World.


:hi:
In times like this, dissent is the highest patriotism. Glen Gersmehl

[China_cat]

9. A lot of the people who work at WalMart

for substandard wages and no benefits do so because Wal Mart has driven out any competition where they could have gotten better jobs. I have a copy here, obtained by my union, of WalMart's strategy for NOT paying benefits, overtime, etc. They don't want people staying on the job more than 2 years (which is when your eligibility for their health care package...if you're full time, which is doubtful...kicks in). They give you the papers to file for Medicaid and food stamps along with your employment papers. Yes, they actually encourage their potential employees to file for state benefits and KNOW that they will be eligible because they know that they aren't paying enough to take them over the requirements.

Locking in employees, working them off the clock, considering 32 hours as full time (which means that they aren't required by law to pay overtime), sexual harassment, violations...severe violations...of child labor laws, threats to employees.

Oh yes, wonderful place to work. And for all that, except for their loss leaders, their overall prices aren't lower (in some cases they're higher) after they've driven out all the competition.

And yes, I do think you have to hate what WalMart stands for and what they do to the people who work for them if you want to consider yourself progressive in any manner.

http://www.hrmguide.com/relations/wal-mart-child-labor.htm
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/050223/medicaid.shtml
http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/tennessee_workers_medicaid.php
http://littlewildbouquet.blogspot.com/2005/10/wal-mart-cast-out-sick.html

[Omaha Steve]

10. The Wal-Mart You Don't Know

Read it all: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

A gallon-sized jar of whole pickles is something to behold. The jar is the size of a small aquarium. The fat green pickles, floating in swampy juice, look reptilian, their shapes exaggerated by the glass. It weighs 12 pounds, too big to carry with one hand. The gallon jar of pickles is a display of abundance and excess; it is entrancing, and also vaguely unsettling. This is the product that Wal-Mart fell in love with: Vlasic's gallon jar of pickles.

[Omaha Steve]

11. Class action 1.5 million current and former female Wal-Mart employees

I'm headed out the door, or I'd post and comment on Walmart all day and night!

http://www.walmartclass.com/walmartclass_casedevelopments.html

Case Developments

On Monday, August 8th, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard Wal-Mart's appeal of the District Court's class certification order. Brad Seligman argued for the plaintiffs.

Listen to the full audio of the argument here

Women ask court to send case to trial on behalf of over 1.5 million current and former female Wal-Mart employees.

* Press Release
* Class Certification Motion

Federal court certifies national class action.

* Press Release
* Class Certification Decision

Current Status (November 28, 2005)

We are awaiting the Ninth Circuit's decision on Wal-Mart's appeal of the class certification order. The trial court has stayed (i.e. frozen) the case until the Court of Appeals rules in the class certification order.

[China_cat]

12. And another one for those who think WalMart

is being unfairly dissed.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/08/16/wal-mart-won%e2%80%99t-pay-workers-well-but-now-tells-them-how-to-vote/

It’s not enough for the world’s largest retailer to contribute millions of dollars to support presidential candidates who will do the bidding of corporations at the expense of America’s workers. Now it turns out, Wal-Mart is trying to tell its employees how to vote—and you can bet its list doesn’t include any candidate who supports working families.

Wal-Mart is mailing 18,000 “voter guides” to its employees in Iowa, state of the first presidential primary in 2008. The guides attack potential candidates for president—all Democrats—for supporting groups that oppose Wal-Mart’s everyday low wages that mean many workers require public assistance to support their families.

[NMMNG]

13. Wal-mart can't handle the truth

And it's lashing out at those who dare to tell it.

The best way to fight their misinformation campaign is with the truth. There are plenty of fact-laden expose articles out there. There's no reason they can't find their way to people.

[and-justice-for-all]

14. Tell'em to fuck off!!

We know their game and what their about, instead off giving health insurance and a living wage Wal-Mart would much rather cater to their own pockets and share holders. Nevermind about the welfare of the people who actually keep the place open and running!

Greedy Fucks!

[Lasher]

15. "...saying something about your company that isn't true."

This corporatespeak takes me back to the old days, before I retired after having worked for the same large company for almost 33 years. It was always "our company" - collectively - when they wanted us to do something extra for them or complacently accept the latest round of reductions in our benefits. But this was always a lie. Unless you are a member of senior management such as a senior VP, CEO, or a member of the BOD it is never "our company". It is always "their company".

Don't think that you can expect your employers to empathize with you if you're in a jam. They won't because it is "their company" and to them you are a disposable liability. Do what you can to watch out for yourself because a large employer will drop you like a hot potato if it means they will get one more dime of profit.