A clip:
Getting hired turned out to be a challenge. The personnel manager told me she had received more than 100 applications during that month alone, chasing just a handful of jobs. Thus the mystery deepened. If Wal-Mart was such an exploiter of the working poor, why were the working poor so eager to be exploited? And after they were hired, why did they seem so happy to be there? Anytime I shopped at the store, blue-clad Walmartians encouraged me to "Have a nice day" with the sincerity of the pope issuing a benediction.Considering that Walmart continues to expand sales even in this economy and employ the less fortunate among us, I have a hard time understanding why Walmart is so loathed and persecuted.
5 comments:
I'm very grateful to WalMart. They have employed Russell for 2 years now and have for the most part treated him very well. As Russell applied for other jobs, even with a Bachelor's Degree he was for the most part snubbed simply because of the wheelchair. It is hard to prove that the chair was the reason for the "snubbing" but it was pretty evident. I like WalMart because of its one stop shopping. Kim
The problem with Walmart is that it is so politically powerful due to its large financial push or pull. It has case after case of calling upon politicians to invoke the law of eminent domain to remove smaller businesses or homes in locations where they want to place a store. This happens time and time again each year.
Check out http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/community/eminent.html
If you do a google or yahoo search on "Walmart eminent domain" you will come up with quite a few links.
I don't care for Walmart because they are predatory in their approach. But this is fair. Business in our system is competitive and rewards the businesses that bring what the consumer wants. Nevertheless, I don't like to see a Walmart come into a small community, Beaver Utah for example, and usurp the commerce in a community that before was spread among a bunch of smaller businesses. Often, these smaller businesses have subsequently failed. Small bakeries, hardware shops, small groceries are all good examples. But what Walmart does is legal. I just don't like the business model.
I have never complained about their hiring practices. I have heard many good stories. I do not like however that they do their best to crush any attempt at unionization by their employees. They would rather-and have- shut down a store than have it unionize.
I am with Kim. I love Walmart and Target like stores. One stop shopping, saves time, money on gas, and their prices are very reasonable. I hate to have to go to the small businesses where I have to drive from place to place...(time and gas)and then they don't have the variety or low price. Walmart's concept is genious if you ask me. I am glad they don't unionize. I am not a fan of unions...(although I must admit to the fact that I have never had any experience with them, but I am not sure they are always a good thing from what I have read in the past.) I have lived in countries the past 6 years where there are no walmart like stores. It's all a bunch of separate businesses, and I spend more time and effort driving from place to place to get everything done, than I care to(and parking is never abundant). I have often said, I wish they had a walmart here where I can go and find everything I need under one roof.
The way unions behave nowadays, it's no surprise that Walmart avoids unionization at all costs. Unions have become a business killer.
UAW > Poorly performing auto industry
Steel workers > Steel business going into extinction
Construction unions > Skyrocketing prices for buildings
USA unions should follow the Japan model for unions. Management and unions work together for the good of the company. All benefit in that the company flourishes and workers have stable decent paying jobs.
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