RE: Walmart anti union video

[RGacky3]

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/wal-mart-the-high-cost-of-low-price/

Whats very interesting is the part aobut union busting, if Walmart is'nt the biggest totalitarian douchbag company, really the corporate equivalent of North Korea, I don't know what is.

The strange thing is, this sort of corporate totalitarian savegry used to be shocking, its really not anymore.

[Bud Struggle]

I'm kind of mediocre on all of this--I fight multinational companies every day of the week and I'm still standing, no problems. You have to do things better and different. But that's not the question I have--why can't unions make a dent in WalMart? I'm not usually a big union fan, but here's a place where unions would do a lot of good.

Isn't there a union that could organize these people?

[Edit] Further--if Wal-Mart destroys towns--that the fault of the people in the town. THEY make the decision to buy there instead of the local establishments. They do that to themselves. Is it the place of the government to be the nanny for for these people that can't make reasonable long term decisions for themselves? Also, work in Wal-Mart looks like it could be OK for a secondary income--it just fails as a primary source. I'm not quite sure if that's Wal-Mart's fault. It's not skilled demanding work--so the people really don't merit high pay. Still I do think a union might get these people a better situation. They need maybe a 25% hike in wages, better healthcare coverage and a more reasonable work schedule. I think that might be fair.

I'm kind of interested in this situation. Tomorrow I'm going to apply for an associate position at Wal-Mart. If they hire me--I'll let you know what I see. (I'll work there for a week of two. It might be interesting.)

[Further Edit] And yea that CEO is pretty much a dick.

[devoration1]

Working for Walmart entails most of the tricks for management- speedups, passive aggressive threats about your job if you don't work overtime, constant pressure to perform above the guidelines set by the company that you sign when hired (if you're a stocker, that you will put up 30 cases an hour), backroom intimidation (most disciplinary meetings happen with at least 2 sometimes 3 or 4 supervisors, assistant managers and co-managers), etc.

Plus the 'People Division'- the union-busting shock troops of Walmart. Theres a 'what to do if workers talk union' booklet for managers, which contains a phone number they can call if their store is seeing increased worker discontent and signs of organizing (then the People Division descend on the store and take over labor discipline- firings, threats, cuts in hours, transfer to shitty jobs, etc).

UFCW has tried multiple times to organize them. The only successful campaign they've had was in unionizing all meat cutters in all Walmarts- Walmart then removed the position of meat cutter from all of their stores and opened meat packing plants that ship pre-cut meat to the stores.

Probably the only way to organize Walmart (and other retail chain giants) is with the equivalent to the IWW Starbucks Workers Union. Walmart is very successful at avoiding traditional union drives, and very very good at defeating NLRB elections.

[AK]

Comments section *facepalm*
charles - 09/20/2009 at 11:39
My brother worked for Walmart for a short time, and he said it was like working for a small communist country. No joke! He said the perfect Walmart employee has an I.Q of about 85; smart enough to work and do a good job but it is difficult for them to find something better and they know it. Kinda sad. There are exceptions of course.

Marci Cochran Sunie (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=695530451) -12/26/2009 at 21:36
Sadly, this is still one of the greatest countries in the world.Try Russia, China, etc…in fact, give it ten years and this country will be just as communist / socialist as the others. Our society uses its voice for a bunch of non-sensical foolishness.
STOP BEING SHEEPLE!!!

[RGacky3]

why can't unions make a dent in WalMart? I'm not usually a big union fan, but here's a place where unions would do a lot of good.


I like how your selectively supportive of unions, its like saying I'm for democracy, but only for people that I think should have it, either you support workers democracy or not.

But heres why, watch the documentary, WalMart has viciously engaged in union busting, when a union organizing barely starts to be an idea, the very top of the corporation gets involved, WalMart also taking over the community and make job insecurity is also involved.


Further--if Wal-Mart destroys towns--that the fault of the people in the town. THEY make the decision to buy there instead of the local establishments. They do that to themselves.

Unless the people act as a community, they could'nt do that, its the market place.


Is it the place of the government to be the nanny for for these people that can't make reasonable long term decisions for themselves?

No one said that. But what the government should do is enforce ant-union busting laws, and other labor laws that are on the books.


Also, work in Wal-Mart looks like it could be OK for a secondary income--it just fails as a primary source.

Many don't have a choice.


I'm not quite sure if that's Wal-Mart's fault. It's not skilled demanding work--so the people really don't merit high pay. Still I do think a union might get these people a better situation. They need maybe a 25% hike in wages, better healthcare coverage and a more reasonable work schedule. I think that might be fair.


