DAOTD: Gov't edition

[burdizzos]

The state of Maryland is trying to pass legislation that would require any company that employs more than 10,000 people within the state's borders to provide health benefits to all of its employees.

 

That sounds great, right? The problem is that the only company that law would apply to is Wal-mart.

 

 

Part of Wal-mart's success is that they are a non-union company and a significant portion of their workforce is made up of part time employees. That, coupled with the volume of business that they do, is how they sell at such reduced prices.

 

The labor unions are pissed that the world's largest retailer has held them at bay and now they're using the only power that still works to get even.

 

If these dip{censored}s in Maryland get their way Walmart will just raise prices and lay people off since they already have a strong hold on the low price department store market.

 

 

 

Story link

[hawkhuff]

The new public enemy #1and national demon; Wal Mart.

 

Hate them: Big Oil, Big HMO's, Big Pharmaceuticals.

[bholder]

So the fact that Wal Mart has systematically engaged in illegal union busting tactics and penalized organizers is just ok, then? And I suppose you like them putting all of your local "mom and pop" stores out of business, so they can sell you more chinese made crap claiming it's "made in the USA"?

[ezstep]

Speaking of WallyWorld, remember when they had signs and banners saying "Made in U.S.A.!" and stuff like "800 American workers made this product" and other, well, propaganda?

 

I noticed when you find only Chinese-made items, they don't have the large banners saying "American workers laid off because we could get this cheaper overseas."

[B-Bottom]

 

Originally posted by bholder So the fact that Wal Mart has systematically engaged in illegal union busting tactics and penalized organizers is just ok, then? And I suppose you like them putting all of your local "mom and pop" stores out of business, so they can sell you more chinese made crap claiming it's "made in the USA"?

 

 

+1. Look I'm all for Capitalism but the tactics that Wal Mart uses are way out of hand. Not to mention that 80% of their products are made in China. So while you're throwing your money at their "falling prices", the Chineese companies who produce that stuff are turning around and using that money to build missles to point at us.

I really really try to not but things made in China, but it's tough especially when it comes to electronics. In fact today I'll be plunking down some money to buy some computer cables.

When you're looking at products look at where they are made. India makes "cheap" products as well, as well as a few other asian allies (Tawain is another) and they aren't plotting our destruction

F walmart

[burdizzos]

Have you been to a mom and pop store lately?

 

Most of there product line is made in China as well.

 

 

 

How did Wal-mart put those places out of business? Did they personally close them down?

 

No, people flocked to wal-mart to make their purchases rather than buy from mom and pop.

 

 

How many jobs has Wal-mart provided?

 

 

 

What good have unions done lately?

[burdizzos]

Just for the record, I hate Wal-mart and I never shop there.

 

I'm not a fan of the company, but it's ridiculous for Maryland to do what they are doing.

 

 

Don't like it, don't shop there.

[fretless]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4454738.stm

[B-Bottom]

Originally posted by fretless http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4454738.stm

 

[hawkhuff]

 

Originally posted by burdizzos Have you been to a mom and pop store lately? Most of there product line is made in China as well. How did Wal-mart put those places out of business? Did they personally close them down? No, people flocked to wal-mart to make their purchases rather than buy from mom and pop. How many jobs has Wal-mart provided? What good have unions done lately?

+1

 

WE put them out of business because we want products for less money.

[hawkhuff]

I too am not a fan of Wal Mart, per se.

 

However, keep in mind that there was K Mart before them and before K mart was AM & A's, Sears and other big outfits.

 

I will buy my soap, dog food and other supplies anywhere I please. Getting the most for my dollar far outweighs my support for any union.

 

We have a Wal Mart and a Home Depot in our town and most of the Mom and Pop businesses are still functioning.

 

Just look at what the union has done to GM. It's not entirely their issue I know, but when GM is spending more of their dollars for healthcare than for steel to build cars, something is amiss.

 

Competition, not sodcialism, is good for the masses.

[beam]

I figure a person who goes to get a job at WalMart knows that they aren't getting certain things when they sign up for it.

 

Is someone "making" them work there, that I don't know about? If you want health insurance from your job, then don't work at a place that doesn't offer it..

 

Granted, there are people who don't really have a choice, but how many of THEM are going to lose their jobs altogether because Walmart cuts back on jobs to pay for the health insurance?

 

 

I say just let everyone use Medicare

[B-Bottom]

 

Originally posted by hawkhuff +1 WE put them out of business because we want products for less money.

 

 

you're exactly right. I wish people would wake up and see exactly what those cheap Chineese products are really costing us.

[bholder]

I'm no big defender of unions in general (I believe overly greedy and mismanaged unions are a major contributor to US manufacturing, particularly automobiles, becoming uncompetetive), but there's one point that needs to be made here:

 

A company or corporation has no right to decide whether it will be unionized or not, that decision is supposed to be solely up to the workers, who have the right to assemble for collective bargaining if they so choose. The employer is not supposed to have any say in the matter.

