Last updated: 07/27/2010
Walmart again is facing a class action lawsuit for limiting medical care for its Colorado injured employees in an effort to save money. According to The Wall Street Journal, Walmart broke state and federal laws by sending injured workers to clinics run by Concentra Inc. which operates 300 medical centers and 250 workplace clinics in 40 states. Walmart, Concentra and American Assurance Co. part of American International Group Inc. are accused of “ conspiring to violate Colorado worker’s compensation law that prohibits companies from dictating medical treatment for workers injured on the job.” Attorneys are looking at other states where Walmart may be doing the same thing to its employees, such as Arizona, New York, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Walmart, Concentra and American Home of course all deny any wrong doing.
Walmart has yet another recall on another one of its products. This time the recall is for Perdue chicken nuggets sold under the brand name of Great Value. And what a great value it is to have pieces of bright blue plastic in your nuggets. According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Food and Safety Inspection Service the nuggets were sold in a 1 pound 13 oz. bag number P-33944 case code # 89008 A0160 with a best used date of June 9, 2011. The 92,00 pounds or 50,000 packages of nuggets made on June 9 2010 were shipped out nationwide. Perdue Co. can be reached at (877) 727-3447 With the recall coming in July most of the nuggets have probably been consumed by the customers and neither Walmart or Perdue will not suffer any monetary losses. Most recalls are done late so that the public usually foots the bill.
The smoke has cleared in Redlands where the residents were outspent a hundred to one on the Measure O initiative. The sad thing is the police and firemen who are looked upon as hero’s to most people allowed themselves to be used by the city to endorse Walmart. Most of these city employees don’t even live in the community, but promises of additional funding for their departments was all it took for them to jump on the Walmart bandwagon. Let’s hope they get what was promised or at least what’s coming to them. The city funded Chamber of Commerce in Redlands and other cities and towns across the country repeatedly sell out their members future to sustain the trickle down monies from their cities. Why would a known business killer like Walmart, who has openly set their sights on stores like Best Buy, Toys R Us, small business and grocery stores be supported by the Chamber of Commerce? These back stabbers should be called the Chamber of Walmart, who usually doesn’t even join the organization once they arrive.
The Hillbilly Mafia from Arkansas has muscled their way into city after city across the country with empty promises of great tax revenues and support for the local politicians. Has America become so illiterate that reading a newspaper, listening to the radio or watching news programs, doesn’t resonate when telling of the way Walmart does business? How many jobs have been lost overseas because companies have to lower their prices in order to sell to Walmart? The many lawsuits, the cheating of employees out of earned wages, health care benefits supplied by the taxpayer, overburdening of city resources, crime, traffic, empty buildings that cause blight and still these politicians and ill informed residents allow the Walmart Trojan horse into the community. How long are you going to sit back and allow these phony politicians to climb in bed with Walmart without any repercussion at the polls.
Walmart is ramping up their donations to food banks, for this effort Walmart will receive $250 million in grants over 5 years which will pay for refrigerated trucks to help keep the food fresh from store to charity. This food of course will be food that cannot be sold to the public for one reason or another or food that is close to its expiration date and would be thrown away anyway.
Walmart is outspending the Redlands residents that are opposing a Supercenter in the community. The latest figures show the residents spending about $6,000 and Walmart coughing up around $350,000. Its really a shame that these city councils and the uninformed Police and Fire Departments all eat the water sandwiches Walmart serves up. How soon this council forgets what happened when the existing Walmart came to town and the city was actually paying Walmart for the privilege of having Walmart in town. What ever happened to the previous mayor who went on tour speaking on how Walmart took Redlands for a ride. This new group evidently wants to take that same ride. The Redlands Group backed by Walmart are selling the city for thin promises of raises and new vehicles, what a shame to be so gullible and be in charge. The folks in Redlands should be looking for new faces across the board.
Walmart has another recall on its hands, 900,000 coffee pots made by General Electric and sold Exclusively by Walmart have to date caused 83 reported fires. By law a company should notify the government immediately when a product has a defect. It is much cheaper to sell the defective product and then give notification. Walmart has not responded to the reason why the government or the public wasn’t notified sooner. The coffee pots have caused kitchen damages and consumers being burned. The 12 cup coffee pot model numbers are 169164 (black) and 169165 (white) sold between March 08 and Jan.2010. If you have one and you shouldn’t because you’re not supposed to shop Walmart, maybe you will learn a lesson. You can return it to Walmart for a refund. Walmart buys this Chinese crap on the cheap with no regard for public safety just the bottom line profit. You work hard for your money quit giving it the Walton Family.
Another recall is the Miley Cyrus jewelry line which was known in February ( late reporting again) to have toxic levels of cadmium. The jewelry is not toxic if worn only if sucked on’ swallowed or bitten. Walmart claimed the jewelry was marketed for older people not kids according to the statement given by the Associated Press. Cadmium can cause kidney failure and softening of the bones.
When are you as the public going to understand that big business is only interested in making money and not the integrity of its cheaply made products from 3rd world countries with no health or safety standards.
California Walmart employees have sued and won a lawsuit settlement involving around 223,000 workers who claimed unpaid vacation and wages. Walmart is of course claim to be always looking out for its employees and their families. Now Walmart will get the chance to settle for anywhere between $43 and $86 million plus the cost of a third party to calculate the final monies owed the workers. The case is from two cases filed in 2006 with the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California. As usual Walmart had no comment, this lawsuit falls right on the heels of the multi-billion dollar gender lawsuit.
Redlands California is the latest city where the residents are fighting Walmart. The grass roots community effort is of course battling the ill informed city council members who feel Walmart riding up on the white horse will save the day. The ordinance to stop Walmart comes up for a vote on June 8th. The city in an effort to confuse the voters have written the ordinance so that NO means YES and YES means NO. The anti big box coalition which is the residents of the city are walking precincts and calling their neighbors. Walmart is paying out of town employees to do the walking. These people have no investment in the community and are there for the bidding of Walmart. If you have friends or family in Redlands or are a Redlands resident, please Vote YES on O and keep the charm of Redlands and stop the intrusion of Walmart.
Walmart has finally running out of tricks to stop the gender lawsuit filed in 2001. The lawsuit contends Walmart paid their female employees substandard wages and promoted them less often in comparison to their male counterparts. This lawsuit could conceivably cost Walmart billions of dollars. Walmart stocks fell .27 cents a share the afternoon of 4-26-10.
Walmart has reported a 1% profit over 2009 which probably has many investors pretty nervous. Again Walmart is attempting to extend its reach into the urban areas again. Chicago and New York are the targets on Walmart’ radar, however cheap Chinese goods and Cheap paying wages have kept the big cities from welcoming in Walmart. The only problem in Chicago is that the Mayor Daley that runs the city today would not make a pimple on the backside of his father. He seems to think Walmart would be great for the city, of course his wages are quite a bit higher than the Walmart employees would be.
Walmart has been opening stores in small towns of California, as has been said many times its easy to outwit these small time city councils and their attorneys. Walmart’ attorneys give these small towns loans, garner redevelopment money from the city and usually cuts a deal giving the city coffers a percentage of the promised taxes. The residents then pay for the privilege of having a Walmart in town. The city council members feel they have played ball with the big boys, never realizing they have been snookered. The sad part is they keep getting elected and as dumb as they are, the voters are dumber.
