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Here's a poll: should Walmart workers be paid high enough wages so that they can afford to shop at Walmart? Because studies have found that many can't. <br /> <br />What bothers me even more than the fact that Walmart is virulently anti-union and so makes it difficult for Canadian and American workers to make a decent wage is how it has driven down labour standards and forced its suppliers to rely on sweatshop labour in China and other countries. It may suck to work part time in the store in Canada but it sucks way worse to work at the factory in China. And because Walmart is so successful using that cheap labour for its goods, it has forced other stores to do the same. <br /> <br />Also no mention in that poll that Walmart often moves into a town, drops prices, eliminates competition, and then RAISES prices. In many cases they are NOT the cheapest alternative. <br />

   

HI all, first post. <br /> <br />The thought that prices wouldn't go up at Walmart with unionization (or anything else that would increase thier labour cost) is wishful thinking. Sure, you can look at their profit margins and say that they "could" afford it, but that doesn't mean that they would just sit there and take it. <br /> <br />Think about it: the grand vizer of Walmart is forced to accept unionization. He then calls in his top two pooh-bahs, who each have different plans. The first one looks in his crystal ball and says that they can afford to take the hit, and still make a reasonable profit, though not the stratospheric profits they had been making. The second one manhandles some giblets, and says that they can raise their prices, and that the increase in revenues will outwiegh the loss from competition, preserving some of the altitude in their profits. Which one do you think ends up on a beach with a harem, and which one ends up opening a test store in Siberia?

   

[QUOTE BY= whelan costen] Here is a poll question again from Telus; I think the question is rather misleading [/QUOTE] <br /> <br />This could be the reason why there is a slant: <br /> <br />Telus bought out Clearnet in Eastern Canada (Ontario over). Clearnet was not unionized like the Western provinces Telus is in. <br /> <br />My roommate makes $9/hr non unionized as a "Mobility Customer Service Clerk II" in Ontario. Out West a person with the same job makes $17.47/hr. So you could see where the Telus slant on the question could be rooted. Telus is currently battling with union reps trying to "influence" the workers at it's stores/call centres on this side of the country. <br /> <br />Meanwhile: <br /> <br />The CEO of Telus' salary & bonuses last year was $4, 251,824 not including stock options! <br /><a href="http://www.companypay.com/executive/compensation/darren_entwistle_4251824_TU.asp">Darren's Salary</a> <br /> <br />and here is H. Lee Scott's salary (CEO Walmart) <br /><a href="http://www.companypay.com/executive/compensation/h_lee_scott_jr_12444790_WMT.asp">H. Lee's Salary</a> <br /> <br />I think Walmart will stay competitive, if they double their prices they will be out of business. Maybe cutting back on the executive rate of pay would solve some of their union woes.

   

Kibbo, welcome!! <br /> <br />You're right. If Walmart unionizes, then labour prices will go up and less people will shop there. <br /> <br />That's sort of the point though. Walmart's (and all big chains') competitive advantage lies in its ability to employ irresponsibly. It starts in sweatshops and continues all the way through production, distribution, and customer service. <br /> <br />Looking at our economy, you can see that minimum-wage, part-time jobs are rapidly growing in numbers, replacing living-wage, full-time jobs. Read my post above and you'll see how that works on a community-scale. <br /> <br />But if anyone wants a truly comical depiction of walmart, check out the latest South Park episode. <br /> <br />South Park Episode 809 - Walmart

   

Would it really cost more though? Higher wages, especially at the bottom end of the scale, go right back into the local economy. You might end up paying 3 cents more for a bar of soap, but if your community is better off it's money well-invested. <br /> <br />I still won't shop at Wal-Mart though.

