Walmart workers to strike?

[Lumber_Jack]

C'mon, think Walmart style -- they'll be happy to take their welfare money as customers.

- OS

Yeah, fire em, then sell em $100 worth of shit

[Oh Shoot]

No case be made my job was being performed and nothing do but sit here and watch this CNC machine run thru its paces at 100%

 

Yep, without the union, you'd be watching three, and they'd actually get their money's worth!

[TripleDigitRide]

Yep, without the union, you'd be watching three, and they'd actually get their money's worth!

So would the consumer.

[jphillips63]

Yep, without the union, you'd be watching three, and they'd actually get their money's worth!

Some jobs in this plant operators have 2 machines but some jobs such as mine is less productive with more than just one machine. Unless you are in this environment its much easier sit on outside and make judgment to what others do and how they perform there jobs. Thing is I work on parts for planes that cost more than most of you guys homes.

sent from my Droid RAZR Maxx HD using Tapatalk 2

[Mark A]

Among the many things Walmart is not scared of are unions and the .gov. Walmart has the cash to go toe to toe for as long as it takes.

Many unions have had reputations for thuggery. Let them try to get between the core group at Walmart and their profits. Those Arkansas hillbillies will teach them a harsh lesson about survival.

You know who respects Walmart? The Chinese gvmt. That should tell you something because there isn't much in the world that make the Chinese think about consequences...

Mark

[Guest 6.8 AR]

The problem with the Walmart crowd, who wish to strike, is that they are putting the cart before the horse. If they had a union,

and would quit letting SEIU thugs egg them on, then they might be able to strike. Striking will only kill the horse they're riding,

at this point, and Walmart will probably close a few stores and get on with business. The employees have no benefit of any

protection under a labor agreement unless they have the labor agreement first.

 

This is only people like SEIU stirring the pot. More of that community organizing crap. Petty stupid person it takes to fall into

that trap.

[Guest ThePunisher]

 
This is only people like SEIU stirring the pot. More of that community organizing crap. Petty stupid person it takes to fall into
that trap.

Well, we've seen that there are plenty of stupid people that have emerged the last 5 years.

[Mike.357]

Sorry Mike but there is something wrong with that.  If they don't like the pay rate, benefits, hours, etc, move on.  Free country. 

Unions suck companies dry, decrease productivity and lower quality.  Period.  If any worker has a serious issue of safety or other non money grab issue, there are any number of attorneys or state and fed agencies ready to swoop in and protect them.  Their time has passed.

 

 

Nothing wrong with it,  let it play out and they can see if it gets them anywhere.

[TMF]

Nothing wrong with it, let it play out and they can see if it gets them anywhere.

It will get them to the unemployment line. Not that these entitled scumbags have a problem with that.

[Rightwinger]

I can't disclose the location or company, if any of you know me and who I USED to work for which is a Union shop, then you can figure it out but there are going to be a whole bunch of union workers not working soon because they wouldn't budge on some "additional" pay structure and now they will have NO jobs.  Smart bunch of guys and gals.

 

The company was not going to touch base pay or benefits but needed some wiggle room to negotiate renewal of the contracts (automotive) and now they can all go look for new employment.  I saw the writing on the wall and got out before the rush.  I think some of them think that the location will reopen under a new company and then they can start the union again....not gonna happen.

 

The TRW folks in Lebanon are on strike right now.  I pass them every day and have to restrain myself from telling them all their number one in sign language.  Probably some of the highest paid workers in the area but nope, they want more. 

 

If it weren't for bailouts, those super productive auto workers (who run down to the mini mart and grab a beer on break or smoke dope  http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/08/chrysler-workers-canned-for-drinking-on-job-reinstated/ )

would be out of jobs.  Nope, say what you want, union shops are not the way to go and I want to thank the previous poster for making most of my points while stealing company time.

 

This one's for you....Mr. Union Worker guy

[TMF]

I can't disclose the location or company, if any of you know me and who I USED to work for which is a Union shop, then you can figure it out but there are going to be a whole bunch of union workers not working soon because they wouldn't budge on some "additional" pay structure and now they will have NO jobs. Smart bunch of guys and gals.