Walmart in order to survive has to break into the California economy. The problem is Los Angeles wants a living wage for the Walmart employees. L.A. understands that low wages depress the community and the employees become a drain on society. Not only L.A. but cities like New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago have halted the growth of Walmart. Wherever a Walmart wants to open there is opposition, if Walmart is such a great company, why are the residents not happy to have them in their communities?
Walmart now is now getting into the education business. We know that Walmart likes to show anti-union films to their new hires. Joining up with a city like Detroit where unemployment is running rampant. Walmart wants to teach the inner city students what they need to know to prepare them for entry level positions. This class offers the students a 4 credit after school program. This job readiness program is preparing these minority students for a job that doesn’t even pay a livable wage. How are these students going to break the chains of poverty working for Walmart. Walmart is only looking to obtain cheap labor and future customers who cannot afford to shop anywhere but Walmart. This is what Walmart is all about, by perpetuating poverty Walmart stays in business. No choice.
Walmart of course has been embroiled in racial lawsuits in the past and it seems as though some people still like to play games. In Washington County New Jersey, some one very politely over the intercom system asked if all the black customers would please leave the store. Walmart stated that some in store phones are accessible to the public and do not have cameras at these locations. It does however make one wonder the type of employees and customers are attracted to Walmart.
Walmart’ 401 K plan has come under fire, in a Nov. 25th federal court ruling. Walmart hired Merrill Lynch as the trustee of the plan and they (Merrill Lynch) failed to evaluate investment options for the plan and charged excessive brokers fees. This cost the plan about $60 million in these fees and will cost the plan around $20 million per year. The court alleges Walmart and Merrill Lynch breached their fiduciary duties and duty of loyalty by not informing the plans investors about the fees. Walmart is not only doesn’t pay their employees very well, but then turn around and screw them out of the little money they try to invest. Yes, Walmart is really a place you really want to work or shop at. Walmart is for the Walton family and no one else, when are people going to learn?
The Workday Minnesota reported that a union buster told a worker that he could be fired for union activity. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled the worker was protected by labor law. The NRLB then as usual gave Walmart a slap on the wrist by having Walmart post a notice for two whole months stating Walmart would not “threaten employees with termination because of union activity” The NRLB is another agency that really needs to be looked at very closely because of some very controversial rulings.
The Supreme Court of Canada issued a statement concerning Walmart closure of their Quebec store in 2005, seven months after the workers voted to unionize Walmart shut the doors and put 190 workers on the street. The court in a 6-3 vote said “the closure did not constitute an unfair labor practice aimed at hindering the union or the employees from exercising rights under the labor code.” This is just ridiculous that anyone would buy that it wasn’t retaliation against the workers for wanting a better life. Walmart doesn’t believe in LIVE BETTER WORK UNION.
Gardnerville, Nevada:
Seems the town council is deadlocked on a proposed Supercenter, the project is a 152,495 square foot behemoth while the people who have a real vision for the area want to stay with the idea of a small town atmosphere. Councilman Jerry Smith stated a big box goes against the towns vision. The town manager Jim Park actually said he thought that business’ in the area would benefit from having a Walmart in the area, apparently the only publications this rube reads are the ones Walmart supplies. The council should consider firing Parks so that he can work full time for Walmart. Councilman Jim Slade said of the proposed changes Walmart introduced violated both the master and the specific plan and was tantamount to putting lipstick on a pig.
Walmart has started a new move to kill the competition. Code name for this is called Project Impact, the idea for the sake of the public is to clean up their cluttered stores, give better customer service. That is what the customers will hear, the real deal is to crush the competition. K-Mart, Rite Aid, and of course Toys R Us, since they are the last toy retailer left. Michaels Stores the craft people is not going to compete much longer with Walmart already selling about 80% of the items as Michaels. Best buy should be looking closely at Walmart since the demise of Circuit City.
The grocer stores are also on the list to be annihilated since grocery customers shop 3 times a week, Walmart wants that foot traffic so it can sell the cheap Chinese crap in the retail section. Walmart is not trying to save anybody money Walmart only wants to sell you more junk to make the Walton Family more money.
Walmart almost had another episode this Black Friday like the one last year where a security guard was trampled to death. This year was a little closer to home here in California. The Walmart store in Upland had to be closed down by police and then reopened to let customers in a few at a time. Where is the security people from Walmart?, or is it cheaper to use the Upland City Police and then if something goes wrong Walmart has someone else to share in any lawsuit. Walmart is private property and Walmart should be paying for their own security, not the taxpayers.
Walmart and Pepsi have teamed to display Pepsi and Dorito’s in the toy aisle. Hard enough trying to say no to the toys, now you have to keep them away from sugar and junk. So in the middle of the toy dept. Walmart and Pepsi are doing you moms a favor to enhance what Walmart says is “Family Night Center.” This idea came directly from the Walmart Central Office. This is a nationwide program to help families, just like selling toys and junk food time on cartoon shows. Like Walmart shoppers don’t have enough problems, studies show a young persons diet is the best predictor of criminal behavior. Eating junk food will probably wind the kid in jail. Young offenders who took vitamins were less likely to repeat.
Teamster in the grocery warehouses and UFCW members have the most to lose with the interloper Walmart selling groceries. The poor wages and lack of benefits from Walmart can of course be used to sell cheap groceries, that is until the competition is dead. Once there is no one else selling groceries the prices escalate as in every other city across the nation. Walmart gives nothing they only suck the lifeblood from a community. Any union member shopping at Walmart is looking to have his or her wages lowered or be on unemployment.
Walmart will sell you a months supply of prescription drugs for $4. The largest supplier of these drugs is an East Indian company named Ranbaxy who was charged in February of falsifying data and test results.In 2008 Walmart gave Ranbaxy an Award for Performance. The FDA has issued warning letters barring entry into America any finished drug product or any active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Walmart was selling cheaply made Chinese DVD players for $29.00 it’s a hell of a deal if… your house doesn’t burn down. One week ago Walmart recalled 1.5 million of these DVD players and this week are recalling another 2.7 million players. Anyone owning one of these machines is urged to return them to Walmart for a complete refund. These DVD players were sold exclusively by Walmart and these players are dangerous and this warning should not to be taken lightly.
Everywhere there’s a Walmart those freight containers seem to be parked in the rear of the store. These containers are rusty and unsightly. Many of these containers were allowed to be parked behind the store for the Christmas holiday merchandise, but after the holidays the so called city fathers looked the other way to accommodate the wishes of Walmart. When are these politicians going to stop kissing the backside of this retailer and start paying attention to the residents and the ambiance of the cities they are supposed to represent?
Have you noticed there are more and more JB hunt and Swift tractors pulling Walmart and Sam’s Club trailers lately? Walmart doesn’t even want to pay their own drivers, when they can get these other carriers so much cheaper. Walmart is like the old game of Packman eating through towns and cities and devouring everything in sight.
Redlands citizens are up in arms over a proposed Wal-Mart coming to the city. The idea of another big box would probably mean the closing of the existing store, leave an empty building and cause the demise of many other stores in the area. The community is gathering signatures in hopes of staving off the attack by Wal-Mart. If you live in Redlands and see these folks, please help by signing their petition.
