Walmart shutting down a store in Quebec on verge of unionizing

[Richard]

http://www.thestreet.com/_googlen/stocks/retail/10208246.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA

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EXCELLENT NEWS.  Those morons can now go unemployed.  Just because unions have managed to drag all the airlines and western car manufacturers down the toilet doesn't mean they have to drag Walmart down too.

I applaud Walmart's decision.

[KEmperor]

I saw that.  They shouldn't have tried to unionize.....

[angus]

qu'elle mauvaise, mon ami.

I don't think I've been to that particular store, but any time a Wal-Mart shuts down for any reason is a bad day.

I lower my French Walmart banner to half mast on this day.  And as a show of solidarity, I shall lower my Spanish and English Walmart banners to half-mast as well.

Low Prices.  Everyday. 

But not for the good people of Jonquiere 

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

So in other words only corporations should have the ability to throw their weight around?

I have little sympathy for modern labor unions, but such blatant scorched earth union-busting is abhorent to me.  It's an obvious short-term  tactical victory for Wal-Mart, but it may cost the company in the long term.  If the perception ever becomes widely established that Wal-Mart's detremental effect in lowering wages is greater than its beneficial effect in lowering prices,  (regardless of whether that perception is true or not) then Wal-Mart will have serious problems.  Furthermore, Wal-Mart has been able to appease the wage demands of its workers with its stock, but Wal-Mart can't be a growth company forever.  When the inevitable plateau occurs, Wal-Mart will start to crumple in upon itself as wage pressures will either cause its costs to increase or its labor quality to decrease.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Disgusting. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for Walmart in Canada.

[opebo]

I saw that.  They shouldn't have tried to unionize.....

Why not?  Working at WalMart without a union is not preferable to being unemployed.  Have you seen what they pay people?

[WalterMitty]

kudos to wal mart!

they actually have the nerve to stand up to the unions.

ipersonally, id never shop at a unionized store of any kind. 

[minionofmidas]

...while you won't catch me at Wal-Mart. Or McDonald's.
It's not because they're not unionized - most supermarkets and indeed most sh**tty jobs aren't - it's because they use such tactics.
Oh, and also because of the smell of most McDonald's "restaurants".

[Filuwaúrdjan]

They wouldn't get away wi' this over here...

Walter: you may or may not have noticed this but it isn't the Unions playing the bully here...

[minionofmidas]

They wouldn't get away wi' this over here...

McDonalds Germany have been pretty radical in their attempts to stop the Betriebsrat from functioning.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

They wouldn't get away wi' this over here...

McDonalds Germany have been pretty radical in their attempts to stop the Betriebsrat from functioning.

I dunno what McDonalds do about that over here (I'd rather not know...) but if Walmart's U.K whore (Asda) tried the closure trick over here there'd be uproar.

[Storebought]

I support WalMart's decision. Why should the employees unionize if they are only performing simple service work? BTW, this goes for federal government employees as well.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I support WalMart's decision. Why should the employees unionize if they are only performing simple service work? BTW, this goes for federal government employees as well.

Because they're underpayed and treated like trash?

[Storebought]

I support WalMart's decision. Why should the employees unionize if they are only performing simple service work? BTW, this goes for federal government employees as well.

Because they're underpayed and treated like trash?

That's not a legitimate reason for unionization. Their health isn't threatened from day-to-day work (like coal miners); their working conditions dangerous (like roustabouts on oil platforms); their work days aren't exhaustively long and draining (like hospital doctors and nurses).

As far as underpayed goes: they are paid what semi-skilled and low-skilled service employees are typically paid (which is what I make as a grad student). Employees "Treated like trash" can be found in any work environment--do you think the secretaries enjoy working for Donald Trump?

If I were a cynic, I'd suspect the WalMart employees merely tried to extort money from the corporation with the threat of unionization. Good for WalMart that they aren't so easily bullied.

[Storebought]

At my Wal Mart its mostly younger workers and older workers.  They are there for some extra cash.  Its not like they are down in the coalmines for eighteen hours a day, six days a week.
And the oldsters I see working there are usually happy and cracking jokes, its nice to see them, they do not whine at all.

Probably b/c those oldsters remember what a real job was like back when they were growing up: Work lasted as long as the sun was out, at 50 cents an hour. And, damned if you complained about it, either with fellow employees or random strangers.

