Wal-Mart to Canada Store: Fuck you and your Union

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

teaches at a fairly exclusive private school... yet she still makes only about $30,000 per year.

 

Private schools can't afford to pay much more than that.

[Jingus 0]

It's more than she made when she worked in public schools, even well-funded ones in wealthy counties.

[SuperJerk 0]

It's more than she made when she worked in public schools, even well-funded ones in wealthy counties.

Your mother could earn top dollar at public schools nowadays, especially doing Spec. Ed.

 

The Blue Valley School District in Johnson County, Kansas (probably the wealthiest county in the entire state) starts people at $33,000 a year. That's considered pretty high. Our family health insurance plan is expensive as hell, though.

 

I don't know what the minimum salary in your area is, but in the KC metro area the average to start is about $29,000 with just a Bachelor's.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

I know that I'll be starting out well over 30K here in KY with my Masters and all.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

It's more than she made when she worked in public schools, even well-funded ones in wealthy counties.

Well then come to PA -- the teachers in my school got paid really well, and for good reason; even with slackers like me we still were a great school for academics and stuff...

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Speaking as somebody working for a major telecom company --- we are FULLY aware of what unions provide.

Verizon?

Yes.

-=Mike

...Wireless, not landline

I've heard they play the same "We don't need unions" video, but still leave the option open and have some employees who choose to go union. At least, that's what I've been told to believe.

 

If so, Wal-Mart could stand to learn a lot from your example. I don't know if you're aware but in the case of Wal-Mart, employees are being treated so poorly because Wal-Mart is so politically moved to fight unions at all costs. The employees don't get health coverage, so they have to turn to the remaining public-funded health clinics still operating around the country.

 

That means you and I are paying for sick and injured Wal-Mart employees, because Wal-Mart thinks competitively low prices are more important than employee medical coverage. And we're all paying for it, even if we don't go to Wal-Mart.

 

Doesn't that abuse of the public strike your conservative gene just a little and make you a tiny bit upset? Or are you so far to the side of the business owners that it doesn't offend you?

[Guest MikeSC]

Speaking as somebody working for a major telecom company --- we are FULLY aware of what unions provide.

Verizon?

Yes.

-=Mike

...Wireless, not landline

I've heard they play the same "We don't need unions" video, but still leave the option open and have some employees who choose to go union. At least, that's what I've been told to believe.

No videos. You've been led to believe a falsehood.

 

They have a website where they will simply point out the deal our one union shop has and compares it to the deal they give you. The union deal, quite honestly, is terrible.

That means you and I are paying for sick and injured Wal-Mart employees, because Wal-Mart thinks competitively low prices are more important than employee medical coverage. And we're all paying for it, even if we don't go to Wal-Mart.

At the risk of sounding mean, why is it an employer's job to keep the employees insured?

Doesn't that abuse of the public strike your conservative gene just a little bit and make you a tiny bit upset?

No, I'm pissed that government interference, insurance, and lawsuits have combined to make health care impossible for the average person to afford.

 

Perhaps health savings accounts wouldn't be a bad idea.

Or are you so far to the side of the business owners that it doesn't offend you?

Like it or not, health insurance is not a right. Employers have no obligation to provide it.

 

And Wal-Mart provides insurance for A LOT of employees, though that often gets ignored in the demonization.

[SuperJerk 0]

Like it or not, health insurance is not a right.

 

In a fair and just society, it should be.

[Guest MikeSC]

Like it or not, health insurance is not a right.

 

In a fair and just society, it should be.

I disagree. Your rights should not cost me a dime.

 

For example, your right to own arms doesn't cost me anything. Nor does your right to free speech.

 

Health insurance would cost me money.

-=Mike

[SuperJerk 0]

Like it or not, health insurance is not a right.

 

In a fair and just society, it should be.

I disagree. Your rights should not cost me a dime.

 

For example, your right to own arms doesn't cost me anything. Nor does your right to free speech.

 

Health insurance would cost me money.

-=Mike

Maybe not health insurance, but a right to health care should be.

[Guest MikeSC]

Like it or not, health insurance is not a right.

 

In a fair and just society, it should be.

I disagree. Your rights should not cost me a dime.

 

For example, your right to own arms doesn't cost me anything. Nor does your right to free speech.

 

Health insurance would cost me money.

-=Mike

Maybe not health insurance, but a right to health care should be.

And you have a right to it.

 

You go to an emergency room and a hospital cannot legally turn you away.

 

Which still costs me money in the long run.

-=Mike

[Twisted Intestine 0]

"Give me a W"

 

W!

 

"Give me an A"

 

A!

 

"Give me an L"

 

L!

 

"Give me a ~"

 

~!

 

"Give me an M"

 

M!

 

"Give me an A"

 

A!

 

"Give me an R"

 

R!

 

"Give me a T"

 

T!

 

"What's that spell?"

 

Wal~Mart!

 

"Who's number one?"

 

The customers!

[SuperJerk 0]

And you have a right to it.

 

You go to an emergency room and a hospital cannot legally turn you away.