The company was not going to touch base pay or benefits but needed some wiggle room to negotiate renewal of the contracts (automotive) and now they can all go look for new employment. I saw the writing on the wall and got out before the rush. I think some of them think that the location will reopen under a new company and then they can start the union again....not gonna happen.

The TRW folks in Lebanon are on strike right now. I pass them every day and have to restrain myself from telling them all their number one in sign language. Probably some of the highest paid workers in the area but nope, they want more.

If it weren't for bailouts, those super productive auto workers (who run down to the mini mart and grab a beer on break or smoke dope http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/08/chrysler-workers-canned-for-drinking-on-job-reinstated/ )
would be out of jobs. Nope, say what you want, union shops are not the way to go and I want to thank the previous poster for making most of my points while stealing company time.

This one's for you....Mr. Union Worker guy

You would think union folks would understand what you're saying. Nope, they can't see clearly through their own sense of entitlement, and then blame the company for mismanagement.

[three5seven]

I agree these workers are ignorant for thinking that a strike or any type of unionization is feasible given that they are all easily replaceable. Notwithstanding, I'm confused as to when the court of popular opinion shifted from supporting the working person against big business to the polar opposite. There are a lot of Fortune 500 companies who back news agencies that spread propaganda about the pitfalls of unions. They've also been going after government workers who make much less than those who work in the private sector merely because they have decent benefits and pensions just so they don't have to provide the same to their employees. Think critically about it...

 

I fully agree that if the workers aren't happy, they need to look for other employment and leave. Nevertheless, for some it's hard to do so when Walmart came into every town 25-30 years ago and put every hardware store, supermarket, and specialty store out of business, as well as nearly killed every court square in the South and Midwest.     

[LagerHead]

nothing wrong with them striking for more money.  Good luck to them.

 

Yep. They are free to try to unionize and the company is free to resist. That's what liberty is about. 

 

Sorry Mike but there is something wrong with that.  If they don't like the pay rate, benefits, hours, etc, move on.  Free country. 

Unions suck companies dry, decrease productivity and lower quality.  Period.  If any worker has a serious issue of safety or other non money grab issue, there are any number of attorneys or state and fed agencies ready to swoop in and protect them.  Their time has passed.

 

See my above comment. Why should they not have the freedom to try to unionize? And why shouldn't Wal Mart have the freedom to fire every single one of them and blacklist them from ever working at one of their stores again? Freedom has to work both ways or it isn't freedom.

 

Either you're jealous because we union workers make good money have great insurance and a retirement package or you just don't know what you're talking about. I've worked in union shops for almost 30 yrs and I've yet to see anything as you have described happen. Companies that go belly up isn't because of a union shop and the workers it's because they lack in management and have poor business practices.
Yes there are dead beats but that may be about .01% of the union workforce. No different than any other factory that has deadbeat workers. The company I work for has a great working relationship with the union members and if they didn't want us as a union trust me they have enough money to close shop and move out. Yes this is America and those folks may be unhappy and what's wrong for wanting better working conditions more pay and benefits? Lord knows Walmart sure can afford it.
Really before you stereotype a person or persons that are union go work in a union atmosphere and you will see those guys care about there jobs there work and are good people just like many folks that work in sweat shops. Actually if truth be known union workers probably do a better job quality and productively than those non union workers.

Oh I typed this while sitting at work getting paid union wages and was still as productive as if I hadn't responded.....

 

I don't think most people who have a problem with unions have a problem with the average worker. I think their problem is the way the unions protect even that ".01%" of scumbags to the bitter end. It is also wrong to give preferential treatment and promote based on seniority rather than hard work. In that way many unions do indeed lower the quality of work. If a guy has been at a company for 20 years and he doesn't do work on the same level as someone who was hired last week, he doesn't deserve to make more, period. There is no rational justification for that kind of pay structure. 

 

Unions also pigeon hole people into their job description. Example: My brother is an electrician that worked in a union shop. He came in one day and found a ladder in his way and was about to move it. He was yelled at by his supervisor because that wasn't their job. So instead of moving a ladder - because that requires such extraordinary skill that it must belong to a single job description - the sat for eight hours, did nothing, and went home. That's not productivity any way you cut it. I have also seen similar behavior at my current job where you ask someone to do something very simple, and the answer is, "That's not my job." I disagree. Your job is whatever the hell your boss tells you to do, short of intentionally causing you injury, humiliation, or breaking the law. If you're the VP of Finance and the CEO tells you to go sweep the halls, you either sweep the halls or find a better CEO.

