Wal-Marted

[Feanorcurufinwe]

* Kerry was right to turn a spotlight on retailer's health plan.

Wal-Mart, with 1.1 million U.S. employees, is the world's largest business and America's largest employer. Why would anyone running for president want to take the company on, as Sen. John Kerry did last week in Newmarket?

Because as goes Wal-Mart, so go the companies that must compete with the nation's biggest retailer. The race to the health-care bottom is on, and Kerry, though not alone among the presidential candidates in pointing out Wal-Mart's role in that race, showed courage in doing so.

In a speech to owners and employees of small business, Kerry denounced Wal-Mart for what he called its disgraceful treatment of employees and its policy of sticking others for as much of the company's health-care costs as possible. The Massachusetts senator accused the company of advising workers who didn't qualify for or couldn't afford to belong to its meager health care plan to turn to Medicaid, the federal program that provides health insurance to those with very low incomes. Medicaid bills are paid by taxpayers.
http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/news/opinion/editoria2003/edit_101503_2003.shtml

[Tempest]

1. Walmart is the biggest reason for the California grocery worker's strike

Vons, Safeway, Ralphs and Albertson have all cited Walmart's policies regarding benefits when justifying the benefit cuts they want to institute.

[blm]

2. Good point.

.

[Bozita]

9. NYT article concurs completely.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/19/weekinreview/19GREE.html

October 19, 2003

Wal-Mart, Driving Workers and Supermarkets Crazy

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

-snip-

Another big factor is Wal-Mart's relatively low wages. Its sales clerks average about $8.50 an hour, or about $14,000 a year, while the poverty line for a family of three is $15,060. In California, the unionized stockers and clerks average $17.90 an hour after two years on the job. Mr. Flickinger said wages and benefits for Wal-Mart's full-time workers average $10 to $14 per hour less than for unionized supermarket workers.

"The strike out here involves workers who enjoy decent wages, vacations and health benefits," said Kent Wong, director of the Center for Labor Research and Education at the University of California at Los Angeles. "These things were taken for granted, they made them part of the middle class, but now these workers are threatened with having these things taken away."

A big savings for Wal-Mart comes in health care, where Wal-Mart pays 30 percent less for coverage for each insured worker than the industry average. An estimated 40 percent of employees are not covered by its health plan because many cannot afford the premiums or have not worked at Wal-Mart long enough to qualify.

"What this means is, if I'm a Wal-Mart employee and I hurt my hand and go to the emergency room, who's going to pay for it? The taxpayer is," said Mr. Brown, the supermarket executive. "Wal-Mart's fringe benefits are being paid by taxpayers."

more...

-snip-

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Christian Science Monitor is not exactly left-wing.

[trogdor]

4. Medicaid cast as corporate welfare.

interesting...

[Maine-i-acs]

5. walmart = evil

A huge symbol of the destruction of the economy and the manufacturing sector, the huge trade deficit, and the screwing of the working class.

[Ernesto]

6. Sam Walton: American Hero!

Thats right folks, he is just that, 'cause St. Ronnie gave him the highest government award for civilian acheavement. Walton was awarded the "Presidential Medal of FREEDOM" in March, 1991....... BARF! Imagine receivng an award for depriving millions of a living wage and health insurance while leading the charge to export American manufacturing jobs.... Yes folks, repukes are EVIL.

[The Zanti Regent]

7. Bush gave him the medal in 1991

Ronnie was out of office and well in the grips of senility in 1991.

[johnfunk]

10. 1991?

Saint Bonzo was in the grip of senility immediately after he was nearly assassinated in 1981.

[Classical_Liberal]

8. Good for Kerry

!