Wal-Mart elected "Grinch of the Year" for 2004

[G_j]

http://www.jwj.org/updates/media/12-22-04Grinch.htm

Wal-Mart elected "Grinch of the Year" for 2004

Cintas and Comcast runners-up in national contest to determine who did the most harm to workers and their families this year.



washington, dc – The retailing giant Wal-Mart was named 'Grinch of the Year' in a national online poll held between December 6 and December 22 by Jobs with Justice.


Wal-Mart is a fitting recipient of the Grinch title. As the
United States' largest retailer and largest employer, Wal-Mart is a driving force in setting wage standards wherever its stores are located. Despite nearly $9 billion in profits, its wages are so low that many employees are eligible for food stamps. Even so, local taxpayers often finance Wal-Mart's expansion through tax breaks and development incentives.
Wal-Mart has created such high barriers to qualify for its health care benefits, that many workers are left dependent on publicly financed medical services, a largely hidden taxpayer subsidy. According to a research study in

California, Wal-Mart workers seek $86 million a year in state aid because of inadequate wages and benefits. In effect, Wal-mart cleverly shifts a portion of its labor costs to the public.
Earlier this year, Wal-Mart admitted that it routinely locked overnight workers in its stores. Wal-Mart was also sued this year in the largest sex-discrimination case in history, brought on behalf of about 1.6 million current and former employees.

Around the country, Jobs with Justice coalitions have been in the middle of many community-based campaigns calling attention to the impact of Wal-Mart by demanding agreements from this giant corporation to improve its hiring and employment practices. Local Jobs with Justice coalitions in Chicago, IL, St. Louis, MO, Buffalo and New Paltz, NY, Washington, DC, Eugene and Bend, OR, and Toledo, OH have held rallies and hearings on Wal-Mart, published reports about its potential impact on communities, and pushed for comprehensive 'Big Box' store ordinances to help communities gain more leverage in the development process.
"The overwhelming vote to name Wal-Mart 'Grinch of the Year' reflects the growing concern that working families have with this mega-corporation," said Fred Azcarate, Executive Director of Jobs with Justice. "Jobs with Justice and our many allies are building a movement to challenge Wal-Mart’s low road strategy." Over sixty percent of the more than 2,300 votes cast in this year's election were for Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart has more than 3,500 stores and 1.3 million employees. The company is based in Bentonville, Arkansas. Learn more about how Wal-Mart is harming working families at www.walmartwatch.com.
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[BlueJazz]

1. I saved this and the next time one of my Fellow/Sister...

...DUer's starts responding to a Wal-Mart thread with:
"I have to shop there because of the low prices and my situation",
I'm going to point out how they are just making it worse for themselves and everybody....

[Deja Q]

2. So they should starve and die then?

Please give them a real solution and don't spout the "inverse jingoism". That's not fair to them.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

3. No kidding

A lot of minorities and poor whites have to shop there because they don't have money for anywhere else. I agree that Wal-Mart is an evil thing, but what do you tell the poor when they can barely afford to put food on the table?

[EastofEdon]

6. how about saying

that if you can afford to, be a citizen first (before a "shopper")
and support local and/or socially responsible businesses?
Not everyone shopping at Walmart is there because they are poor.

[solinvictus]

18. Alternatives...

Well, there's a Super Target, if one's available. Target's prices are often competitive with or even lower than Wal Mart. Wal Mart's prices here in Birmingham are different in each store with Supercenter prices being HIGHER in the poor areas of town.

[Nile]

11. What is better, jobs or no jobs?

Do not shop there and have tens of thousands laid off or at least let them have some sort of income.

[G_j]

12. did you read the original post?

just curious.. :shrug:

[indepat]

4. And to think we regularly spend $50 to $75 at Walmart every year:

we've just got to cut down.

[raysr]

5. Not one dime

of my money went to Wal-Mart. I spread the word about how all the money made daily is sent to AR and none goes back into the community. I think I've converted a few people. There's nothing there you can get around the corner.