Wal-Mart in an effort to boost sales has been working with various singing artists and designers. What Wal-Mart doesn’t seem to understand is, not only do shoppers not want cheaply made Chinese goods no matter whose name you put on them. Californians even more so than the rest of the country aren’t interested in fall apart clothing, we don’t want the Walton Family cheap filthy stores in our neighborhood, nor do we like the looks of those make shift container warehouses in our back yards. Please when asked JUST SAY NO to Wal-Mart ask your friends and family not to shop in these junkyards.
On May 6, 2009 Wal-Mart negotiated a civil settlement with the district attorney of Nassau County N.Y. concerning the death of a temporary worker. The stampede on Black Friday of 2008, a day that results in 13% of Wal-Mart’s yearly profit. Wal-Mart as usual did not have to admit to any guilt in what happened and will not face any criminal charges. The agreement includes Wal-Mart to donate $1.5 million to the community, set up a $400,000 victims compensation fund, provide 50 jobs to high school students and hire safety experts to scrutinize future security plans for Black Friday sales at all of the New York stores. Wal-Mart even after this tragedy promised shoppers “more lanes than ever to make Christmas shopping easier” airing Christmas carols and telling customers “Save Money, live Better” stealing the famous union slogan of “Live Better, Work Union”. The family of Jdimytai Damour the worker who was killed has also filed a civil lawsuit against Wal-Mart.
Eight years ago Wal-Mart was hit with the largest class action lawsuit in history. Wal-Mart had discriminated against its female workers, paying them less than their male counterparts doing the same job and not promoting them on an equal basis. Originally six women filed the lawsuit on behalf of all women presently or formerly working for the giant retailer. Twice Wal-Mart has tried to quash the suit but lost on both occasions. Wal-Mart wanted each woman to file lawsuits individually which would have tied up the courts for years, and would have been all but impossible for one person to sue Wal-Mart because the cost involved.
Fontana turned down Wal-Mart for a Supercenter, The crime stats for Wal-Mart stores far exceeds the crime rates of other stores. Tuesday May 5th two armed robbers shot the manager in the leg as a persuasive measure to force another employee to open the safe. The two were apprehended, one in a U-Haul truck and the other was chased down by a police dog and was bitten. Cash and a gun were found in the so-called get-a-way vehicle. The crime for Supercenters is even worse for the regular Wal-Mart stores. Why do other cities feel the taxes gleaned from a Wal-Mart out weigh the safety of its citizens.
Wal-Mart is having such a hard time sneaking into cities with the help of misguided ignorant city council members. These council members buy into the Wal-Mart theory of economics. Wal-Mart promises great tax benefits to their cities. Wal-Mart now wants to expand their traditional stores into Supercenters one in Victorville and another in Barstow. The fact is Wal-Mart doesn’t bring any additional tax revenue with the addition of a grocery component. There are no taxes on food products. Wal-Mart only wants the grocery component for one reason. People grocery shop three times a week, but only go to a big box store once or twice a month. To Wal-Mart putting in groceries only means more shopping trips. Wal-Mart has made a ghost town of downtown Barstow, That of course is not enough they now want the grocery dollars as well. We can only hope the citizens are smarter than the council people and fight against Wal-Mart causing more store closings in the city and putting more people out of work.
Class action suits are the only way to addressing discrimination. In the past the GOP Bush EEOC attorneys appointees were joined by business lobbyists and the Chamber of Commerce and the right wing radical organization Pacific Legal Foundation, well known for suing for corporate property rights.
The Obama administration has taken the side of the discriminated women sending a legal brief on March 19th to the San Francisco 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals. They are in support of the lower courts ruling on how back pay would be determined whenever the case comes to trial.
There is a ship Wal-Mart uses to have goods shipped from China to America, it is 1,302 ft. long, (which is longer than an aircraft carrier) 207 ft. wide has a net cargo of 123,200 tons carrying 15,000 containers. Cost of the vessel was $145,000,000+. It only has 13 crewman and can make the trip from China to America in 4 days. It is able to travel at 31 knots whereas the average ship travels at 18 to 20 knots. The ship also has silicone paint on the bottom saving 317,000 gallons of fuel per year. The real kick is that usually heads back to China empty. Wonder why our economy is in turmoil? Don’t you think Americans have supported China and Wal-Mart long enough?
Wal-Mart has won an appeal from a federal appeals court in San Francisco to try and stop a lawsuit filed on behalf of 1.6 million women for sex discrimination. The workers contend Wal-Mart paid women less than men and granted fewer promotions. The suit was filed in 2001 and Wal-Mart has fought hard to keep it out of the courts. Wal-Mart does not want to pay back pay or any compensation to the women. A judge in 2004 granted that the lawsuit go forward and Wal-Mart is still fighting the judges order.
Bentonville Arkansas the home of Wal-Mart had to lay off 800 management personal this week. Nobody likes to see someone lose their job, but in this case a predatory bunch of suits who have no doubt slapped many a high five when putting other companies out of business causing untold grief and hardship to thousands of working families, it’s very hard to feel much morose for them. Maybe now that same hand that slapped five at others misfortune will be thinking about the devastation dealt to others when they themselves are using that same hand to pick up an unemployment check. What goes around comes around.
Wal-Mart is settling over 63 lawsuits for routinely underpaying its employees. The amount to be paid will be between $350 and $640 million. Resolving these cases before going to court will save them many millions, and also helps to not to give the unions ammunition to argue the Employee Free Choice Act. Wal-Mart is scared to death of unionizing its work force, having to pay decent wages and benefits to the workers. With the way things have been going the working class in America is under attack and we must fight back to preserve our standard of living.
Well when faced to maybe having to fight public pressure and the unions Wal-Mart is eyeing the international markets even closer. Wal-Mart has offered to buy a large retail chain in Chile, this move would make Wal-Mart Chile’s largest grocer. This fits into Wal-Mart’s strategy of buying established chains to quickly gain market share in that country. This is the same strategy used in Brazil, China and Japan. Once you start exploiting the lower wage workers it must get easier and easier. By paying one ignorant worker a bit more than the rest and give him or her a title, that person will do anything they are told not to be put back with the masses. Its very easy to find people with that mentality in that education sector.
Wal-Mart in New Jersey had a truly Black Friday sale. It was a day of mourning for the family of one employee who was trampled to death by the crowd of shoppers. Wal-Mart could have hired crowd control security, but that would have cut into the bottom line. Even while the man was dying on the floor and the paramedics were loading the body into the ambulance, the customers were still allowed to shop. No attempt to empty the store, just keep em’ shopping. This is the mentality of the owners, employees and the type of people who shop there.
Human Rights Watch an independent nongovernmental organization that investigates human rights violations worldwide has put out a study on labor rights and trade. Senior researcher Carol Pier did a case study of the abysmal workers rights regime we have here in America. In a 2 ½ year study culminating in a 210 page report issued in 2007 “Discounting Rights: Wal-Mart’s Violation of U.S. Workers’ Right to Freedom of Association.” Found Wal-Mart to be one of the worst union busting companies in the country. The study has come at a time when a Minnesota state judge may levy a multi-million dollar fine against Wal-Mart for 6 years of violating workers’ rights to their pay. The full study may be viewed at www.hrw.org/reports/2007/us0507.
