[ambrose]

When comparing the union vs non-union hourly wages, do they take into account the amount of cash taken out for the union slush fund?

[Iowa Granny]

So the Union is demanding higher wages,, is that why they're on strike? And when Wally World opens these new Super Centers and business slacks of at the Unionized Supermarkets and there are layoffs, are we suppose to cry bitter tears for the people who went on strike to demand an increase of business expenses for their employer?

[Uracan]

Sounds to me that workers will lose if the average wage drops from $13 to $8.50.

[Prince Caspian]

Lots of fear being trumped up. Sounds great. When the marketplace is rearranging the landscape, the consumer wins. Let the competition begin. And if the unionized chains are able to best serve the consumer, then they have nothing to worry about.

[Who dat?]

At Wal-Mart, the average wage is about $8.50 an hour, compared with $13 at unionized supermarkets.

That’s “average wage.” It doesn’t include pension contributions or health & welfare contributions or vacation time, sick days, or anything else.

You have to ask yourself if you really think a courtesy clerk, checker, dairy stocker, or anyone else in a similar job really *deserves* $26+/hr compensation (when you add it all up). Those were all jobs done in my day by entry-level people at minimum wage.

Nobody died in the process. Most of us are still around. Being a bagger (etc) is not something that was ever envisioned as a "career."

[Hank Kerchief]

"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."

Heaven forbid that anybody should pay for their own medical expenses!

The collecivist (unionists) are going to discover that earning more is not accomplished by belonging to a gang.

Hank

[longtermmemmory]

To borrow from the stalone film "Demolition Man"

All supermakets became walmart...

[txhurl]

Fear ye not. SuperTargets will bury Wal-Mart.

[UB355]

I live in an area that has had Walmart stores move into. The net effect is that the Food Stores that were unionized are disappearing. The others are surviving.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Another NY Slimes hit-piece.

I'm sick and tired of people cursing at Wal-Mart. Don't like it? Don't shop there. Period. But leave the people who do enjoy Wal-Mart's low prices alone.

And for those "poor" Wal-Mart workers thinking about unionizing or begging for more pay: Get some skills and find a new career, fast.

[dirtydanusa]

We had a Super K-mart here. When I found a pot roast in sporting goods, I wondered if they'll throw it out or return it to it's cooler. Odds are it was returned to the meat coolers. That was the last time I shopped for groceries there. Wal*mart has since caused the K*mart and two other bigger retailers to close their stores and even bought the K*mart site to expand. There is now very little choice but to patronize Wal*marts endless Made in China supply. Most of the workers are either older people supplimenting a pension or teen agers looking for a few dollars to spend. Either way, you cannot make a living on a Wal*mart salary.

[The Chief]

Went shopping there just this afternoon.

I probably saved $10 to $15 compared to me getting the same items at the supermarket I usually go to.

I would go there all the time for most of my shopping needs but it isn't in the town I live in and sometimes it's just not practical for me to go there. Plus I don't like their meat department...

[Radix]

Is there a FR.com policy which does not allow the posting of entire articles from the NY Times?

I simply will never open an ID account on the NYT's site. They can count my hit, but they will not be able to count me, or on me in any other way.

[novacation]

So the unions response is to call a strike to hurt the hand that feeds them and bankrupt their employer. Unions are run by dimwits who don't want to understand that jobs, and wealth, and competition change. The people who unfairly get hurt are the shareholders. Safeway, the parent company of Von's, is a lackluster stock to begin with and a strike isn't going to help.

[Big Horn]

Are they saying the union raise my cost 14%

[malia]

Wal-Marts First Lady