International Day of Action Shines Light on Abuses by Big-Box Retailers

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/11/16/international-day-of-action-shines-light-on-abuses-by-big-box-retailers/

by James Parks, Nov 16, 2007

Everywhere you look these days a new supermarket or big-box retailer is putting up a huge building and promising to create jobs. But the reality is that big-box stores such as Wal-Mart do more harm than good.

Hundreds of thousands of union, human rights and community activists on Nov. 17 will protest abuses by big-box retailers. The International Day of Action Against Supermarkets and Big-Box Retailers is being sponsored by a global coalition of groups, including United Students Against Sweatshops and the workers’ rights group, STITCH.

Across the globe, people will demand that large corporations respect human rights, workers’ rights, communities and the environment and that governments introduce new rules to curb supermarket power. Click here to learn more about the Day of Action.

There are many reasons to protest the growth of big-box retailers and supercenters such as Wal-Mart. Recent reports show big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, Tesco and others transform family-supporting, middle-class retail jobs into lower-paying jobs that often leave workers unable to pay bills.

The difference in overall compensation, including wages and benefits, can be ”as much as $8 an hour,” according to an October 2003 report prepared for the city of Los Angeles.

In fact, for every $1 wage cut, the local economy loses a total $2.08 as less money circulates through the local economy.

Another report shows Wal-Mart stores contribute to higher local poverty rates by driving independent retailers out of business and lowering wages for workers.

FULL story and more at link.

[Onlydem]

1. No one is twisting anyone's arm

No one is twisting anyone's arm that says they have to work in those places. If some one does not want to work there, then they ought to quit and go look for a higher paying job. I live on $4 an hour and do rather well. If I were paid $8 an hour I'd be in tall cotton. The US is a capitalist country where you can go into business on your own and if you make it big, then more power to you.

In a communism country you can't do that and you are also oppressed without the freedoms we have here.
And people have gotten lazy expecting mega-bucks for doing practically nothing to earn it.

I grew up having to work hard and received little pay, but it was better than no pay and I did not complain because I had an income and if I did not like it I quit and found a better job.

And in these times with skyrocketing prices a person can only afford WalMart prices and too in small towns where you can not find decent food, clothing and household wares, one needs WalMart.

Before you start bashing big box stores go visit Third World Countries to see how they live and be thankful you live in a country where you have freedom to quit your job and look for another.
Or visit a communism country where capitalism is outlawed. Then you will be more appreciated of America and their big box office stores. And quit whining, be thankful you even have a job as many people are homeless without jobs and starving.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. welcome to DU! (and duck)