In an effort to plunge further into the unionized grocery markets, Wal-Mart has plans of opening fewer 190,000 square foot stores and opening their 15,000 sq. ft. Marketside grocery stores. This in an effort to compete with anti-union Tesco’s Fresh & Easy Markets and of course trying to quiet the many communities that protest the large Supercenter stores.
The Victorville Wal-Mart which is about the 7th most violent in America is a distinction the residents aren’t very proud of. On Tuesday November 18, 2008 an 83 year old man was followed into the washroom by Robin Lee Whalen who then robbed the older man of his wallet. The strong arm robber (Whalen) was taken into custody the following Thursday thanks to witnesses and is being held on $50,000 bond. Despite all the crime at the present Wal-Mart location the city council still feels 3 more Wal-Mart Supercenter stores are needed in Victorville. I wish when these out of touch councilmen and the Wal-Mart stockholder mayor make these decisions the California State Attorney General would investigate said decisions for any improprieties.
Wal-Mart in Victorville had a bomb threat on Saturday Oct. 25th. This time Wal-Mart evacuated the store, last time Wal-Mart had a bomb scare they refused to close the store and told the employees to “find the bomb”. I wonder if the workers received hazard pay for that job? Wal-Mart as usual puts profits over the safety of its employees. We wonder what Wal-Mart would have said had a bomb exploded while the workers were searching the store. The Walton Family is building their wealth on the backs of the employees that mean absolutely nothing to them. Calling your employees “associates” gives them a feeling of belonging, but its only a way of keeping them in the Wal-Mart way of thinking.
The December 08 Consumer Reports stated that of 27 walk-in electronic stores. Wal-Mart came in dead last failing in price, selection, quality, customer service, checkout and return policy. Costco which is a Teamsters Union company got the highest marks for prices and a generous return policy. The fact that Costco pays its employees well and provides good benefits proves that Wal-Mart, and others who pay sub-standard wages and benefits and treats its employees poorly have no credible excuse for their conduct. Wal-Mart has to become a good corporate citizen.
Even though Wal-Mart prospered during the years the democrats were in power the median household income rose by $6000 under the Clinton administration. The unemployment rate fell by 3 points, and the poverty rate went down by 6 million. The Bush years caused a drop of $1000. in household income, and unemployment rose from 3.9% to 5.9%. During those same years the poverty level went up by 5 million, and families are paying $6000. more for basics. Wal-Mart sales went up, but despite this Wal-Mart is encouraging its employees to vote republican. We can only figure the republicans are giving Wal-Mart much more.
We as trade unionists must do everything we can to make Wal-Mart a good corporate citizens. If Wal-Mart wants the republican party in the White House, what the hell are they getting in return? We all know Wal-Mart is only interested in the bottom line and cheap or no benefits. Can we make a difference and force the worlds largest retailer to give their employees medical benefits? Yes we can, if our union companies can afford to give its employees medical, then sure as hell Wal-Mart can also. That would probably bring down the cost of medical for union companies if the other large companies were to pay into insurance programs. Remember when all companies provided healthcare? Lets return to those times by voting Democrat.
Wal-Mart being the largest retailer in the world, buys on the cheap and then complains when their products fail at what is expected of them. The latest product to fail is Arcadia bottled water sold at Wal-Mart. If you are the largest company and you want keep your customers healthy and happy, then you need to check more thoroughly the products purchased. Wal-Mart constantly blames everyone but themselves. This latest product Wal-Mart claims passed their test. The government however doesn’t agree.
Wal-Mart intends to invest $1 billion in Brazil, in hopes of expanding further into Latin America. Eight of the twelve foreign countries Wal-Mart operates in are in Latin America. Wal-Mart buys most of its products from China, where there is little or no health or safety standards. Perhaps Wal-Mart should leave America and continue their business practices in countries that don’t worry about such things.
Wal-Mart Stores in Mexico has been paying its employees in part with vouchers that can only be redeemed at the Wal-Mart Stores known as Walmex in Mexico. The courts in Mexico likened Wal-Mart’s practice to labor practices that led to the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Wealthy landowners 100 years ago in Mexico paid employees in monies that could only be used in the company store. This is a violation of Mexico’s constitution. Wal-Mart puts it to it’s employees “ALWAYS”.
America turned down Wal-Mart to open a bank, so Wal-Mart is now trying to obtain a license in Canada. Wal-Mart has bank started a banking business in Mexico this year. The fact that Wal-Marts attempt to start it’s own bank in America was denied may make Canada think twice.
Wal-Mart has settled the lawsuit aimed at Tom Coughlin a former executive accused of embezzlement. Mr. Coughlin claimed the money was to foil union attempts at organizing Wal-Mart. In reality the money was used to better his life style. Coughlin later pled guilty to federal charges of wire fraud and tax evasion. His retirement package had been estimated at $17 million, but his settlement amounted to $6.75 million. It seems if anything is wrong at Wal-Mart the union can be blamed. The employees at Wal-Mart should take a lesson here. What is their retirement worth?, and what happens when they steal so much as a candy bar.
Wal-Mart and Hanes have garments made in Jordan’s Ad Dulay Industrial Zone. The Meridian Garment Factory operating under a U.S. Jordan Free Trade Agreement. 60% of the 1400 guest workers have been stripped of their passports by management. Workers are forced to work 99 hours a week, which they supposedly get paid for 80 hours at $45.63. Besides not being paid for the hours over the workers are routinely cheated out of 37% of the wages due them.
Women are paid .08 cents for every pair of White Stag pants they sew for Wal-Mart.
Write to the U.S. Trade Representative and ask her to take action.
Ambassador Susan C. Schwab
United States Trade Representative
Office of the USTR
600 17th Street NW
Washington, DC20508
Wal-Mart has a new Board member, Gregory B. Penner son-in law of chairman S. Robson Walton. Two years ago he was involved in the purchase of Seiyu Ltd. A Japanese co. Penner was the chief financial officer and the company posted a loss of $216 million last year. Wal-Mart is buying back stock so the per share earnings look better. Penner’s parents are sex therapists who have written many books on the subject, all with a religious theme. Mr. Penner is then well qualified to show Wal-Mart the finer points of screwing America, with a religious theme of course.
Wal-Mart shares are creeping downward and they are slowing down their growth forecasts for 2009. Of course in the Inland Empire and the high desert its all out. Victorville plans to open three supercenters, even though the residents aren’t very happy with the situation. The city council seems to only bow to Wal-Marts demands. The latest is to put in a street in the guise of making traffic move smoothly whereas in reality it’s a ruse to have the taxpayers pay for an entrance to Wal-Mart. Here is a city that really needs to recall its council members.
Wal-Mart being the largest importer of Chinese goods in the nation, and enticing vendors to move to China so that they can sell their wares to Wal-Mart at a low price has had a great effect on Americas economy.Since 2001 2.3 million jobs have gone to China. In 2007 366,000 left this country. Our trade deficit with china in 2007, (the last full year of reporting) was $256 billion. Almost a third (31%) of lost were college degree workers. How safe is your job? 40,000 factories have closed in the past 10 years. Who has the most to lose? Since 2001 displaced minority worker figures were 230,065 African Americans, 339,065 Hispanic workers, with Asian and other minority workers losing 219,235 jobs. These figures are not made up, you can find them at www.americanmanufacturing.org if you intend to keep your job and lifestyle, educate yourself to what you are doing to the American economy by shopping at Wal-Mart. Do not let price overcome ethics. Protect your job and the future of your family.