I have the right to go to an emergency room, but not the right to get an operation or get medicine.

 

Why do we give lawyer's services for free to the public, but not doctors?

 

 

Which still costs me money in the long run.

 

You're not exactly the nation's only tax payer. The expense to you alone would be miniscule.

[Guest MikeSC]

And you have a right to it.

 

You go to an emergency room and a hospital cannot legally turn you away.

I have the right to go to an emergency room, but not the right to get an operation or get medicine.

 

Why do we give lawyer's services for free to the public, but not doctors?

We do.

 

Let's say you're shot and taken to a hospital.

 

You'll be given surgery --- whether you have insurance or not.

Which still costs me money in the long run.

You're not exactly the nation's only tax payer. The expense to you alone would be miniscule.

Which is still too much.

 

It costs me nary a dime for you to speak your mind.

 

It does cost me for you to receive health care.

-=Mike

...I had to pay several hundred dollars for the worst food I've ever ingested while in the hospital. That wasn't cheap. And it was to cover the costs of treating the uninsured...

[SuperJerk 0]

I'm sorry, but I don't see how being charged thousands of dollars for something demonstrates that I have a "right" to it. If I went to an emergency room without insurance, that's what would happen.

[Guest TJH]

I don't like unions. But fuck me if they didn't negotiate an industry award of $18.71 per hour - and I don't have to pay them a cent. The job I do is market research interviewing, and I have no skills, no experience, and no qualifications!

[Guest MikeSC]

I'm sorry, but I don't see how being charged thousands of dollars for something demonstrates that I have a "right" to it. If I went to an emergency room without insurance, that's what would happen.

Robot, there are plenty of cases where people get medical treatment and don't pay a red dime. The hospital cannot legally refuse service, even if you cannot possibly pay.

-=Mike

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Stupid fucking Wal-Mart chant

Someone has clearly worked there.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

They make you guys do that shit? Oh man.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I saw some show where they had the workers do some exercises before they opened the doors to the store. Sad, really...

[The Czech Republic 0]

That's what they do in Japan. Company song and calesthenics

[Stephen Joseph 0]

OK, that is the 100% correct economic way of thinking.

 

Now, give us the completely illogical and wrong-headed commie point of view, smartypants.

Edited for accuracy.

thanks Tom

[Stephen Joseph 0]

Again, I'll reiterate

 

You have $1000 to spend on labor. Employee's wages are 100 per employee.

 

You can hire 10 employees.

 

A union comes in, and raises wages to 200 per employee. Now you can afford 5 employees.

 

But can you fire 5 employees? Depends. Is anyone helped by this? Yes, those currently employed. Is anyone hurt?

 

If the company got more revenue and could afford 1200 for labor, yes. Because their shop still has 10 guys, but in the free market, 12 people would have been hired.

 

And please, I'm not a conservative, so don't resort to petty stereotyping. Tackle my point, math preferable.

[SuperJerk 0]

Your math is correct, of course, but I don't think the situation is realistic. The union wants to double the starting wage? And the argument seems to assume the place of employment in question is the only place those people can get jobs.

 

By increasing the price of labor, you've made the job more in-demand, so the workers are willing to compete and be more productive in oder to get one of the 5 jobs, so the employer benefits.

 

The problems with your scenario is a reflection of the problems with laissez-faire. What immediately benefits those who control the means of production may bot be perfectly evident to them.

 

 

Robot, there are plenty of cases where people get medical treatment and don't pay a red dime. The hospital cannot legally refuse service, even if you cannot possibly pay.

 

I think that only applies to emergency situations.

[Slayer 0]

What's Popick's occupation again?

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I think he makes misty eggs or something...

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

That exercising stuff isn't so crazy though. It's not required, but it's encouraged that all employees where I work stretch before working. Cuts down on muscle injuries and shit.

[Special K 0]

Here's a little math for you: Wal-mart is the largest retailer in the country. How many products do you think a Wal-Mart sells in a day? Thousands. If they raised the price of each item oh, a nickel, they could afford to pay their employees a buck more an hour, easily. Or advertise less! Everyone knows what fucking Wal-Mart is. That's been demonstrated. Anyone who opposes unions has never worked a shitty job before.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I worked at McDonalds, Burger King and Taco Bell in my high school days, and this included closing shfts on weekends.

 

I worked 16-hour shifts for a gas station and movie theater that provided no overtime while in college.

 

I worked at arcade cleaning ash trays covered with spit and tobacco juice because it fit my schedule of my $8/hour copy editor stint when I first got out of college.

 

I oppose unions.

 

Were my jobs not shitty enough?...

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

I worked at McDonalds, Burger King and Taco Bell in my high school days, and this included closing shfts on weekends.

 

I worked 16-hour shifts for a gas station and movie theater that provided no overtime while in college.

 

I worked at arcade cleaning ash trays covered with spit and tobacco juice because it fit my schedule of my $8/hour copy editor stint when I first got out of college.

 

I oppose unions.

 

Were my jobs not shitty enough?...

I think the real story here is...

 

You went to college?!?!

 

Egads, man, I hope you got a refund