Another call to raise the minimum wage

[judasmachine]

Wally World Article

I'm flabergasted, and speechless. But the rules say I have to say something, so...

I guess if anyone can afford a new minimum wage it's WallyWorld.

 

[Engineer]

WalMart has a somewhat tarnished image and have started a much biger campaine to right the ship. Health insurance rumblings yesterday....minimum wage increase calls today. Publicity stunt, IMO.

 

[judasmachine]

"I find it disingenuous and laughable that Lee Scott makes these remarks while the company hires lobbyist such as Lee Culpepper who oppose raising the minimum wage," Sefl said.

That line is a little weird. But maybe the lobbyist (by virtue of being a lobbyist ie mercenary) will say anything for the money.

and I kind of agree with you engineer, and am no sam walton fan, but wallyworld starts (at least here in the TX panhandle) at about 7.50 to 8.00/hour which is above even the democrats suggestion of 7.15/hour so it wouldn't affect them much.

 

[tommywishbone]

Clearly a scheme to steal money from orphans. I'll get back to you when I have the details...

 

[Pabster]

OMG I actually agree 100% with Engineer on this.

 

[Todd33]

Walmart is in full PR swing. They are blasting NPR with feel good sponsorships. Why do good when you can just sell an image?

 

[Stunt]

Walmart should set the example and pay their employees 'fair' compensation; work on your own backyard before you criticize your neighbours!

Hell, they employ 1.7million people.

 

[cwjerome]

Why wouldn't WalMart be for it?

Huge companies love regs, taxes, licenses, fees, and hoops in general because it helps keep them safe from competition. They can afford such demands.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: judasmachine
Wally World Article

I'm flabergasted, and speechless. But the rules say I have to say something, so...

I guess if anyone can afford a new minimum wage it's WallyWorld.

Republicans have been against the lower class getting anymore so it doesn't have much chance even with Wally World's backing.

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: judasmachine
Wally World Article

I'm flabergasted, and speechless. But the rules say I have to say something, so...

I guess if anyone can afford a new minimum wage it's WallyWorld.

Republicans have been against the lower class getting anymore so it doesn't have much chance even with Wally World's backing.

yeah you're probably right, and like i pointed out they pay better than the current 5.15/hour minimum wage anyway.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Republicans have been against the lower class getting anymore so it doesn't have much chance even with Wally World's backing.

Look who Wally World donates money to in Arkansas...

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: judasmachine
Wally World Article

I'm flabergasted, and speechless. But the rules say I have to say something, so...

I guess if anyone can afford a new minimum wage it's WallyWorld.

Considering walmart is paying most of people above minimum wage, I dont understand why they are making this call. Walmart at any time could define and publish its own minimim wage....

Seems like only a pr move..

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: judasmachine
Wally World Article

I'm flabergasted, and speechless. But the rules say I have to say something, so...

I guess if anyone can afford a new minimum wage it's WallyWorld.

Considering walmart is paying most of people above minimum wage, I dont understand why they are making this call. Walmart at any time could define and publish its own minimim wage....

Seems like only a pr move..

They didn't mention for their employees...it was mentioned for their "customers".

Our customers simply don't have the money to buy basic necessities between pay checks."

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: judasmachine
Wally World Article

I'm flabergasted, and speechless. But the rules say I have to say something, so...

I guess if anyone can afford a new minimum wage it's WallyWorld.

Considering walmart is paying most of people above minimum wage, I dont understand why they are making this call. Walmart at any time could define and publish its own minimim wage....

Seems like only a pr move..

They didn't mention for their employees...it was mentioned for their "customers".

Our customers simply don't have the money to buy basic necessities between pay checks."

This situation would also be helped if Wal-mart insisted that its goods were manufactured where its customers lived instead of in China.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: judasmachine
Wally World Article

I'm flabergasted, and speechless. But the rules say I have to say something, so...

I guess if anyone can afford a new minimum wage it's WallyWorld.

Considering walmart is paying most of people above minimum wage, I dont understand why they are making this call. Walmart at any time could define and publish its own minimim wage....

Seems like only a pr move..

They didn't mention for their employees...it was mentioned for their "customers".

Our customers simply don't have the money to buy basic necessities between pay checks."

That is bit of a bogus response as well. The number of people that only make minimum wage is only 1-2% of the population. Basic economics has been moving starting wages up since minimum has not been adjusted in some time.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: charrison


That is bit of a bogus response as well. The number of people that only make minimum wage is only 1-2% of the population. Basic economics has been moving starting wages up since minimum has not been adjusted in some time.

While I agree with you on that one, a raise in minimum wage tends to drive others up as well. If you're making several dollars above minimum wage and suddenly, minimum wage is bumped to what you're currently making, usually you push (and mostly get) a wage increase too or you have the power to leave easier as you're on a even field again. I have seen this happen while working at Kroger where others that were making more than minimum wage had similar jumps in pay when minimum wage was increased.

 

[Engineer]

Sorry, DP.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: charrison


That is bit of a bogus response as well. The number of people that only make minimum wage is only 1-2% of the population. Basic economics has been moving starting wages up since minimum has not been adjusted in some time.

While I agree with you on that one, a raise in minimum wage tends to drive others up as well. If you're making several dollars above minimum wage and suddenly, minimum wage is bumped to what you're currently making, usually you push (and mostly get) a wage increase too or you have the power to leave easier as you're on a even field again. I have seen this happen while working at Kroger where others that were making more than minimum wage had similar jumps in pay when minimum wage was increased.