When you or your family shop at Wal-Mart here are a few things you may want to remember and consider before walking through those doors to maybe save $2.00 after spending $500.00. August 2, 2007 1.5 million Sesame Street dolls were recalled because of excessive lead content. October 5 2007 Boy Scouts of America recalled over a million Cub Scout badges for excessive lead content.November 9, 2007 4.2 million Aqua Dots toys were recalled because of a chemical that converted to GHB the “date rape” drug when swallowed. That’s what we want for our children. Remember there are no laws governing Chinese factories. Lets not forget the tainted dog food or the blood thinner Heparin that killed 19 Americans.
The latest three cities to allow Wal-Mart into their cities are Barstow, Ca. Barstow is wanting a distribution center and Rialto, Ca. wants to replace its current Wal-Mart with a Supercenter. It seems the cities with poor council representation and lower income residents look to Wal-Mart to save them. Wal-Mart only puts these cities further down the economic scale. The use of medical emergency rooms, police calls, food stamps, housing subsidies and the criminal element Wal-Mart seems to carry into a city goes unnoticed by these wizards on these city councils.
Are you as a union member doing your part? What is your part? As a union member when your union asks for your help, you should be there.Be it walking a picket line, showing up at council meetings, attending union meetings, walking precincts for political candidates, voting for labor endorsed candidates, donating to DRIVE, performing a simple task like not spending tour union wages at a union hateful company such as Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is taking your money and using it to remove your job. We hold a lot of economic power, a great deal of members understand this, there is still a great deal of you who take your jobs and wages serious. When you lose your job, where will you go to make the money and benefits a union job provides? Shop at union grocers such as Ralph’s, Food 4 Less, Von’s, Stater Bros. and of course our unionized Costco stores. One would think that what the Teamsters union has done for you and your family, a little payback should be in order. Don’t you?
It has come to my attention that many of you are not aware of the various web-sites that track and supply information about Wal-Mart, therefore you can check these sites yourself at the following.
http://walmartwatch.com
www.wakeupwalmart.com
This next site will let you know how much Wal-Mart gets subsidized from various cities.
http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/corporate_subsidy/walmart.cfm
These are your Teamster sites.
Yucca Valley, a small quiet Mayberry RFD type town is the latest city to have the wishes of the residents overturned by an out of touch city council. Wal-Mart comes to town and just gets the council to sell the farm, or pay Wal-Mart to take the farm. The council controlled the meeting by keeping the residents cheers down and allowing the Wal-Mart employees to wave their “I’m a Wal-Mart Fan” signs in the air to show approval. Wal-Mart owned this council. Someone in the audience shouted “Recall”, I think that would be perfectly in order for these arrogant buffoons.
Wal-Mart will tell you that sixty to seventy percent of their employees have health insurance, truth is more than sixty percent of Wal-Mart employees------600,000 people get their health insurance through the government or their spouses’ health insurance. How many of you are supporting Wal-Mart with Teamster Health Insurance? When your job is lost, hopefully you can receive health insurance through Wal-Mart.
The idea that Wal-Mart still is able to receive tax breaks, infrastructure assistance, free land or cheap land prices and sales tax rebates Wal-Mart is able to swing from these city councils is outrageous. The fact that these rebates and special deals Wal-Mart is able to accrue is testament to the fact that public officials just don’t get it. Even though all these deals hurt taxpayers that also just happen to be Wal-Mart customers proves just how much Wal-Mart really thinks of the people who shop there. With all the
Wal-Mart and the Town of Apple Valley hid the fact that a Wal-Mart Distribution Center was planned for the area. Maybe if the mayor and Wal-Mart was a little more forthright, maybe someone would have warned them of the danger in building a facility on top of a former bomb site. The employees are now at risk because of the lead, titanium and nitroglycerin that pose an immediate health risk, due to exposure to these contaminants by wind or the leaching into the ground water. The report also states there are no warning signs to make the public aware of the danger. It will be interesting to see the outcome of any litigation against the mayor and town of Apple Valley and of course Wal-Mart who blames everyone but themselves for any wrongdoing.
Tesco the retail and food giant from England and who is been called a monopoly by Wal-Mart, is like Wal-Mart in its disdain for unions. Though Tesco is union in England they refuse to sit and negotiate with any unions here in America. If you don’t want to play by American rules, then they should head back to England. Why should we give our hard earned money to a company that has no respect for hard working Americans? Like Wal-Mart we don’t need to shop in their stores either.
Wal-Mart did it again, a not so sharp city council gave Wal-Mart the green light to build a Supercenter, with the understanding that the existing store would house a revenue making Sam’s Club. After Wal-Mart built their Supercenter a Sam’s Club didn’t seem like such a good idea after all. The City of Hemet now has a boarded up eyesore with gray paint covering the graffiti right on the main street of Hemet. Why these cities believe Wal-Mart and don’t get things in writing is amazing. How many cities are sitting with Big Box blight in their city, who is going to buy or lease a building that size just to have Wal-Mart put the investment into an early grave. The mayor now say’s he doesn’t think Wal-Mart was ever going to put up a Sam’s Club, they just wanted a Supercenter. These towns and cities should listen to the community when they tell the city council NO WAL-MART.
The National Advertising Division has recommended that Wal-Mart discontinue the implied claim that shoppers could save $2500.00 a year by shopping at Wal-Mart. The Council of Better Business Bureaus singled out Wal-Mart for the implied message that the $2500.00 a year savings could only be had by shopping at Wal-Mart, and not any other stores. Wal-Mart’s claim was that their size and efficiency drive down prices all across the entire economy and therefore generate the $2500.00 savings no matter where you shop. If you buy that crock of an excuse, we have an acre of land in we can sell you.
Wal-Mart sues Disabled Worker
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=&vid=c5b7960a-fa23-45ed-baaa-0faf410ac792
After the Fontana city Council turned down Wal-Mart’s attempt to circumvent an ordinance that retail stores in the north side Promenade Shopping Center be no larger than 75,000 sq. ft.. Wal-Mart bought property in the center and tried to force the City Council to allow them to build a 160,000 sq. ft. Supercenter. The council stood fast and told Wal-Mart to build in another part of the city. Wal-Mart’s attorney stated “that if they (Wal-Mart) had to build off the freeway, they would demand freeway signage.” It is refreshing to see a City Council that won’t allow itself to be bullied or intimidated by Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has to learn that no matter how much wealth and power Wal-Mart has, Wal-Mart is not above the law. Our hat is off to the 3 councilmen who stood their ground.
Wal-Mart has decided not to purchase the property in Blythe, Ca. located on Hobsonway and Intake. The property was in escrow but Wal-Mart decided to opt out of the deal. A lawsuit won in Bakersfield Ca. caused the Blythe City officials to rescind the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The (EIR) did not address many of the issues needed to be complete. Two citizen groups MENOS and BSCG filed lawsuits to stop the Wal-Mart Supercenter. Wal-Mart has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars thus far on the project. When will Wal-Mart get the message, they are not welcome in California. We do not need you to ruin our state as you have in many other states.
