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Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

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171–180 of 257 posts

Re: Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

#171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Even under the current administration, enforcement is weak, and it will probably be weaker under the next administration. One of the more interesting features of the American political environment, over at least the last three and a half decades, is the extent to which the demographic that is (or was) nominally represented by unions has voted for politicians who have made no bones about their intent to weaken the u…

> One of the more interesting features of the American political environment, over at least the last three and a half decades, is the extent to which the demographic that is (or was) nominally represented by unions has voted for politicians who have made no bones about their intent to weaken the unions and labor law, especially at the state level. They failed because the majority of people are hard workers who loathe…

While a bit more political and divisive than I would have gone with, I think you hit the nail on the head.

Those that would benefit most in theory from unions generally have the most experience "in the trenches" with them. This experience shows them that unions more or less became places to protect the lowest common denominator with zero regard for any value they bring to the table.

Show me a union that functions like a "guild" where it polices it's membership extremely well, and people strive to be skillful enough to join - then I will both support that union as a member, and hire those members when possible.

If all you exist to do is keep the lowest performers employed at the expense of your most productive members you can see why most hard working folks tend to have a complicated relationship at best with unions as they are implemented today.

Re: Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

#172
post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

False: http://www.nber.org/papers/w20313

Here is a link to the PDF of that paper. https://www.global-economic-symposium.org/knowledgebase/the-...

Thanks for sharing. This paper speaks to wages... not benefits, which Walmart avoids by classifying employees as part-time.

Re: Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

#173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here is a link to the PDF of that paper. https://www.global-economic-symposium.org/knowledgebase/the-...

Thanks for sharing. This paper speaks to wages... not benefits, which Walmart avoids by classifying employees as part-time.

And mom and pops avoid because most ACA requirements don't apply to employers with fewer than 50 full time employees.

There's simply no evidence that Walmart is a drag on wages compared to retailers it replaces. Quite the opposite actually.

Re: Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

#174
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It works, too. In the popular media, unions have been so thoroughly demonized for several decades. Lots of middle-aged folks now will have grown up with their only idea of the union as being the lazy teamster who does nothing all day except file grievances, or the fabled electrician who won't plug in your power cord at a trade show because it's someone else's job. And the kinds of people who're going in for these job…

"Lots of middle-aged folks now will have grown up with their only idea of the union as being the lazy teamster who does nothing all day except file grievances, or the fabled electrician who won't plug in your power cord at a trade show because it's someone else's job. " Or have had the actual experience of not being allowed to plug in your own electrical cord at a trade show and blaming in on the union - which is pro…

> Or have had the actual experience of not being allowed to plug in your own electrical cord at a trade show and blaming in on the union - which is probably right. I'm not saying unions are all bad but in the US ones don't have a good track record.

While in grad school, the heater in our lab was out during a cold-ass New York winter. We put in work requests for weeks, and no repairs were ever made. A fellow grad student finally got fed up, looked up the plans to the heater online, and figured out how to fix it on his own. Months later (it is spring time now) someone from facilities shows up, goes into a fit that someone non-union fixed the heater, and the fellow grad student got into some shit from the department and the deans office. Yes, this is anecdotal, but negative interactions with unions are a real thing.

Edit: Also, the most vocal opponent of the smoking ban on campus was from one of the service worker unions.

Re: Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

#175
post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Walmart typically puts small Mom-n-Pop shops out of business when they move into a community... and they pay far lower wages than the businesses they replace.

False: http://www.nber.org/papers/w20313

Probably should have clarified overall comp and benefits are lower... not specifically wages.

Re: Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

#176
post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

False: http://www.nber.org/papers/w20313

Probably should have clarified overall comp and benefits are lower... not specifically wages.

Do you have any evidence for that point of view?

Mom and pops very rarely have good benefits because they don't have the resources that larger firms have. It's complicated and expensive to set up things like health care plans and 401Ks. This is why the ACA employer mandate doesn't apply to firms with fewer than 50 employees.

Re: Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

#177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Their duty to employees? Those employees have the right to quit. If the supply of labor decreases, the prevailing wage will increase. Also not mentioned are the effects of Obamacare and the unintended consequences of companies cutting hours.

When the ACA was passed, Walmart hired enough people to make sure that everyone worked less than the required average of 30hrs a week per month so that they would not have to pay for health benefits or be fined. They relieved themselves of their duty to provide benefits to their full time employees by going out of their way to eliminate full time employees.

What did you expect them to do? When Wal-Mart has a choice, they almost always choose the least expensive option. If the drafters of the ACA wanted Wal-Mart to pay for health insurance, they should not have left Wal-Mart an easy way out.

Re: Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

#178
post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

why the hate for imported stuff? Do you want everything you buy to be made in USA? I don't understand you people. Trade is good for all of us. No country can build everything.

What do you mean you people?

People like you.

Re: Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

#179
post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your comment hinges on the idea that exploitive labor practices do not exist. Allow me to make the prediction that you also don't believe that a market for lemons exists. I also, will go so far as to say that you actually no real connection to this, but rather are spouting off about abstract ideals and philosophy from your upper middle class existence, rather than actually being informed about the actual reality of t…

If Walmart engages in wage theft and is then sued for it, that sounds to me like the law works. Unless the penalties aren't enough to resolve the issue or something, that doesn't sound like an ongoing injustice - and at any rate, sounds like a problem for the courts, not the public. Sorting that sort of thing out fairly is their job, and they're surely going to be more thoughtful about it than angry internet mobs. If…

Maybe cut profits? Give each employee an extra hundred bucks per month. It's good for the worker, good for the poor folks who still keep the low prices and the wealthy folks are still making a profit, granted a smaller one. We needn't be so concerned about a handful of rich folks. They'll continue to make more than is necessary, even for a luxurious lifestyle. Replace those ridiculous mega yachts with regular yachts.

Alternatively, we keep it as is and more and more people's labor goes to zero (eg. driverless cars). One way or another, the wealth needs to flow to the people or there will be unrest. With unrest, people may elect someone with radical changes in mind and then you really won't like your situation (eg. a fascist government like Russia where the top guy simply takes your stuff on behalf of the people - but the people never actually see a dime of it). A little course correction here to balance things out will go a long way to keeping the social fabric together.

Re: Wal-Mart Tells Workers: Don’t Download Labor Group’s Chat App

#180

Walmart is just a front for off loaded cheap Chinese goods. Sure using labor camps, product dumping and destroying the sky doesn't happen in our backyard. But the concept of Walmart as pro American is disgusting. Anything to harm it is good. Good for this app. Bored? I'll fund a new one.

why the hate for imported stuff? Do you want everything you buy to be made in USA? I don't understand you people. Trade is good for all of us. No country can build everything.

I think the commenter is complaining about the massive ecological defeating that is happening in countries that Walmart depends on for production over just complaining that production is not in America
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