[hawkhuff]

 

Originally posted by B-Bottom you're exactly right. I wish people would wake up and see exactly what those cheap Chineese products are really costing us.

we've priced ourselves right out of the market.

 

You cannot buy any comparable products made in the US; the labor costs are far greater than those in China, Mexico, Malaysia, etc.

 

We have a Delphi plant here that will go under eventually. Why? Because they pay unskilled workers $28/hour. You can get that same unskilled labor overseas for pennies on the dollar.

 

Turn out the lights. The partys' over. The fat lady is squealing like a pig.

 

How has the union helped these poor souls??

[takeout]

Target somehow manages to compete with Walmart while offering better wages and benefits, and comparable prices. {censored} Walmart.

 

That law is stupid, but still... {censored} Walmart.

[burdizzos]

Wal-mart employs more people than any other corporation and they provide jobs for people who are otherwise unemployable.

 

What exactly would be gained if there was a Wal-mart employees' union?

 

 

I can completely understand the desire of the people in charge of any company to keep a union out. However, Corporations have no rights. The traditional rule of thumb is that companies cater to their employees' needs to keep them from organizing. It works well for a lot of successful companies. Wal-mart has been targeted for organization by people who don't even work there because of the huge number of employees. Imagine how much more powerful the AFL-CIO would be if they got the Wal-mart employees on board.

 

That's the issue at stake. The employees at Wal-mart are more than content for the most part, it's the labor unions looking to get more power.

[burdizzos]

 

Originally posted by takeout Target somehow manages to compete with Walmart while offering better wages and benefits, and comparable prices. {censored} Walmart. That law is stupid, but still... {censored} Walmart.

 

 

 

I agree. You''l pay a few pennies on the dollar more to shop at Target, but in return you get a higher quality shopping experience. Target doesn't hire the same buffoons that Wal-mart does.

[hawkhuff]

 

Originally posted by burdizzos Wall-ma employs more people than any other corporation and they provide jobs for people who are otherwise unemployable. What exactly would be gained if there was a Wal-mart employees' union? I can completely understand the desire of the people in charge of any company to keep a union out. However, Corporations have no rights. The traditional rule of thumb is that companies cater to their employees' needs to keep them from organizing. It works well for a lot of successful companies. Wal-mart has been targeted for organization by people who don't even work there because of the huge number of employees. Imagine how much more powerful the AFL-CIO would be if they got the Wal-mart employees on board. That's the issue at stake. The employees at Wal-mart are more than content for the most part, it's the labor unions looking to get more power.

They tried to unionize here but the employees voted it down.

 

{censored} happens.

[cthulhu0]

 

Originally posted by hawkhuff They tried to unionize here but the employees voted it down. {censored} happens.

 

what about the one in canada that voted to unionize and walmart closed the store, and opened a new one 3 miles away?

 

the issue here is livable wages and taking people off of public healthcare. they use medicaid as their own personal healthcare plan. one walmart corporate pays nothing for, but you me and every taxpayer here does.

 

burdizzos, where do you get this "fact" that people are content to work at walmart?

 

why are you all so eager to defend multinationals?

[burdizzos]

 

Originally posted by cthulhu0 burdizzos, where do you get this "fact" that people are content to work at walmart?

 

 

 

because they continue to work there. I've never worked for a place where I wasn't at least content.

[burdizzos]

Another reason why I don't like Wal-mart is that they support abuse of eminent domain to get local gov't to steal property for their stores.

 

 

Make no mistake, I do not like Wal-mart, but I like gov't regulation less.

[Gruven]

This, from an ex toolmaker in the auto industry: Unions aren't needed, at all, anymore. The only thing that they've done for this counrty is promote overpaying lazy assed people who take time off for hangnails. I can't help but think that unions are part of the problem in this country.

 

As far as Wal Mart goes, they could close every stinking one and it wouldn't make a difference in my world. Orirginally touted as a USA company, now all that they sell is Chinese made. Do you want to know why? Because union labor, here in the U.S. is too damned costly for most companies to produce their product here, and sell it for a price that we're willing to pay.

 

When you consider that it's cheaper for a company to ship their goods from China, back to the U.S., and STILL make more of a profit than manufacturing it here in the first place, there's something wrong.

 

Where did our jobs go? Why is our economy so bad?

 

Answer: Companies like Wal Mart and Unions.

 

Yeah... I'm ready for the {censored} storm.

[Retrovertigo]

 

Originally posted by burdizzos because they continue to work there. I've never worked for a place where I wasn't at least content.

 

 

Not everybody has that luxury, homes.

[greenshag]

 

Originally posted by Retrovertigo Not everybody has that luxury, homes.

 

 

 

but everyone has a choice