Losers in the unions vs. Wal-Mart game: D.C.'s poor (UPDATE)

[woolfe9998]

It really seems like a dumb idea to me. Sure it applies to all large retailers, but even then it seems like a bad plan. While I think WalMart is a terrible business I don't think that this legislation is a good answer.

I don't either, but people were saying it only applied to Walmart, and I wanted to correct that for the record. More importantly, however, it doesn't look like the mayor will sign it.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The bill applies to "large retailers," not just Walmart.

In any event, it's moot as it looks like the mayor will veto it anyway:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...7aae38-eb24-11e2-a301-ea5a8116d211_story.html

However, only WalMart fits the requirements of the bill.
They can not word the bill to target WalMart itself.

As someone else stated; to target McDonalds; all one has to state is any company that uses golden arches for advertisement will be handled in a certain way.

The problem now is that the can of worms has been opened and it WILL give any decent size employer concerns about moving into/expanding within the DC borders.
This was proposed once; it can easily be proposed again. And then there may be a Barry at the helm ready to turn on the pump.

 

[woolfe9998]

The problem now is that the can of worms has been opened and it WILL give any decent size employer concerns about moving into/expanding within the DC borders.
This was proposed once; it can easily be proposed again. And then there may be a Barry at the helm ready to turn on the pump.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. Who knows. I'm just reporting the facts.

 

[Patranus]

Look at me, I'm a businessman.

I have plans for a store that I estimate will make $10,000k in profits per year after five years.
Then a law changes, and I only stand to make $1,000k in profits per year after five years.

Some might say $1k in profits is better than $0k in profits, using basic mathematics. But I guess I'll just spite myself and not open the store! LIBERALS!!!!

Or you could just open the store somewhere else and make $10,000 in profits

 

[berzerker60]

Or you could just open the store somewhere else and make $10,000 in profits

If that's true, then you're absolutely right, the opportunity cost of the new store would be high. But it's not like there's unlimited room to expand if you're Walmart. They already have stores in a LOT of places, and they're bound to be at the point of diminishing returns on new store locations. DC, meanwhile, has no Walmarts within 30 miles and more population than some entire states within a small area with good public transit, which is a BIG opportunity. There's a reason they've been fighting to be allowed to build stores for years and have already made tons of concessions, such as promising to not sell guns and to bring fresh produce at low prices to areas without adequate food options. I suspect the DC council is completely right - Walmart needs them a lot more than they need Walmart. It's just a matter of exactly how far they can press their luck before Walmart backs out entirely, but it's not like this is some crazy curveball, it's a legitimate negotiation.

 

[waggy]

Or you could just open the store somewhere else and make $10,000 in profits

also the cost of continuing to do business after these shenanigans is not a good idea.

it will give others more balls to try it.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Are you seriously attempting to argue that the author meant to talk only about those workers that are part time contract employees as opposed to all contract employees? That strains credulity.

I will admit that it is poorly phrased, but the intent of the statement is obvious, particularly within the scope of the larger article.

someonesmind will almost certainly abandon this thread and never come back and address the fact that he talked shit to me about not researching something when he clearly had no idea what he was talking about.

b-b-b-bullshit. Your editorial article isn't much of a "Research" on employee statistics. Nice try though.

 

[justoh]

Sure, quality of life means different things to different people. Generally the Nordic countries outdo the US by most measures, but it isn't only them. I don't think I've seen a single quality of life measure that ranks France above the US though, so you're right on that.

Switzerland has a quality of life comparable to the nordic countries, yet with low taxes. While they have no min wage, employers voluntarily pay people enough to live on comfortably. Medium to high end jobs even give a 13th pay cheque to cover the tax bill, as standard, without government coercion.

 

[fskimospy]

b-b-b-bullshit. Your editorial article isn't much of a "Research" on employee statistics. Nice try though.

You are so full of shit. You claimed that a significant portion of CostCo's employees were contractors or otherwise. I've shown you otherwise, you've shown nothing.

You know you were wrong, you're just trying to salvage a little bit of dignity. If you can show me that what I linked before about CostCo isn't accurate, please do so. I want to see some real numbers.

There's this magical thing called research, I want to see you do it, dumbass.

 

[Lithium381]

Switzerland has a quality of life comparable to the nordic countries, yet with low taxes. While they have no min wage, employers voluntarily pay people enough to live on comfortably. Medium to high end jobs even give a 13th pay cheque to cover the tax bill, as standard, without government coercion.

a single person can comfortably live on those wages? what about a mother with 3 or 4 children and the father(s) are nowhere in sight? i have a feeling that the social constructs are a bit different over there. .