The Cott Bottling Company has been the maker of private label drinks such as Sam’s Choice for Wal-Mart for years. Wal-Mart is now replacing Cott’s products with RC Cola and Diet Rite. This will be a loss of 38% for Cott which translates to about $89 million. There is no loyalty from Wal-Mart to a company that was loyal to them.
The City of Victorville is attempting to change its zoning to accommodate a Wal-Mart on the heavily traveled Bear Valley Road and Spring Valley Parkway. This is the main traffic artery for thousands of commuters from Apple Valley, Hesperia and Victorville, not to mention the students of Victor Valley College. The Victorville City Fathers are actually allowing three Supercenters for their city. It will be interesting to see what the backlash will be towards the council.
Wal-Mart has bought 17 acres in Carlsbad but were met on Valentines Day by about 40 protesters. The protesters had heart shaped signs stating “Have a heart No Carlsbad in Wal-Mart” The latest strategy of Wal-Mart is to buy property and threatening city officials into allowing them to build or face a lawsuit. Wal-Mart has bought property in other cities as well, like Ontario, Fontana and Victorville. These cities need to understand that because someone buys a piece of property, they just can’t build whatever they want. When will Wal-Mart get the message, California does not want you.
Wal-Mart has a competitor that has come to town. Tesco, Tesco is a British company that Wal-Mart claims is too big and should be investigated. Wal-Mart who crushes its competition is crying foul. That is really something to hear, the giant doesn’t want competition from any one able to give them a run for the money. This new store opening under the name “Fresh and Easy” is unionized in Britain but like Wal-Mart wants nothing to do with unions. Wal-Mart should stay out of California and Tesco needs to go back to Britain. I thought we already fought this war and ran the British out of America.
Edward Fox, professor at So. Methodist University’s Cox School of Business said the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenters in Highland and Redlands will have a negative impact on the grocery business in the area by 15 to 20%. Jack Brown Chairman of Stater Bros. Markets stated these cities shouldn’t be offering economic incentives to bribe Wal-Mart. It is very difficult for any of our grocery companies to compete with a company that pays substandard wages with little or no benefits. Protect your job and the jobs of others by not patronizing Wal-Mart.
There are seven candidates running for the two city council seats in Redlands. Four candidates will not say they support or are opposed to the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter. The three “grass roots” candidates have all said they oppose the project. That group comprises transportation analyst Henry Nickel, retired teacher Ruth White and college student Eddie Tejeda. If you live in the area, check them out before casting your vote for an anti-labor candidate.
In Dakota County Minnesota a case was filed involving 46 Wal-Mart and 13 Sam’s Club stores, starting in Sept. 98 to Jan. 04 14.6 million,….yes 14.6 million violations of Minnesota law and company policy covering 9 million shifts cost Wal-Mart workers $27 million dollars. The class action suit alleges Wal-Mart failed to pay employees for missing all or part of their 15 minute breaks, working employees off the clock, failing to pay for missing all or part of 30 minute lunch breaks, not paying employees for work performed “off the clock” before or after work shifts, and the best of all not paying an employee an entire shift if they were 1 minute late. Wal-Mart managers actually falsified time sheets to show breaks were taken.
Wal-Mart is truly outrageous in how they attack and deny what is fact. The facts concerning the many products that were proven unsafe or downright hazardous to consumers is being blamed on the unions turning away customers by alerting the public to the dangers. I would imagine the media is guilty as well for alerting the public.
The accounting firm of Ernst & Young is the latest company to jump into bed with Wal-Mart. Telling Wal-Mart “this is a very aggressive strategy with considerable risk” in a 37 page proposal. California as well as many other states are attempting closing the tax loopholes Wal-Mart is using. The “Tax Shelter Room” as it was called at Wal-Mart’s Bentonville headquarters is no longer called that since 4 current and former Ernst & Young employees were indicted in May.
Hillbilly Wal-Mart Heiress Alice Walton is buying up artwork like a K-Mart Blue Light sale. Dubbed the Culture Vulture because she uses her $16.1 billion fortune to buy up artwork for her Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The museum is scheduled to open in the very cultural town of Bentonville Arkansas. Who is she kidding, does she really believe the art world will flock to this Hillbilly museum? Giving the employees who have given her, her billions a decent pay check and benefits would do more to bring up the quality of life for more than a million of families. Rather than try to impress a few art lovers.
In Pennsylvania Wal-Mart had the nerve to tell a judge that their employees chose to work through their breaks and past their shift time. Wal-Mart claimed the working of employees a few minutes without pay was insignificant. The judge wasn’t buying the Wal-Mart idea of working people off the clock was no big deal, and fined Wal-Mart $62.3 million in damages on top of the $78.5 million awarded to about 125,000 workers earlier. Each employee will receive $500.00 plus.
Thanks to Wal-Mart and the treatment given their employees, vendors, customers, forcing the closeing of thousands of business’s, and one of the major reasons for jobs being outsourced to third world countries. After hundreds of lawsuits Wal-Mart is finally reaping its just rewards. Many big companies no longer worship in Bentonville, Arkansas. Judges are finding Wal-Mart guilty in the lawsuits brought against them. Wal-Mart stock now trades at the same price it did 10 years ago. Prices between Wal-Mart and the competition have narrowed, and people have had enough of the cheap goods sold by Wal-Mart. To top it all, many more cities are saying no to Wal-Mart moving in and bringing all the negative conditions it carries.
Wal-Mart searching for its low-income customers has turned to India. They have also have increased ownership shares in Brazil, China and Japan. In 2006 Wal-Mart was not welcomed in India due to the fears of putting the mom and pop stores out of business and the loss of millions of Livelihoods. Wal-Mart in a 50-50 joint venture with Bharti Enterprises will now provide a wholesale cash and carry supply-chain operation.
The City of Ontario recently released a very flawed Environmental Impact Report; (EIR) even though the Planning Commission admits the proposed Wal-Mart will cause a multiple of problems including noise and air quality, plus massive traffic congestion the planners approved the project anyhow. The residents of Ontario one after another spoke in protest of the Wal-Mart Supercenter, but the paid Wal-Mart employees from outside the city who spoke of shopping won the hearts or pockets of the commission. On September 24th the Ontario City Council Meeting will convene at the Convention Center, and then the council can put on the charade of listening to their constituents, all the time winking at Wal-Mart. If you live in Ontario and would like to voice your opposition to the Wal-Mart project please show up. If you are not a resident and would like to witness first hand how the Wal-Mart family really operates “Come on Down.”
Ontario City Council Meeting Exit 10 Freeway at Vineyard
Ontario Convention Center and go South to Holt turn left
2000 Convention Center Way
Ontario Calif. Monday Sept. 24th at 6:00 P.M.
5:00 P.M. if you want to march
Wal-Mart now wants to open health clinics in their stores. The Rogers, Ark. store is the prototype minute clinic as they are called. It’s nice that Wal-Mart will sell you healthcare, but won’t provide the employees healthcare.
The recent toy recall of Chinese made Mattel Toys seems to hurt have Wal-Mart most of all. This is not surprising as Wal-Mart is the largest importer of Chinese made goods. The sad thing is the factory owner, in order to make the toys as cheap as possible bought lead based paint for the toys. He later committed suicide in what he perceived as a loss of face.
