Wal-Mart Workers' Black Friday Strike

[Ichinisan]

I'm disappointed with how many people say f-them, really? big companies haven't had a good enough run for the last 13 years? Who knows why someone chooses to work at Walmart but regardless they deserve some dignity and asking for better pay/benefits isn't a crazy thing.

Those positions do not deserve better pay / benefits. If they don't like it, they need to become skilled workers. There is no shortage of government-funded programs to help them gain usable skills.

 

[Ichinisan]

Red Squirrel has the numbers wrong.

The truth is Walmart is probably overstaffed, but would need to increase wages to achieve acceptable performance from a correctly sized staff. Productivity of their workers is low, and frankly the company deserves no better. Call the workers lazy if you like. The company is a bottom-feeder; it's a match made in Heaven.

This.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Yes, really. Derp

Based on what? Wikipedia says their net profit is ~$16 billion, that they employ 2 million workers, who make an average of ~$10 an hour. Even assuming that the average works just 20 hours a week for 40 weeks a year, that's about ~$14 billion a year. What do you think will happen to that profit margin when you double salaries across the board?

 

[Andrew111]

Everyday low prices....can't believe people are too stupid to understand what that means. To offer everyday low prices they have to have razor thin profit margins hence they pay unskilled labor an APPROPRIATELY low wage. Walmart has to squeeze out unnecessary costs wherever they can find it or else they wouldn't be Walmart...the king of low price shopping.

And enough with this bullshit about these poor Walmart employees...did someone put a gun to their head and force them to work there? NO...if they have virtually no valuable skills that's their problem. It just so happens Walmart has plenty of positions that don't require much intelligence or skill....otherwise plenty more of these people would be unemployed.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Everyday low prices....can't believe people are too stupid to understand what that means. To offer everyday low prices they have to have razor thin profit margins hence they pay unskilled labor an APPROPRIATELY low wage. Walmart has to squeeze out unnecessary costs wherever they can find it or else they wouldn't be Walmart...the king of low price shopping.

And enough with this bullshit about these poor Walmart employees...did someone put a gun to their head and force them to work there? NO...if they have virtually no valuable skills that's their problem. It just so happens Walmart has plenty of positions that don't require much intelligence or skill....otherwise plenty more of these people would be unemployed.

Walmart, however, could do better with a smaller, better, higher-paid staff.

This of course falls on the well-paid higher ups to actually deliver value and leadership.

I've watched 7 people fail to keep up with a one-lane coffee drive-thru, and ignore me entirely at the counter.

I've also seen a team of three handle the same assignment quickly and efficiently, and still serve customers at the counter in a reasonable time frame.

Most of the difference is a matter of training and management, but simple arithmetic says 3 people at double the wage are cheaper than 7 people. Better arithmetic says the wage need not be double to attract better people.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

And enough with this bullshit about these poor Walmart employees...did someone put a gun to their head and force them to work there? NO...if they have virtually no valuable skills that's their problem. It just so happens Walmart has plenty of positions that don't require much intelligence or skill....otherwise plenty more of these people would be unemployed.

Yep. That they pay people to be door greeters is proof that Walmart is basically picking up where the government has been slacking in terms of social welfare. If people want to fix the problem, support widespread support contraceptives and abortions across the 47%.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Everyday low prices....can't believe people are too stupid to understand what that means. To offer everyday low prices they have to have razor thin profit margins hence they pay unskilled labor an APPROPRIATELY low wage. Walmart has to squeeze out unnecessary costs wherever they can find it or else they wouldn't be Walmart...the king of low price shopping.

And enough with this bullshit about these poor Walmart employees...did someone put a gun to their head and force them to work there? NO...if they have virtually no valuable skills that's their problem. It just so happens Walmart has plenty of positions that don't require much intelligence or skill....otherwise plenty more of these people would be unemployed.

Another computer jockey that thinks he's performing brain surgery when he goes to work. 🙄

 

[lxskllr]

They don't have door greeters anymore. They got rid of that position a few moths ago, and repurposed them for other tasks.

 

[BUTCH1]

A little better, yeah. I have family members who work for them and I hear the stories.

From what I've seen (ad wise) Wal-mart, Sears, and Target will start Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving day, that IMO is just F-ing disrespectful to your employees, yea, retail involves weekends and sometimes holidays but you can't let them have one friggin day with their family's?, greedy pricks, period..

 

[lxskllr]

From what I've seen (ad wise) Wal-mart, Sears, and Target will start Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving day, that IMO is just F-ing disrespectful to your employees, yea, retail involves weekends and sometimes holidays but you can't let them have one friggin day with their family's?, greedy pricks, period..

I give Chik-fil-a much credit for sticking to their principles, and staying closed on Sunday. I'm not religious, and I think blue laws are silly, but I can respect people/companies who stick with what they believe in, and don't let the $ rule their lives/policy.

 

[Andrew111]

Another computer jockey that thinks he's performing brain surgery when he goes to work. 🙄

It's a simple fucking concept. If you don't like buying stuff at the lowest price than don't shop at Walmart....but the constantly packed parking lots at Walmart stores tells you quite a few people do want the lowest price.

 

[lxskllr]

It's a simple fucking concept. If you don't like buying stuff at the lowest price than don't shop at Walmart....but the constantly packed parking lots at Walmart stores tells you quite a few people do want the lowest price.

The Walmart near me doesn't have the lowest prices. They're on the average side of cheap, especially for groceries. I can do much better at local stores.

