Low prices just aren't enough
Walmart workers are threatening to strike Black Friday and I am 100 percent supportive of their efforts.
I've not been a fan of Wal-Mart for a very long time because of what happens to the smaller businesses when they enter a community and also for their REFUSAL to pay most of their employees a genuine living wage - one that allows them to not only pay their expenses but also be able to afford something as basic as healthcare insurance - despite being the world's largest retailer. Lack of health insurance leads to increased emergency room visits which cost more than routine office visits, often go unpaid and end up costing all of us in the end. Wal-mart is large enough that it can certainly negotiate and afford to offer all their employees a reasonably priced plan. I just don't see how that's too much to ask when you consider these two things:
Mike Duke, Wal-Mart's CEO earned $38 million in 2010, that's more per hour than a full-time Wal-mart employee earns in a year. Bill Gates has given away 48% of his net worth to charity and Warren Buffet a whopping 78% yet the Walton family (the descendants of Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart) have given away a mere collectively 2%!!! Guess they must be pocketing all that profit they get for their low price stampedes.
This company and family are one-percenters for sure. Since I'm not and would be far more compassionate of I were, I pray the majority of Walmart employees realize the power they wield if they stick together on this strike. It's the biggest shopping day of the year after all they could do some damage by calling out. I assure you I will not be shopping anywhere tomorrow evening (that's just sacrilege) or Black Friday. There is NO thing, that any of us truly need that is housed in a Walmart, Target or other any other store and this year I stand in solidaity of those demanding a living wage. That truly is something to be thankful for.
I've not been a fan of Wal-Mart for a very long time because of what happens to the smaller businesses when they enter a community and also for their REFUSAL to pay most of their employees a genuine living wage - one that allows them to not only pay their expenses but also be able to afford something as basic as healthcare insurance - despite being the world's largest retailer. Lack of health insurance leads to increased emergency room visits which cost more than routine office visits, often go unpaid and end up costing all of us in the end. Wal-mart is large enough that it can certainly negotiate and afford to offer all their employees a reasonably priced plan. I just don't see how that's too much to ask when you consider these two things:
Mike Duke, Wal-Mart's CEO earned $38 million in 2010, that's more per hour than a full-time Wal-mart employee earns in a year. Bill Gates has given away 48% of his net worth to charity and Warren Buffet a whopping 78% yet the Walton family (the descendants of Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart) have given away a mere collectively 2%!!! Guess they must be pocketing all that profit they get for their low price stampedes.
This company and family are one-percenters for sure. Since I'm not and would be far more compassionate of I were, I pray the majority of Walmart employees realize the power they wield if they stick together on this strike. It's the biggest shopping day of the year after all they could do some damage by calling out. I assure you I will not be shopping anywhere tomorrow evening (that's just sacrilege) or Black Friday. There is NO thing, that any of us truly need that is housed in a Walmart, Target or other any other store and this year I stand in solidaity of those demanding a living wage. That truly is something to be thankful for.
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