These large companies such as Mattel and others have moved overseas for the cheap labor and the lack of safety standards. American workers are once again the victims of corporate greed.
The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency settled claims against Wal-Mart for violating the Clean Water Act at 17 locations in 4 states. The states of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Massachusetts violations of the storm water act by Wal-Mart became the first federal enforcement against a company for multi-state violations.
Wal-Mart was fined $1 million civil penalty and must establish a $4.5 million environmental management plan to improve it’s environmental compliance at each of their construction sites.
A community group who fought hard to keep Wal-Mart out of Arlington, Texas 6 years ago is now watching a Supercenter being built. Wal-mart waited for a new council and returned with a vengeance. The community group didn’t have the energy for another fight. Anyone I’ve ever talked to that has fought against Wal-Mart has told me that they had shopped Wal-Mart in the past but, after seeing how dirty the worlds largest retailer fought they vowed never to step foot in another Wal-Mart again.
Click here: Walmartworkersunite.org
Wal-Mart is again crying foul as the newest lawsuit of forcing 80,000 employees to work off the clock. In a class action suit filed in New Jersey a judge has allowed the suit to move forward. How many crimes and lawsuits does Wal-Mart have to be involved in before the public stops patronizing the retail giant? When are you going to wake up?
Wal-Mart claims it doesn’t bring any substantial traffic to a community, but also states in order for a store to be profitable it needs 70,000 car trips a week.
According to the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California, as taxpayers we subsidize millions of dollars in the form infrastructure assistance and sales tax rebates that allow Wal-Mart to keep a significant amount of the tax rebates for themselves rather than the local government. 600,000 of Wal-Mart employees get their health insurance from the government or their spouses plans. It seems nothing ever changes at Wal-Mart except larger profits for the Walton’s.
The most profitable company in the world Wal-Mart, used its warehouse store Sam’s Club to sell phony knockoff Fendi handbags to their cherished customers. Customers Wal-Mart claims they only want to bring low prices to. The bags which if authentic would have cost $900.00. Sam’s Club sold them for $525.00. The same bags you can buy in Mexico for about $60.00. Susan Koeller spokeswoman stated Sam’s Club is “no longer doing business with the companies that provided us the goods.” Sam’s Club will of course refund any monies to customers who bought the fake bags. The greed of the Walton Family knows no bounds, its all about the money. How many thieves would like to return stolen items and walk away clean? Sam’s Club is paying a confidential amount to Fendi.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Kelly Hobbs stated the company planned to cut the waiting period for health insurance from two years, and allow the children of workers to be covered, that is if the premium isn’t so high that the employees won’t be able to afford it and leave their children on the public dole. The time frame has not been disclosed as yet, but follows a report by the AFL-CIO that Wal-Mart has more workers enrolled in public healthcare programs than any other company in at least 17 states.
Chicago is going to open its first Wal-Mart Supercenter, but not without some conditions. One of the main conditions is that by the middle of 2010 Wal-Mart is to pay its employees $10.00 an hour plus $ 3.00 in benefits. The measure passed 35 to 14. This is another example of how unions help non-union workers, but unions are still condemned in the press, and by the workers who reap the benefits we fight for.
Wal-Mart and its new web-site Paidcritics.com is being funded very heavily, Wal-Mart will not say how much money is being funneled into the war room which is staffed by some high dollar Washington D.C. lobbyists. In response to this a new website that the WakeUp-Wal-Mart. com people have come up with is as follows and is very suitable. http://www.abunchofgreedyrightwingliarswhoworkforwalmart.com. That’s not so bad when you think of Ian McShane who plays the owner of the Gem Saloon on HBO’s Deadwood. He was quoted using his favorite word, anyone who has anything to do with Wal-Mart is one.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Kelly Hobbs stated the company planned to cut the waiting period for health insurance from two years and allow children of workers to be covered. The time frame has not been disclosed as yet, but follows a report by the AFL-CIO that Wal-Mart has more workers enrolled in public healthcare programs than any other company in at least 17 states.
Remember Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club is one and the same company. If you shop at Costco you are supporting a good corporate citizen as well as a union shop. Costco pays 33% more than Sam’s Club and 65% more than Wal-Mart. At Costco 82% of the workers are covered by healthcare compared to 48% at Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart has 1.3 million employees. However the turnover rate is 50%, if this company is what CEO Lee Scott wants you to believe it is, why are the employees leaving at such an alarming rate? The answer is low wages, substandard benefits and discriminatory working conditions. By you shopping at Wal-Mart you condone Wal-Marts policies.
Mrs. Barker, a single mother living in Cicero Il. Was paid $8.40 an hour working at Wal-Mart, she could not afford to pay the $1,860.00 a year for medical insurance offered by Wal-Mart. Mrs. Barker however did qualify for taxpayer Medicaid and a monthly food stamp allowance of $140.00. Shopping at Wal-Mart is not saving you money, it only helps Wal-Mart build more stores to exploit more workers.
Andrew Young, former United Nations ambassador and Atlanta mayor was hired by Wal-Mart to defend the retailer’s wage and benefits package. This is of course is a smart move by Wal-Mart who has been accused of treating minorities unjustly. Andrew Young being an African American gives Wal-Mart the credibility it sorely lacks. It is a shame of course to see someone like Young trade his ethics for a check from Wal-Mart. Unfortunately many of our members who denounce the world’s largest retailer still shop Wal-Mart, like Mr. Young selling character for a few dollars.
The middle class is slowly being eroded because of companies, spurred on by Wal-Mart to be more competitive are paying lower wages and offering minimum medical benefits, more and more companies are doing business the Wal-Mart way. Meanwhile in the past four years the number of billionaires has doubled.
The job market is getting so bad in America that college graduates are moving to India and Pakistan. The high tech jobs that have been moved overseas are now a way to fill a resume for Americans. Even though the pay is very low, the education gleaned is worth it. Hopefully the college graduate then can return to America and acquire a good paying job, if there are any left.
China is the fastest growing economy in history. Thanks in a large part because of manufacturers moving their companies to China and our government condoning the loss of American jobs with no taxes on the goods being purchased by American companies such as Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart spends 18 billion dollars a year importing products from China.
The rally in Rosemead was very successful with about 300 anti Wal-Mart protesters including Mothers against Wal-Mart, politicians and residents, of course Mike Lewis a paid Wal-Mart shill from West Covina who is fond of saying the anti Wal-Mart people are outsiders, the truth is Mike Lewis and Wal-mart are the outsiders. Mike Lewis brought out around a dozen pro Wal-Mart people from his front group PRIDE, I’m sure more would have came if he promised them a free meal like he does at his meetings. Mike Lewis fits in great with Wal-Mart, He will promise or do anything for the almighty dollar. Integrity means nothing to him or the Walton Family he represents.
A recent cartoon put it right to the point. The WAL-MART MOTTO.
WE REFUSE TOGIVE OUR EMPLOYEES A LIVING WAGE OR LET THEM PARTICIPATE IN A HEALTH-CARE PLAN SO THAT YOU CAN GET LOW, LOW PRICES EVERY DAY.
Is this what kind of company we should be shopping at? I don’t think so.
