Wal-Mart's Ad Campaign...what do you think?

[Lady's Human]

WakeUpWalMart.com, a union-funded campaign group, said the ad campaign proves Wal-Mart is seeing damage to its bottom line from a worsening reputation. The retailer had its worst holiday sales season in years, WakeUpWalMart.com spokesman Chris Kofinis said.

So did almost every other retailer in the US.

I know people who work for Wal Mart. They have no complaints with their jobs or their salaries/benefits. Compared to other retailers they are at least on par.

The truckers who drive for Wal Mart in many cases leave union jobs to work for them.

Wal Mart isn't perfect, but then again, no other company is, either.

[BC_MoM]

I was employed at Wal-mart for just over 3 months and they were just amazing. I never had any beef with them. They were a great company to work for.

I have nothing negative to say about them except that they need more cashiers!! *LOL*

[borzoimom]

So did almost every other retailer in the US.

I know people who work for Wal Mart. They have no complaints with their jobs or their salaries/benefits. Compared to other retailers they are at least on par.

The truckers who drive for Wal Mart in many cases leave union jobs to work for them.

Wal Mart isn't perfect, but then again, no other company is, either.

I agree- here people fight over these jobs to work at our super walmart.
I am reserving comments on any union organization. Many of what they stand for, are already into federal laws, and basically- take peoples money..( and yes- that was a reserved comment..)
Prior to Wal-mart coming here, we all had to drive 35 miles for any shopping at all- paid alot money for it ( nevermind the gas to get into town), and even the other grocery store that we did have, hi jacked prices awfully high. The competition of Wal-mart put things on a more even scale. We do our shopping there every week- never a complaint- with a wonderful staff, and all appear very happy. Where else can you get moderately paying job with little if any job skills prior..

[catnapper]

I know several people who work for Walmart in several different stores and all of them are very happy with their work, pay, and benefits. They get the same thing from Walmart as they would the local supermarket, pet store, clothing store, etc. Retail typically pays low. Its just people see how big Walmart is and they feel the need to target them.

[BC_MoM]

Minimum wage here is $7.65 and hour.
I had no experience working before, and my starting wage was $8.45 an hour.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Minimum wage here is $7.65 and hour.
I had no experience working before, and my starting wage was $8.45 an hour.

Minimum wage in this country is still $5.15/hr (not in every state though, it was recently raised to $6.85 in CO). I don't know if Walmart pays that or not (I don't think they pay that low) but families cannot survive on that. Period.

[Cataholic]

Minimum wage in this country is still $5.15/hr (not in every state though, it was recently raised to $6.85 in CO). I don't know if Walmart pays that or not (I don't think they pay that low) but families cannot survive on that. Period.

I heard this comment the other day on talk radio that made me pause. I am paraphrasing. "Minimum wage is not SUPPOSED to support families. It is a low end, entry level job rated amount of money. "

The speaker was trying to emphasize that one should go to school, complete an education, maybe live with a roommate, live at home, 'scimp' or save, THEN search for a better paying job, THEN take on debt. THEN start a family.

I had never looked at it from that perspective before.

On a side note, IMO, in general, we have grown past the purpose of unionizing.

{runs off to corner to await the fallout from that last comment}

[Logan]

Cataholic, you are not alone in your thinking about unions. If I were a business owner and had to face a union coming into my business vs closing the doors, I think I'd close the doors, too. I've been too close to the manufacturing business, too much of my life, to think otherwise.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I heard this comment the other day on talk radio that made me pause. I am paraphrasing. "Minimum wage is not SUPPOSED to support families. It is a low end, entry level job rated amount of money. "

The speaker was trying to emphasize that one should go to school, complete an education, maybe live with a roommate, live at home, 'scimp' or save, THEN search for a better paying job, THEN take on debt. THEN start a family.

I had never looked at it from that perspective before.

I wish that everyone had the opportunity to go to college, but that won't happen. Even if you DO all of the above things, it's still hard to make it. My husband and I are both college graduates and it was tough to get jobs after college. In fact, my first job with benefits out of college was working as a janitor. We had to move 800 miles away to find a decent living, which didn't come cheap.

I didn't have the option of waiting to take on debt, either, as my parent's didn't help me pay for college. I went to a state school, finished in four years, and even had a partial scholarship, but still if I think about how much money I owe it makes me sick. And I'm getting a master's degree because a BA in psychology just doesn't cut it so I have to take on more debt.

I think that idea that people can wait till they start a family to take on debt is outdated- college is just too expensive. It's hard to support yourself, even with student loans and a college student budget, on near minimum wage.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Wal-mart actually closed it's doors rather than risk having unionized employees. What a great dream Sam had.

I think it's time they were responsible and raised wages, weren't allowed to make so many workers "temp" in an effort to save themselves of getting their employees health insurance.

They are the biggest- they influence ALL retailers. Other big businesses get away with throwing peanuts to their employees, too, because of the example that Walmart is setting. Small businesses certainly can't compete with their prices. I wouldn't mind paying more to know that people were earning a decent living.

[sparks19]

So did almost every other retailer in the US.

I know people who work for Wal Mart. They have no complaints with their jobs or their salaries/benefits. Compared to other retailers they are at least on par.

The truckers who drive for Wal Mart in many cases leave union jobs to work for them.

Wal Mart isn't perfect, but then again, no other company is, either.

LOL I was gonna say the same thing.

Walmart isn't the only BIG WIG company that pays minimum wage. McDonalds for one. Plenty of "family" people have to work at McDonalds and they don't pay any better.

I worked for Walmart and they treated me great and I had no complaints.

You show me a big name company like Walmart and McDonalds that pays high wages and top notch health benefits.

My local Grocery store has self check out scanners as well. Should I boycott them too? Where should I shop?

yes other jobs hire people that are o ut of work but if Walmart is so bad then why does anyone work there if everyone is handing out jobs to people who have none? I would say working at Walmart is better than nothing

for crying out loud, look at tim Hortons (Canadian coffee shop) It is almost a RELIGION in Canada. They make so much bank it's insane. You know how much I made when i worked there? Minimum wage. They treated me like crap. I got two fifteen minute breaks and the rest of the time I barely had time to get a drink of water or pee.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

You show me a big name company like Walmart and McDonalds that pays high wages and top notch health benefits.

Many companies take their cues from places like Walmart, who is so big they practically own the industry. If they don't provide healthcare, etc, then the other places won't either. If Walmart improved their employee benefits other companies would be pressured to follow suit.

[Lady's Human]

PC< if you read the original post, or talked to people who work at wal mart, they DO offer benefits, including health care. It ain't great, but it's better than welfare.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

PC< if you read the original post, or talked to people who work at wal mart, they DO offer benefits, including health care. It ain't great, but it's better than welfare.

I know that some people get benefits, but what about all the countless "temps" or people they hire only part time? I know at quite a few retail establishments there is schedule fixing to make sure people don't qualify for insurance.

[Lady's Human]

Wal Mart offers benefits to all employees, full or part time, according to their website.