Ryan68

I rarely shop at Wal-Mart; mainly because I rarely shop and when I do it's for food stuff. But, I also think this "strong-arming" vendors is quite a myth or that small businesses are the zenith in the retail world. When I was in high school I worked for Oppenhuizen's Produce in the Town and Country complex (44th and Kalamazoo). I was paid under minimum wage due to some agricultural clause. IIRC minimum wage was $3.15 and I was getting paid by good old Mom & Pop $2.85. And, since it was my high school years and I was working with several friends, I loved it. On the vendor myth: Yes, Wal-Mart is a tough negotiater. No doubt about that. But, I look at the Financial Statements of quite a few businesses that have Wal-Mart as a large customer (say over 15-20% of said vendor's revenue). And these companies do quite well - better than Wal-Mart on most financial metrics. So, much like the IRS, Wal-Mart loves have the rep for being a pitbull. And, they can be tough, but the bark is much worse then the bite. And, in any event, it isn't like Costco is a walk in the park for suppliers... -Ryan

Really, they can't do better than the subhuman conditions tamias6 says they're working in? -Ryan

Why are they working there, then? Why, when a Wal-Mart opens up are there more applicants then jobs? "Average" tends to be a poor statistic in this area also. Median is much better. I just find it condescending of you (though admirable, because I know you mean well) to think you know better then them. If you care about the Wal-Mart employee why not shop there and tip the cashier $20 every time? <tongue in cheek> I purposely said full-time, because I beleive Wal-Mart caters more to a part-time work force. Really, I would just like to know what a, say, third year cashier makes at Wal-Mart versus Meijer. Wal-Mart makes 3.5% Net Profit. Which isn't much. What do you feel is appropriate for a Net Profit margin for a business? -Ryan

If we're going to begin appealing to higher authorities in lending credence to our opinions I'll see your Charles Fishman and raise you one Warren Buffett. Suydam, I guess I don't know where you stand on the issue or what your point is; my fault. If you're saying Wal-Mart doesn't want a union, then yes, you are correct. Best, Ryan

Oops, just saw this after making the last post. Seems it is I who needs to apologize. No harm, perhaps I was being overly-serious as a first time poster. I'll lurk more and get more of a feel here. Best, Ryan

"We were duped by the union. There was absolutely no need to unionize," said Rejan Lavoie, 40, a single father who took a job as a department manager at Wal-Mart to be home in the evenings with his 8-year-old son. He fears he will not find another job with a workable schedule. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...005Apr13_4.html To be fair, the part right after the above quote says: At its headquarters on the outskirts on Jonquiere, the union is organizing a drive to find jobs for the Wal-Mart union supporters and to provide them with financial assistance. "We weren't asking for the moon," said Bergeron, who spent two years quietly contacting fellow employees at their homes to enlist them in the union. "It's the largest and richest company in the world. They could afford to improve conditions. We only wanted to be treated like human beings." It is also why I added the part about Southern auto-plants. Considering the capital already outlayed by, say, Toyota the fear of a plant shutdown isn't as near and dear as it may be with Wal-Mart. And, yet, they reject the union. Perhaps Toyota is a better employer than Wal-Mart (comparatively speaking within its industry)? Perhaps most Wal-Mart employees truly do not want to start a union? But Quebec also makes their union votes public, i.e. everyone will know how you voted. Those who did not want a union say organizers harassed them to join. "People signed the cards just to get some peace" from the union organizers, said Noella Langlois, 53, who works in the clothing department. "They thought they would vote against it in a secret vote." In fact, there was a vote last April that rejected the union. But under Quebec labor laws, the organizers could try again. When they collected signed union cards from 51 percent of the employees, the law declared the Jonquiere Wal-Mart a union shop. And certainly, as the largest employer in the U.S. I'm sure Wal-Mart has its labor issues. But, net of it all, Wal-Mart is a big plus to the U.S. I think Meijer is a fine company as well. Though my preferred shopping experience is found at Big Top... -Ryan

Actually, twoshort, if it matters to you (or somehow makes my points more valid to you) I work for MPD Welding as the Treasurer and have my own investment company RAS Capital. Now, does that make things different for you? Edited to add: this probably makes me more biased then an employee, but I should add that I do have my clients invested in Wal-Mart stock. -Ryan

Tamias, Could you provide me with how much per hour Wal-Mart pays a full-time employee compared to Meijer? I also think it is very elitist of you to assume you know that Wal-Mart employees are 'slaves'. Wal-Mart employees have been able to vote whether they want a union or not. Thus far, they've voted against it. Much like most of the auto-plants in the South run by foreign companies have voted not to go union. Presumably, these folks know what is in their best interest, no? I do look forward to you answering my question about comparitve pay between Meijer and Wal-Mart. Thank you, Ryan