Wal-Mart does more business than Target, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Sears, Safeway and Kroger combined. More than 10% of all Chinese imports are delivered to Wal-Mart. Many union members and their families still shop at Wal-Mart despite all the efforts put forth to save jobs and create a decent work-place for the exploited Wal-Mart employees. If 10% of Wal-Mart’ customers would boycott the stores Wal-Mart would then be willing to sit down and become a good corporate citizen.
Wal-Mart costs taxpayers 2.5 billion a year for public healthcare and welfare programs.For every 300 employees at Wal-Mart it costs the taxpayers 240 million dollars.For every two poor paying jobs created by Wal-Mart, three jobs in the community are lost.
Here are some information sites: You can use these to educate yourself, your family and friends.
www.wakeupwalmart.com www.sprawl-busters.com www.walmartcostsyou.com www.union4walmart.com www.walmartwatch.com
The city of Fontana has a vision for its residents, an Italian style Tuscany village; this would be at the Gateway of Fontana located on Sierra and the 210 freeway. The development would include a large theatre and upscale restaurants. Wal-Mart bought the property and has a vision of a little two-screen theatre and some fast food restaurants, Wal-Mart needs the space for parking if they build a supercenter. This is another reason Wal-Mart’ vision of “We want it all and we don’t care where its at or how it looks.” Is not sitting well with many communities.
Wal-Mart stocks keep falling as the lawsuits keep piling up Wal-Mart cannot keep treating their employees poorly and expect to walk away with all the money. The employees must see that all the chants and happy faces don’t pay the rent.
The latest cities to resist the Wal-mart lies and protect their community are Ventura, Santa Maria and Northridge. These cities do not like the way Wal-Mart bullies its way into a city. If the Planning Dept. says no, Wal-Mart will buy the property and sit on it so the city can’t do anything with it. Since Wal-Mart likes the eminent domain law, maybe the law could be used against to take Wal-mart’ property.
Wal-Marts low wages and substandard health benefits produce unfounded mandates. Over time taxpayers, county and state governments are forced to cover the costs. Increases in pharmaceuticals, state and property taxes are just a small example of how the tax payer subsidizes Wal-Marts bottom line.
Rosemead: Wal-Mart has brought in the earthmovers and equipment to try and lay the foundation on the wanted supercenter before the Wal-Mart supported councilmen get recalled. Wal-Mart invades a community and opposition from the residents means nothing to this bully of a company. Again Sam Waltons (founder) words come to mind, “If there is a city that doesn’t want us we won’t come and cause a mess”
Rosemead December 22; The Garvey School District has joined the community group “Save our Community” in suing the city for allowing a Wal-Mart to open across from Rice Elementary School, The traffic and air quality would significantly impact the students health and safety.
Rosemead: The action is heating up with the one of the two councilmen being recalled filed a lawsuit in an attempt to save his position. Jay Imperial and Gary Taylor disregarded the community’s wishes to stop a Wal-Mart. Both of these councilmen claim their adult children work for Wal-Mart, neither person believes he has a conflict of interest.
Wal-Mart just fined $172,000,000.00 in California for working their employees through lunch periods, this after being fined in Colorado $50,000,000.00 for the same thing, this is just the tip of the iceberg since there are 50 more lawsuits going through the courts.
This one is worth repeating…….
Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6am. While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day, Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wonder why he can’t find a good paying job in AMERICA.
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Wal-Mart charged $14.5 million to settle gun and ammunition violations: The Attorney General of California has resolved thousands of gun law violations committed by Wal-Mart over the course of three years. Some of the violations include “engaging in unfair competition, selling and delivering firearms to 23 individuals.” The Attorney General’s Office had informed Wal-Mart these people were prohibited from possessing a firearm. Wal-Mart also delivered firearms to 36 persons prohibited from owning a firearm by means of a “straw purchase” through a friend or relative. Other violations were “failing to complete criminal background checks, failing to verify identity by thumbprint and drivers license scan, and failing to document whether a safety device such as a trigger lock was delivered with each weapon.” |
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| Wal-Mart has set their sights on Best Buy Electronic Stores. Last year their target was Toys-R-Us, now it’s Best Buy. Wal-Mart plans to market a new line of big screen televisions under the Wal-Mart name. The Waltons will not be happy until they have their fingers in every item sold in the world, even if it means driving down the wages of every industry in the world. The Walton family will still be extremely wealthy. They manufacture absolutely nothing. All their money is made off the backs of the workers of the world. Wal-Mart employees cannot even afford to shop at Wal-Mart. Where will your children and grandchildren work in the Walton World? | ||
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Teamsters:
Keep your valuable
dollars away from |
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| TEAMSTERS: HEAR ABOUT THE FIGHT AGAINST WAL-MART AT YOUR JOBSITE! Want to hear the real story about Union-hating Wal-Mart at your Teamster jobsite? Just email: SmithIBT63@aol.com and request a speaker to visit your plant. | ||
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Dec 22, 2004China can expect 12 to 14 Wal-Mart store openings in 2005. With 1.3 billion people in China it is a gold mine for the Walton family. Wal-Mart can now have products made for 32 cents an hour, save on shipping costs, exploit the workers in the stores with low wages, but wait; the Chinese government is telling Wal-Mart that all their employees must be union, unlike our government, which is very friendly to the Walton clan.. I guess their government is too far away to get in bed with the Walton clan. The Rosemead anti Wal-Mart group met on Thursday the 16th of December. Wal-Mart chose that time and date to drop a tool trailer on the project property just to show the group that they control the city council and the groups efforts to keep out Wal-Mart means nothing to them. The arrogance of this corporation is unbelievable.
Makes one wonder who wrote Sam Walton’s biography, he stated, “If a
city doesn’t want us we won’t come and make a mess.” Since Sam’s
death, the rest of the family says The hell with what the people
say, we’re coming in any way there might be a buck to be made off
this cheap crap we sell. There seems to be a lot of buyers and these
fools will shop themselves out of a job just to get their hands on
this trash. |
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Here are some facts to digest. |
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Wal-Mart information web sites are as follows, these
sites will help you understand what Wal-Mart is all about: |
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I am getting a little agitated
preaching to my so called Teamster brothers and sisters who frankly don’t seem
to care about any of this but will look to their Union reps when our hard fought
for contracts of good wages and benefits are eroded. No one will want to say, “I
shouldn’t have shopped at Wal-Mart”. It will be too late then, crybaby. Try to
look ahead instead of at the ground
Wal-Mart won’t take no for an answer in San Marcos, Ca., even though the citizens have made their feelings known to Wal-Mart and the City Council. Wal-Mart has, on November 17, 2003 threatened the council, and in no uncertain terms, stated it will open another store.
Sometimes the mouse trap bites the trapper. And of course in Bentonville, Arkansas, where everyone is quite thrifty, I wonder what they think of the lifestyle the Waltons live in San Diego, California?
Let's not forget…Wal-Mart may try to get the city to erect a sign advertising Wal-Mart! All Union members have to understand that every dollar you spend at Wal-Mart will come back to haunt you and your family's future.
With a structure and functional committee in place, the future will hold ample opportunity for Teamster members to get involved with this campaign. Today, however, every member can do their part by staying out of Wal-Mart stores! That would be a great start.
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