 

[BUTCH1]

Another computer jockey that thinks he's performing brain surgery when he goes to work. 🙄

And I'm sure those employees (or at least some) learn skills while there, someone has to do ordering, make schedules, use software, ect. Thing is that at Wally after 3 years of doing your job and getting better (hopefully) at it your still looking at shit pay and shit benefits. $20/hr is way, way off base but I cant see why these people can't be around $11.50-12.50 after three years..

 

[Andrew111]

The Walmart near me doesn't have the lowest prices. They're on the average side of cheap, especially for groceries. I can do much better at local stores.

Yeah...I was over-generalizing. I haven't shopped at Walmart in years but I don't piss on them for doing what they do best....cut down on costs and pass it on to shoppers.

EDIT: Oh wait, I take that back. I did go there a few months ago to pick up a 100lb. set of exercise weights for dirt cheap.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

It's a simple fucking concept. If you don't like buying stuff at the lowest price than don't shop at Walmart....but the constantly packed parking lots at Walmart stores tells you quite a few people do want the lowest price.

And the fact that most of them also drool on themselves and have back boobs supports the fact that people especially stupid ones shop there. What's that say about you?

 

[Andrew111]

And the fact that most of them also drool on themselves and have back boobs supports the fact that people especially stupid ones shop there. What's that say about you?

What does it say about me? I've shopped there once in the last few years to save like a hundred dollars on some weight sets. Your dumbass posts tell me you have no clue how the real world works or you're in denial. What part about discount shopping don't you understand? It means they have to pay low wages or else see their competition eat away at their customers if they don't stay ahead as far as prices.

 

[Kaido]

Along with Target and Sears, Wal-Mart has plans to open retail stores at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. Employees said they weren’t given a choice as to whether they would work on Thanksgiving and were told to do so with little warning. “They don’t care about family,” said Charlene Fletcher, a Wal-Mart associate in Duarte, Calif. She said she is expected to report for work at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Well that's kind of horrible D:

I think Wal-mart is in a difficult position too...it sounds like they weren't planning on opening on Thanksgiving, but since their competitors are doing it, they have to play the game too in order to stay competitive. And so then their employees got slapped with a last-minute holiday work-hours notice. I hope they at least get holiday pay 🙁

 

[spidey07]

Don't show up for work is automatic termination at most places. They're fired and it would be incredibly easy to find replacements. Their labor is worth exactly what they're getting paid, jack and squat.

Hell, I remember I was called on christmas morning to take care of a problem. I've worked plenty of holidays, weekends, tons of hours at little to no notice...I didn't bitch...I took the money and laughed all the way to the bank. It's called WORK, not happy family fun time. GET TO WORK!

Of course you weren't given a choice on whether you want to work or not on thanksgiving - the boss can simply tell you "you're working Thanksgiving". Don't like it? You can find another job. Good luck with your firings Walmart, we normally find firing people on a Friday works best...less chance of a scene. Fits perfect, no show Thursday? Fire on Friday just in time for the holidays.

 

[Andrew111]

Hell, I remember I was called on christmas morning to take care of a problem. I've worked plenty of holidays, weekends, tons of hours at little to no notice...I didn't bitch...I took the money and laughed all the way to the bank. It's called WORK, not happy family fun time. GET TO WORK!

Yep...if you want the job you do what has to be done. I didn't bitch and moan when I worked 24 hour shifts at an operations center on Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. This was the military though so no overtime, lol.

 

[Ichinisan]

I hope they at least get holiday pay 🙁

They will, of course. Overtime + holiday pay could mean they earn double.

 

[Ichinisan]

Yep...if you want the job you do what has to be done. I didn't bitch and moan when I worked 24 hour shifts at an operations center on Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. This was the military though so no overtime, lol.

You should have gone on strike!

 

[Fingolfin269]

Shoppers can boycott too. If you don't like what's going on at WM then don't shop there.

 

[spidey07]

Yep...if you want the job you do what has to be done. I didn't bitch and moan when I worked 24 hour shifts at an operations center on Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. This was the military though so no overtime, lol.

More a matter of if you want to move ahead and not be stuck working the same job at the same wage. If I was a walmart employee I'd say "sure I'll work thanksgiving...I'll come in early, open the store, make sure we're ready, organize security beforehand, and if you want I can have a few of my buddies who wouldn't mind the extra work on standby if we need them, etc. After the store sales are very successful, we can talk about my promotion. If not, I'm sure there are plenty of other stores who would value a go getter like me."

But no, these guys are bitching about how it "isn't fair". This is opportunity smacking them dead in the forehead.

 

[tokie]

I don't understand these people.

If you work at Wal-Mart presumably you have no skills for a better job. So take what you can get.

If you don't like it, then get an education and a better job.

 

[BUTCH1]

More a matter of if you want to move ahead and not be stuck working the same job at the same wage. If I was a walmart employee I'd say "sure I'll work thanksgiving...I'll come in early, open the store, make sure we're ready, organize security beforehand, and if you want I can have a few of my buddies on standby if we need them, etc. After the store sales are very successful, we can talk about my promotion. If not, I'm sure there are plenty of other stores who would value a go getter like me."

But no, these guys are bitching about how it "isn't fair". This is opportunity smacking them dead in the forehead.

Your "volunteering" would be meaningless as your being "told" your working thanksgiving, and what kind of "buddy" want's to leave his/her family to go hang at a Wal-mart on Thanksgiving day, as your "standby" geez, one fucking day of the year isn't asking for too much "happy family fun time" IMO..