Its not up to you to decide whats fair, and what the workers Should have, its up to the workers, the company squeezes every ounce out of the workers, and the factory workers, I don't think anyone should be calling on unions to be "fair" to the company.


Probably the only way to organize Walmart (and other retail chain giants) is with the equivalent to the IWW Starbucks Workers Union. Walmart is very successful at avoiding traditional union drives, and very very good at defeating NLRB elections.

I agree, what the IWW did with starbucks (also a vicious union busting company) was nothing short of amazing, the IWW plays rough, juts as the capitalists do, other unions need to stop playing by capitalits rules and start playing rough.

[Bud Struggle]

I like how your selectively supportive of unions, its like saying I'm for democracy, but only for people that I think should have it, either you support workers democracy or not. I never said I was totally against unions. They are like anything else in life--they do some good they do some bad. I think when it comes to giant corporations they are almost always good, if they are run fairly and honestly.


But heres why, watch the documentary, WalMart has viciously engaged in union busting, when a union organizing barely starts to be an idea, the very top of the corporation gets involved, WalMart also taking over the community and make job insecurity is also involved. I saw that--but I'm suprised that those corny tactics are that effective.


Unless the people act as a community, they could'nt do that, its the market place. Then people have to decide if its a marketplace they want of a community. It is their decision.


No one said that. But what the government should do is enforce ant-union busting laws, and other labor laws that are on the books. If there are laws then they should be inforced.


Many don't have a choice. That's not Wal-Mart's fault.


Its not up to you to decide whats fair, and what the workers Should have, its up to the workers, the company squeezes every ounce out of the workers, and the factory workers, I don't think anyone should be calling on unions to be "fair" to the company. It's not up to me, or the company or the unions--it is up to the marketplace. If these people can't look after their own welfare and organize a union it's not Wal-Mart's fault. Really and truly, people have to look out for themselves.


I agree, what the IWW did with starbucks (also a vicious union busting company) was nothing short of amazing, the IWW plays rough, juts as the capitalists do, other unions need to stop playing by capitalits rules and start playing rough. Well good luck to them.

I'm applied for the job last night online. I'm just wondering--is Target or K-Mary or the supermarket chains much different? I imagine they operate in a similar fashion.

[RGacky3]

They are like anything else in life--they do some good they do some bad. I think when it comes to giant corporations they are almost always good, if they are run fairly and honestly.

But its like democracy, either you support the concept of it, or you don't, you may not agree with everything they do, but you support the concept of it. As long as unions are actually accountable to the workers I support that.


I saw that--but I'm suprised that those corny tactics are that effective.

Fear works :).


Then people have to decide if its a marketplace they want of a community. It is their decision.


For that they'd have to organize as a community, something which is discouraged under capitalism, but something socialists encourage. It also requires people knowing the truth about stores like this, which is'nt widely available, so people need to see this stuff.


That's not Wal-Mart's fault.

Well, in a way it is, but in a way its not, they are doing what a successfull corporation in capitalism does, so really its capitalisms fault.


It's not up to me, or the company or the unions--it is up to the marketplace. If these people can't look after their own welfare and organize a union it's not Wal-Mart's fault. Really and truly, people have to look out for themselves.


Its up to the marketplace now (which means the companies and the rich), but it should be up to the workers, be it through unions, or some other avenue.

And yes it is Wal-Marts fault, for union busting.


I'm applied for the job last night online. I'm just wondering--is Target or K-Mary or the supermarket chains much different? I imagine they operate in a similar fashion.

I don't know .... You ahve a lot of time on your hands don't you :P?

[Bud Struggle]

I don't know .... You ahve a lot of time on your hands don't you :P? :)

[Jazzhands]

Comments section *facepalm*
charles - 09/20/2009 at 11:39
My brother worked for Walmart for a short time, and he said it was like working for a small communist country. No joke! He said the perfect Walmart employee has an I.Q of about 85; smart enough to work and do a good job but it is difficult for them to find something better and they know it. Kinda sad. There are exceptions of course.

Marci Cochran Sunie (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=695530451) -12/26/2009 at 21:36
Sadly, this is still one of the greatest countries in the world.Try Russia, China, etc…in fact, give it ten years and this country will be just as communist / socialist as the others. Our society uses its voice for a bunch of non-sensical foolishness.
STOP BEING SHEEPLE!!!

who actually reads comments sections except on Youtube and Cracked?

[AK]

who actually reads comments sections except on Youtube and Cracked?
:rolleyes:

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