   

<a href="http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore1.asp?sNav=ed&id=315">Why the Fraser Institute Doesn't want the Minimum Wage Increased</a> (for our own good apparently)<img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/rolleyes.gif' alt='Rolling Eyes'> <br /> <br />Thanks, to whomever posted the link to the FI. Here is an article that tells us why we should fight to NOT have the minimum wage increased! Obviously I do NOT agree with it, in fact, I think every single point can be broken down to it's false origins. <br /> <br />But, don't take my word for it! Form your own opinions. <br /> <br />I don't shop at Walmart (anymore). I have to admit, low prices and a convenient one stop shopping experience were tempting, but the low wages for the employees and the questionable origins of it's merchandise, is not the only reason I stopped going there. Another is the routine they force their workers to go through, during the hiring and employment periods. And then there's Macdonald's, let's not even go there.

   

My reasons are a little more basic...I see nothing convenient about Wal-Mart. It's too big, has too much stuff of too low a quality, has too large a parking lot...and on and on. <br /> <br />If I need clothes I go to a clothing store, if I need food I go to a food store, if I need lumber I go to a lumber store.

   

There's a good reason to go to stores that specialize in only a few types of products - expertise. <br /> <br />Construction store employees can tell you the best tool for a job. They can recommend the best paint to put on your new deck. They know whether you need galvanized nails or not. <br /> <br />Quite simply, a store that specializes in nothing is bound to have expertise in nothing. No offense to Walmart employees, but to be honest, I wouldn't learn about Walmart products if I worked for $6/hour.

   

[QUOTE BY= Reverend Blair]I need food I go to a food store, if I need lumber I go to a lumber store.[/QUOTE] <br /> <br />[QUOTE BY= Kory Yamashita] Construction store employees can tell you the best tool for a job. They can recommend the best paint to put on your new deck. They know whether you need galvanized nails or not.[/QUOTE] <br /> <br />Are you guys talking about <a href="http://www.companypay.com/executive/compensation/the_home_depot_inc.asp">HomeDepot?</a> <br /> <br />(hoho haha) <br /> <br />

   

robert_fisher, thanks for reminding me how much I truly hate big box stores...

   

Actually, I hate Home Depot too. Why would anybody keep their lumber inside so you have to load in on a cart, then load it on a truck? I hate doing things twice. <br /> <br />Besides, Home Dept, Revy's etc aren't lumber stores or building supply stores, they are Home Centres...designed for people who don't realise that Bob Vila is just an ice cream salesman who caught a lucky break. <br /> <br />I tend to go to McDiarmid Lumber. They are local and their prices are the same as the big guys. Their staff tend to know local codes and they have access to local products.

   

[QUOTE BY= Reverend Blair] Besides, Home Dept, Revy's etc aren't lumber stores or building supply stores, they are Home Centres...designed for people who don't realise that Bob Vila is just an ice cream salesman who caught a lucky break.[/QUOTE] <br /> <br />Well, as much as Home Depot is ruining the little guy, I can't agree with that statement. My dad goes to Home Depot. He has been a carpenter for just over 30 years now, who has won awards and charges more than some lawyers, after years of satisfied customers. Home Depot works well with contractors offering them benefits and express check outs. Go to Home Depot before 7AM and you will realise that it is all proffesional contractors in there. Only after 10AM and weekends do you get the yuppies and Martha Stewards (Not a spelling mistake!). "Market Steward Living" <br /> <br />Just for the record: <br />I do not support Home Depot, their bids to drive out the competition is horrible, but that's why companies have CEO's in the first place. All I am saying is that proffesional tradesmen/women do use Home Depot. Also my dad used to watch 'This Old House', but he knows that it was Norm that did all the work, and Vila that got all the credit!

   

Rona, Revelstoke and Home Hardware for me baby! No big 'merican box stores that sell rainforest wood for me! <br />

   

Since when was Rona not a box store Doc? <br /> <br />I suppose it's not American, but still!

   

Like I said, "No 'merican box stores . . .". I have nothing against box stores, just that most happen to be American owned. <br /> <br />Canadian Tire anyone . . . <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/wink.gif' alt='Wink'> <br />

   

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