I imagine for a few (not all) of them, working at WalMart is itself an easy retirement.

[Shira]

"What's good for Wall-Mart is good for America". That's what naive people really believe.

[Richard]

Disgusting. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for Walmart in Canada.

Very unlikely.  Walmart is doing great just about everywhere it is.  I know I shop at Walmart a lot.  If other people can't give me low prices, well, screw them.

[Richard]

I support WalMart's decision. Why should the employees unionize if they are only performing simple service work? BTW, this goes for federal government employees as well.

Because they're underpayed and treated like trash?

Then walk away and find another job.  You don't have a right to work for Walmart: Walmart has a right to pick its employees.

[opebo]

If I were a cynic, I'd suspect the WalMart employees merely tried to extort money from the corporation with the threat of unionization.

What the devil do you think unions are for?! 

Corporations desire to pay workers as little as possible, and workers desire to be payed more than that - the union is how they attempt to do so.  Why would they not attempt to recieve more than a subsistence level wage?

[opebo]

At my Wal Mart its mostly younger workers and older workers.  They are there for some extra cash.  Its not like they are down in the coalmines for eighteen hours a day, six days a week.
And the oldsters I see working there are usually happy and cracking jokes, its nice to see them, they do not whine at all.

Probably b/c those oldsters remember what a real job was like back when they were growing up: Work lasted as long as the sun was out, at 50 cents an hour. And, damned if you complained about it, either with fellow employees or random strangers.

No, back when people who are currently old were in their 'prime', unionization was at record high levels as a percentage of the work force, and wages and benefits were much, much better than now.  It was the Post WW II boom, and redistribution was the name of the game.

[Richard]

If I were a cynic, I'd suspect the WalMart employees merely tried to extort money from the corporation with the threat of unionization.

What the devil do you think unions are for?! 

Corporations desire to pay workers as little as possible, and workers desire to be payed more than that - the union is how they attempt to do so.  Why would they not attempt to recieve more than a subsistence level wage?

I'm not against them doing it, but an employer should have the right to refuse to deal with a union (unless he signed a contract), and he should have the right to not hire any union employees, and he should have the right to fire union employees.

[Storebought]

At my Wal Mart its mostly younger workers and older workers.  They are there for some extra cash.  Its not like they are down in the coalmines for eighteen hours a day, six days a week.
And the oldsters I see working there are usually happy and cracking jokes, its nice to see them, they do not whine at all.

Probably b/c those oldsters remember what a real job was like back when they were growing up: Work lasted as long as the sun was out, at 50 cents an hour. And, damned if you complained about it, either with fellow employees or random strangers.

No, back when people who are currently old were in their 'prime', unionization was at record high levels as a percentage of the work force, and wages and benefits were much, much better than now.  It was the Post WW II boom, and redistribution was the name of the game.

So, you're saying that workers who made big from unionized income redistribution then are now forced to work for subsistence wages today in WalMart, or McDonalds, or wherever?

Not to mention, people really do learn their work habits when young, and most old people today got started working when they were really, really young--8, 9, 10 years old picking beans and stawberries, etc.

Coupled with the fact that those old people really do enjoy their time out in WalMart (working for 4 hour shifts at normal pay) makes that last post of yours truly incoherent.

[opebo]

At my Wal Mart its mostly younger workers and older workers.  They are there for some extra cash.  Its not like they are down in the coalmines for eighteen hours a day, six days a week.
And the oldsters I see working there are usually happy and cracking jokes, its nice to see them, they do not whine at all.

Probably b/c those oldsters remember what a real job was like back when they were growing up: Work lasted as long as the sun was out, at 50 cents an hour. And, damned if you complained about it, either with fellow employees or random strangers.

No, back when people who are currently old were in their 'prime', unionization was at record high levels as a percentage of the work force, and wages and benefits were much, much better than now.  It was the Post WW II boom, and redistribution was the name of the game.

So, you're saying that workers who made big from unionized income redistribution then are now forced to work for subsistence wages today in WalMart, or McDonalds, or wherever?

Coupled with the fact that those old people really do enjoy their time out in WalMart (working for 4 hour shifts at normal pay) makes that last post of yours truly incoherent.

It is only incoherent if you put words in my mouth.  No, I was making the point that old people remember a previous era when jobs were better, and unions more prevalent, not the converse.