[Solon]

7. You don't save going to Wal*Mart GODDAMNIT!!!!

Its a fucking SCAM, that is the worst thing about it, people will say, I HAVE to shop there, its the cheapest place in town. Well, guess what, go to Wal*Mart Anonymous and break that damn habit, you fell for their marketing and are now wasting money at a company that is the worst in the business.

[Doremus]

21. Save money my eye. You might save a few cents initially, but when

you have to buy the same item again when it breaks after a few weeks or months, it actually costs more than paying for a better-quality item the first time.

Those living on a fixed income would do far better shopping at thrift stores or estate/house sales for gently used but better quality clothing, furniture, appliances and other household goods. They often cost less than even Wal-Mart and last lots longer.

A few years ago DH bought an MTD lawnmower from Wally World that broke after the first season. It was under warranty so we took it to an authorized repair shop. The technician told us the motor in it had been "Wal-Mart-ized" by using plastic parts in the carburetor which, conveniently, weren't covered by the warranty. We probably could have dragged it back to the WW customer service counter and pitched a fit to get our money back, but instead decided to let the expense of the lesson be one we never forgot, and I doubt we will.

Aspirin, toothpaste and other toiletries are nearly as inexpensive at other box or drug stores, especially if you shop sales. There really is no excuse for shopping at Wally World.

[hatrack]

8. But . . . but . . they run ads on NPR about what good people they are!

They, uh, provide job opportunities, and, uh, support local communities, or something like that . . . it was on NPR! It must be true! :eyes:

[AZCat]

10. I haven't listened to NPR since I heard a WalMart commercial

I know I probably should've stopped listening before that, but this was my personal breaking point. All dollars are not equal - some are earned by honest means and others are earned by manipulating labor laws, strong-arming suppliers, and bribing local city and county officials. NPR should recognize this and understand that by taking WalMart's money and serving as a megaphone for their message, they take some responsibility for the results. No longer will I listen or donate to an organization that refuses to recognize the difference between good money and bad.

[gorbal]

9. Thanks so much for that

I just put it on my bookmark list.

[opihimoimoi]

13. Is Sams Club connected to these assholes at Walmart?? Do they have

another higher entity?? that owns them Both> My wife is sure of it and I am not.

[idiosyncratic]

14. The Sam in Sam's club refers to Sam Walton, the founder. n/t

[idiosyncratic]

15. Here is an interesting article from 1998 about Sam Walton

Sam Walton


Wal-Mart brought low prices to small cities, but its creator also changed the way Big Business is run

. . .Using that formula, which cut his margins to the bone, it was imperative that Wal-Mart grow sales at a relentless pace. It did, of course, and Walton hit the road to open stores wherever he saw opportunity. He would buzz towns in his low-flying airplane studying the lay of the land. When he had triangulated the proper intersection between a few small towns, he would touch down, buy a piece of farmland at that intersection and order up another Wal-Mart store, which his troops could roll out like a rug. . . .

[jdj]

16. yes, Sams is a overstock warehouse open to the public

owned by the Waltons. I worked at one and they were always plugging this toy model of a Ford truck for 80 bucks to the employees to buy, it was a replica of the truck Sam Walton used to drive...I couldn't believe they actually expected people on their shit wages to buy something like this. They made the employees do cheers (I refused).

[opihimoimoi]

17. A BIG MAHALO(thank you) to all 3 responses. My wife was right,

now I gatta eat doo doo and doo all the dirty dishes for a month.

Damn.

[Forced Into Exile]

19. Sam's Shocking Source

All of the dirt of WalMart in America aside; consider the masses of forced and prison labour people of China that manufacture WalMart junk.

Human rights must be tackled at the source, the source is slave labour of China. Thank you Richard Nixon c.1973.

AND, lest you forget, the "Martha Stewart" label of other major "chain players" (KMart et al) also have those products manufactured by slave and prison labour in the People's (?) Republic of China. Thank you Richard Nixon c.1973.

[opihimoimoi]

20. Nixon is only partially to blame, them Chinese planned this from the start

From 3rd world level to mega Nation in 50 years(they about half way through,) and guess what, we get to train them with our equipmenmt which they will copy.... now that is smart on their part.