 

By the way, if you are offended by generalizations about unions, you might want to reconsider your generalization of non-union shops as "sweat shops." I am non union and I certainly don't work in a sweat shop by any means. I do work in a heavily unionized company though and I am not jealous. I make a very decent wage that I negotiated without the need to pay dues to someone who is going to use them to take swanky vacations in Vegas on my dime so they can "strategize" or whatever it is they do there. My salary is based on one thing one thing alone - the value I bring to the company based on the skills I possess. Like I said, you should be free to unionize if you want, no problem there. But it's an undeniable economic fact that your awesome pay, insurance, and retirement make things cost more. Again, companies are free to charge what they want union or not. But it's also a fact that a large part of the problem with the American auto industry can be traced directly to the cost of union labor and their golden parachute contracts. It's why you can buy a better Japanese car, also made in the USA, for less than the cost of a comparable American car. 

 

DIsclaimer: The opinions provided above are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this station or any of her sister stations. ;)

[TMF]

Yep. They are free to try to unionize and the company is free to resist. That's what liberty is about.


See my above comment. Why should they not have the freedom to try to unionize? And why shouldn't Wal Mart have the freedom to fire every single one of them and blacklist them from ever working at one of their stores again? Freedom has to work both ways or it isn't freedom.


I don't think most people who have a problem with unions have a problem with the average worker. I think their problem is the way the unions protect even that ".01%" of scumbags to the bitter end. It is also wrong to give preferential treatment and promote based on seniority rather than hard work. In that way many unions do indeed lower the quality of work. If a guy has been at a company for 20 years and he doesn't do work on the same level as someone who was hired last week, he doesn't deserve to make more, period. There is no rational justification for that kind of pay structure.

Unions also pigeon hole people into their job description. Example: My brother is an electrician that worked in a union shop. He came in one day and found a ladder in his way and was about to move it. He was yelled at by his supervisor because that wasn't their job. So instead of moving a ladder - because that requires such extraordinary skill that it must belong to a single job description - the sat for eight hours, did nothing, and went home. That's not productivity any way you cut it. I have also seen similar behavior at my current job where you ask someone to do something very simple, and the answer is, "That's not my job." I disagree. Your job is whatever the hell your boss tells you to do, short of intentionally causing you injury, humiliation, or breaking the law. If you're the VP of Finance and the CEO tells you to go sweep the halls, you either sweep the halls or find a better CEO.

By the way, if you are offended by generalizations about unions, you might want to reconsider your generalization of non-union shops as "sweat shops." I am non union and I certainly don't work in a sweat shop by any means. I do work in a heavily unionized company though and I am not jealous. I make a very decent wage that I negotiated without the need to pay dues to someone who is going to use them to take swanky vacations in Vegas on my dime so they can "strategize" or whatever it is they do there. My salary is based on one thing one thing alone - the value I bring to the company based on the skills I possess. Like I said, you should be free to unionize if you want, no problem there. But it's an undeniable economic fact that your awesome pay, insurance, and retirement make things cost more. Again, companies are free to charge what they want union or not. But it's also a fact that a large part of the problem with the American auto industry can be traced directly to the cost of union labor and their golden parachute contracts. It's why you can buy a better Japanese car, also made in the USA, for less than the cost of a comparable American car.

DIsclaimer: The opinions provided above are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this station or any of her sister stations. ;)

All the reasons I won't buy an American made car again. I'm tired of the BS guilt trip people lay on folks for not buying American. Eff that. I'll start buying American when Americans stop acting like entitled little brats. My wife's car is nearly 10 grand less than American made autos in its class and has a warranty 3 times the mileage. No one can convince me that unions are better when it is clear they put out a substandard product for far more than non-union competition.

[BigK]

Don't forget that union dues will eat up a percentage of their paychecks nearly equal to the average cost of living raise. Meaning a one-time negotiation for a raise may be the last actual pay bump any of them ever see. Edited September 7, 2013 by BigK

[Defender]

That's exactly right. Walmart could replace them fast, then just call the police and have them arrested for loitering.