 

[sandorski]

...and how many Business Owners and their Employees are going to lose their Incomes?

 

[buckshot24]

Lol. Just watched the whole thing. That was great -especially the topless scene!

That was an added bonus.

Love that episode. Especially when Penn gets mad and says something about fucking those two shirt makers in the neck.

 

[buckshot24]

The problem with "livable wages" are that they totally subjective. What might be good enough for one isn't anywhere near good enough for another. Some people can't live on 100k a year because they spend too much.

Another problem is the forcing of a specific wage will make it much harder for people who aren't able to provide enough value to their company to justify the specific wage to find work. I saw a report about the Goodwill stores employing disabled people for below minimum wage. My facebook friends were outraged and wanted to force Goodwill to pay at least minimum wage. What they don't realize is that if you force this company to pay people who can't provide enough work output minimum wage then you've just gotten all of these people fired.

 

[buckshot24]

A grocery bagging job isn't meant to provide a person with a "livable wage" anyway. A fry cook isn't supposed to make enough money to support himself. A teenager working 15 hours a week doesn't need a "livable wage" either.

 

[sandorski]

A grocery bagging job isn't meant to provide a person with a "livable wage" anyway. A fry cook isn't supposed to make enough money to support himself. A teenager working 15 hours a week doesn't need a "livable wage" either.

Says who?

 

[Patranus]

Says who?

Says the demand for their skills.

 

[Patranus]

The reality is that the Democrats need a to establish a permeant underclass for their policies to succeed/stay in power. Policies like this does just that.

 

[waggy]

Says who?

the fact its a basic intro level job. there is a reason the majority are kids adn retired people.

I find it funny people think putting shit in bags deserves the same "livable wage" as jobs you need to go to college for.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

The problem with "livable wages" are that they totally subjective. What might be good enough for one isn't anywhere near good enough for another. Some people can't live on 100k a year because they spend too much.

Another problem is the forcing of a specific wage will make it much harder for people who aren't able to provide enough value to their company to justify the specific wage to find work. I saw a report about the Goodwill stores employing disabled people for below minimum wage. My facebook friends were outraged and wanted to force Goodwill to pay at least minimum wage. What they don't realize is that if you force this company to pay people who can't provide enough work output minimum wage then you've just gotten all of these people fired.

the other problem is that liberals like to presume that ALL jobs, no matter how menial or unskilled, should pay someone a "livable wage".

 

[berzerker60]

the other problem is that liberals like to presume that ALL jobs, no matter how menial or unskilled, should pay someone a "livable wage".

Yeah let's scale back these anti-capitalism laws and put kids back in the mines, women back in the textile mills, and pay them each a nickel a day! We'll take those manufacturing jobs back, darn it! 14 hour work days 7 days/week! Unemployment will plummet!

 

[waggy]

Yeah let's scale back these anti-capitalism laws and put kids back in the mines, women back in the textile mills, and pay them each a nickel a day! We'll take those manufacturing jobs back, darn it! 14 hour work days 7 days/week! Unemployment will plummet!

You are a idiot.

nobody is saying that.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Yeah let's scale back these anti-capitalism laws and put kids back in the mines, women back in the textile mills, and pay them each a nickel a day! We'll take those manufacturing jobs back, darn it! 14 hour work days 7 days/week! Unemployment will plummet!

Should a bagger make the same wage as a cashier? Why.

They have different values to the company and require different skill sets. One is more complex and valuable to the company.

Defining the wage is not the same as defining the work conditions and/or hours.

 

[spacejamz]

Should a bagger make the same wage as a cashier? Why.

They have different values to the company and require different skill sets. One is more complex and valuable to the company.

Defining the wage is not the same as defining the work conditions and/or hours.

why stop there? the sackers should make the same amount as the butchers/sea food guys, right???

 

[Matt1970]

^ This, and by the way Wallmart has a history of this behavior and threats. I just think people need to tell them to shove off. Seriously, if you can't pay people a decent living wage, the people end up picking up the damn tab having to help those up who are dependent on food stamps and other services to just live and get by.

Fuck Walmart..seriously

Well, go into Walmart and tell their workers they are being treated unfairly. See how many of them quit.

 

[Matt1970]

Remember, the Unions that fight Walmart demanding higher wages and benefits have to hire non-union workers to picket. They pay them minimum wage.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-september-20-2010/working-stiffed