Yes and it artifically inflates the price of labor. Bump the price of minimum wage too much and more clerks will be replaced by self checkout lanes and other such productivty enhancements.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: EatSpam
This situation would also be helped if Wal-mart insisted that its goods were manufactured where its customers lived instead of in China.

Perhaps the blame is left to the American Consumer, as I've stated numerous times. Wal-Mart wouldn't be importing and selling all those chinese goods if people weren't buying them. Money talks, Americans are driven by the almighty dollar, an extra couple bucks for an American product just "isn't worth it" to most. (Sadly)

 

[MicroChrome]

I think wallmart should try outsourcing.... It's working for the government...

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: charrison


That is bit of a bogus response as well. The number of people that only make minimum wage is only 1-2% of the population. Basic economics has been moving starting wages up since minimum has not been adjusted in some time.

While I agree with you on that one, a raise in minimum wage tends to drive others up as well. If you're making several dollars above minimum wage and suddenly, minimum wage is bumped to what you're currently making, usually you push (and mostly get) a wage increase too or you have the power to leave easier as you're on a even field again. I have seen this happen while working at Kroger where others that were making more than minimum wage had similar jumps in pay when minimum wage was increased.

Yes and it artifically inflates the price of labor. Bump the price of minimum wage too much and more clerks will be replaced by self checkout lanes and other such productivty enhancements.

As technical advances become cheaper (PC's, scanners, self checking stations), that's going to occur more anyway. Besides, I love the self checkout lanes and use them where I can find them. I might as well scan and bag it as I unload it.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: charrison


That is bit of a bogus response as well. The number of people that only make minimum wage is only 1-2% of the population. Basic economics has been moving starting wages up since minimum has not been adjusted in some time.

While I agree with you on that one, a raise in minimum wage tends to drive others up as well. If you're making several dollars above minimum wage and suddenly, minimum wage is bumped to what you're currently making, usually you push (and mostly get) a wage increase too or you have the power to leave easier as you're on a even field again. I have seen this happen while working at Kroger where others that were making more than minimum wage had similar jumps in pay when minimum wage was increased.

Yes and it artifically inflates the price of labor. Bump the price of minimum wage too much and more clerks will be replaced by self checkout lanes and other such productivty enhancements.

As technical advances become cheaper (PC's, scanners, self checking stations), that's going to occur more anyway. Besides, I love the self checkout lanes and use them where I can find them. I might as well scan and bag it as I unload it.

I agree and the result of that technology is the person in charge of marshalling 4 self checkouts if probably paid a good deal more(while doing less work!) than normal checkers.

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: EatSpam
This situation would also be helped if Wal-mart insisted that its goods were manufactured where its customers lived instead of in China.

Perhaps the blame is left to the American Consumer, as I've stated numerous times. Wal-Mart wouldn't be importing and selling all those chinese goods if people weren't buying them. Money talks, Americans are driven by the almighty dollar, an extra couple bucks for an American product just "isn't worth it" to most. (Sadly)

I agree with you somewhat, but its often that I cannot find an American made good, even if I look. If I absolutely need the product, there's no American made choice. For exmple, I used to exclusively buy SuperMicro motherboards because they were US-made. Not really an option any more.

The point I was trying to make, however, was that it is in Wal-mart's interest to have an American consumer with money in their pocket. If they were to pay Americans to make their goods, despite the cheaper Chinese alternative, more Americans would have money to spend in their stores. At some point, the downward spiral will even affect Wal-mart.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: EatSpam
This situation would also be helped if Wal-mart insisted that its goods were manufactured where its customers lived instead of in China.

Perhaps the blame is left to the American Consumer, as I've stated numerous times. Wal-Mart wouldn't be importing and selling all those chinese goods if people weren't buying them. Money talks, Americans are driven by the almighty dollar, an extra couple bucks for an American product just "isn't worth it" to most. (Sadly)

I agree with you somewhat, but its often that I cannot find an American made good, even if I look. If I absolutely need the product, there's no American made choice. For exmple, I used to exclusively buy SuperMicro motherboards because they were US-made. Not really an option any more.

The point I was trying to make, however, was that it is in Wal-mart's interest to have an American consumer with money in their pocket. If they were to pay Americans to make their goods, despite the cheaper Chinese alternative, more Americans would have money to spend in their stores. At some point, the downward spiral will even affect Wal-mart.

The only problem is that you cannot take away offshore manufacturing. It will exist and someone will take advantage of it, if not walmart someone else will.

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: EatSpam
This situation would also be helped if Wal-mart insisted that its goods were manufactured where its customers lived instead of in China.

Perhaps the blame is left to the American Consumer, as I've stated numerous times. Wal-Mart wouldn't be importing and selling all those chinese goods if people weren't buying them. Money talks, Americans are driven by the almighty dollar, an extra couple bucks for an American product just "isn't worth it" to most. (Sadly)

I agree with you somewhat, but its often that I cannot find an American made good, even if I look. If I absolutely need the product, there's no American made choice. For exmple, I used to exclusively buy SuperMicro motherboards because they were US-made. Not really an option any more.

The point I was trying to make, however, was that it is in Wal-mart's interest to have an American consumer with money in their pocket. If they were to pay Americans to make their goods, despite the cheaper Chinese alternative, more Americans would have money to spend in their stores. At some point, the downward spiral will even affect Wal-mart.

The only problem is that you cannot take away offshore manufacturing. It will exist and someone will take advantage of it, if not walmart someone else will.

True enough, but Wal-mart is currently the biggest fish in the retail sea. If they were to say "Make it in the USA", the companies would. As a bonus, you'd see a lot more American products at Target and K-Mart, as well. I think this would be good for America, far better than any magical economic theory about how losing millions of jobs is good for your average American citizen.