In fact I hardly ever see any old people or teenagers working in Walmart - it is mostly the 20 to 50 year old working poor.  And I have never seen anything but misery in the eyes of a Walmart worker.  A friend of mine used to call them (and anyone trapped in a subhuman existence) 'Potato People'.

[Storebought]

At my Wal Mart its mostly younger workers and older workers.  They are there for some extra cash.  Its not like they are down in the coalmines for eighteen hours a day, six days a week.
And the oldsters I see working there are usually happy and cracking jokes, its nice to see them, they do not whine at all.

Probably b/c those oldsters remember what a real job was like back when they were growing up: Work lasted as long as the sun was out, at 50 cents an hour. And, damned if you complained about it, either with fellow employees or random strangers.

No, back when people who are currently old were in their 'prime', unionization was at record high levels as a percentage of the work force, and wages and benefits were much, much better than now.  It was the Post WW II boom, and redistribution was the name of the game.

So, you're saying that workers who made big from unionized income redistribution then are now forced to work for subsistence wages today in WalMart, or McDonalds, or wherever?

Coupled with the fact that those old people really do enjoy their time out in WalMart (working for 4 hour shifts at normal pay) makes that last post of yours truly incoherent.

It is only incoherent if you put words in my mouth.  No, I was making the point that old people remember a previous era when jobs were better, and unions more prevalent, not the converse.

In fact I hardly ever see any old people or teenagers working in Walmart - it is mostly the 20 to 50 year old working poor.  And I have never seen anything but misery in the eyes of a Walmart worker.  A friend of mine used to call them (and anyone trapped in a subhuman existence) 'Potato People'.

But the whole thrust of this thread was old people, namely people near retirement or past it, working for what you think are low wages in a crappy job. I say that if the old people really do remember what life was like in unionized comfort back in the day, then why should they be so eager to (1) continue working at all, if they have the income to actually retire and (2) choose employment at a place as 'exploitative' as Wal Mart?

You don't need to go to a Wal Mart to see misery in the eyes of 20-50 year olds. Most porno theaters offer up far worse in the eyes of their customers.

[opebo]

At my Wal Mart its mostly younger workers and older workers.  They are there for some extra cash.  Its not like they are down in the coalmines for eighteen hours a day, six days a week.
And the oldsters I see working there are usually happy and cracking jokes, its nice to see them, they do not whine at all.

Probably b/c those oldsters remember what a real job was like back when they were growing up: Work lasted as long as the sun was out, at 50 cents an hour. And, damned if you complained about it, either with fellow employees or random strangers.

No, back when people who are currently old were in their 'prime', unionization was at record high levels as a percentage of the work force, and wages and benefits were much, much better than now.  It was the Post WW II boom, and redistribution was the name of the game.

So, you're saying that workers who made big from unionized income redistribution then are now forced to work for subsistence wages today in WalMart, or McDonalds, or wherever?

Coupled with the fact that those old people really do enjoy their time out in WalMart (working for 4 hour shifts at normal pay) makes that last post of yours truly incoherent.

It is only incoherent if you put words in my mouth.  No, I was making the point that old people remember a previous era when jobs were better, and unions more prevalent, not the converse.

In fact I hardly ever see any old people or teenagers working in Walmart - it is mostly the 20 to 50 year old working poor.  And I have never seen anything but misery in the eyes of a Walmart worker.  A friend of mine used to call them (and anyone trapped in a subhuman existence) 'Potato People'.

But the whole thrust of this thread was old people, namely people near retirement or past it, working for what you think are low wages in a crappy job. I say that if the old people really do remember what life was like in unionized comfort back in the day, then why should they be so eager to (1) continue working at all, if they have the income to actually retire and (2) choose employment at a place as 'exploitative' as Wal Mart?

You don't need to go to a Wal Mart to see misery in the eyes of 20-50 year olds. Most porno theaters offer up far worse in the eyes of their customers.

I never said that workers at walmart were old.  You did.  What I was refuting was your claim that old people would see a $6.50/hr job as a good thing.  Union jobs were paying that much an hour in the mid 1960's, when a typical house cost $15,000 or so!

As for porno viewers.. that's not misery you see, that's arousal.  What're you doing in there looking into guys eyes anyway?