 

Hmmm, some of them could be arrested for loitering on any given day, lol.

[Defender]

ummm, anyone remember Peterbilt?  I know lots of folks who work right down the road at the Peterbilt factory in Madison...no wait, the constant strikes caused that company to close their operation here...

[dcloudy777]

Organized labor is an obmination... and just as big an affront to the free market as slavery.

 

"Collective bargaining" is nothing more than collusion by another name. 

[TMF]

ummm, anyone remember Peterbilt? I know lots of folks who work right down the road at the Peterbilt factory in Madison...no wait, the constant strikes caused that company to close their operation here...

And I bet all those out of work folks are complaining that it's the company's fault, as if the company exists to serve the entitled masses.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Recently at our local Walmarts they are contracting people to clean and organize the shelves. Normally most Walmart workers wear whatever they want but a few weeks ago I walked in and noticed a bunch of workers wearing the same uniform. I thought it was odd for Walmart to have all their workers wear the same thing. Then I noticed on the shirts some sort of contract labor company. I can't recall the name but the name implied they were some sort of labor company.

 

The workers might want to watch what they do. I can guarantee Walmart could find a contact company to supply their work force and it would likely cost them less when you consider the cost of benefits, HR and the current crop of low productivity people working there. Not all are but I bet the vast majority are doing the bare minimum to keep the job while at the same time demanding the same as those who actually work harder.

 

Personally, if they want more pay then find a second job or find a totally new job that pays more. Heck, the military will take people who are much older now and the last time I checked the pay is and the benefits are extremely good.

[midtennchip]

Having read through this thread, it appears that few people realize that it is, at least on its face, illegal for Walmart to fire employees who go on strike. Whether or not the employees belong to a union, "concerted activity" regarding wages, benefits and working conditions are "protected activity" under the National Labor Relations Act. Walmart has already fired some of the workers, but those firings are already being challenged legally. Edited September 8, 2013 by midtennchip

[dieewigeteufel]

Recently at our local Walmarts they are contracting people to clean and organize the shelves. Normally most Walmart workers wear whatever they want but a few weeks ago I walked in and noticed a bunch of workers wearing the same uniform. I thought it was odd for Walmart to have all their workers wear the same thing. Then I noticed on the shirts some sort of contract labor company. I can't recall the name but the name implied they were some sort of labor company.
 
The workers might want to watch what they do. I can guarantee Walmart could find a contact company to supply their work force and it would likely cost them less when you consider the cost of benefits, HR and the current crop of low productivity people working there. Not all are but I bet the vast majority are doing the bare minimum to keep the job while at the same time demanding the same as those who actually work harder.
 
Personally, if they want more pay then find a second job or find a totally new job that pays more. Heck, the military will take people who are much older now and the last time I checked the pay is and the benefits are extremely good.

That's kind of already happening. We now only hire on a temporary basis. You get no benefits and if they don't like you, you're out.

[TMF]

Having read through this thread, it appears that few people realize that it is, at least on its face, illegal for Walmart to fire employees who go on strike. Whether or not the employees belong to a union, "concerted activity" regarding wages, benefits and working conditions are "protected activity" under the National Labor Relations Act. Walmart has already fired some of the workers, but those firings are already being challenged legally.

I can't believe that, in America, if your employee doesn't show up to work when they're scheduled you can't fire them. That is some socialist garbage dreamt up by socialist union pigs who crave nothing but power at the expense of business and the worker. If you don't show up to work because you're striking then a company should no longer be required to employ you. Bunch of commie nonsense.

[Trekbike]

In my experience at the company I work for, the union ends up punishing the best workers and protects the crappy workers. I've seen untold times that the company would like to reward good workers by giving them more pay or some special perk but can't due to the union. The good worker has to be treated just like the crappy worker. It takes away all the incentive to work harder and excel. This country wasn't built on socialism and to me unions promote socialistic thinking. Edited September 9, 2013 by Trekbike

[Guest The Itis]

I typically have the attitude that if you don't like your job, go elsewhere, but then you get into a labor auction situation where there is always someone willing to work for less. It's working people undercutting working people.

 

At the extreme, it could be immigrant workers undercutting domestic workers. THEN you see people flopping on their positions. THEN you see people wanting government to step in.