Protesters bash Wal-Mart's attempt to open 2 stores in city

Chicago Sun Times ^ | may 2, 2004 | Protesters bash Wal-Mart's attempt to open 2 stores in city

[KOZ.]

Chants bashing Wal-Mart filled the St. Sabina Church auditorium Saturday as more than 300 people attended a Chicago Workers' Rights Board protest of the retail giant's attempt to move into Chicago.

Speaker after speaker -- from religious and political leaders to labor and community activists to current and former Wal-Mart employees -- accused the company of providing low-paying jobs with meager benefits, gobbling up competitors and running roughshod over women and illegal immigrants. Wal-Mart disputes the claims, saying it has been unfairly maligned.

"I think we have to get away from the mentality that we're just glad to get a job," said St. Sabina's pastor, the Rev. Michael Pfleger. "We've got to stop accepting crumbs as if it's the only thing we're meant to eat. A slave job is a slave job."

Wal-Mart's efforts to open two stores in predominantly black Chicago neighborhoods have fueled tensions. The proposals are for a former West Side industrial area at Kilpatrick and Grand and on the site of the old Ryerson Steel plant at 8301 S. Steward.

"I'm for jobs in this community, but I have an insult level," said state Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago). "People need a livable wage. As an African-American woman, I once worked for $1 an hour. I'm not talking about what I don't know."

Despite a fierce zoning battle led by the Chicago Federation of Labor and its aldermanic allies, Wal-Mart's initial entries into the Chicago market are expected to come before the full City Council for a vote Wednesday.

"Right now, we have to organize and tackle this beast," said Elce Redmond of the South Austin Coalition Community Council, who added that "a ton" of West Side residents will attend the meeting.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sharon Webber maintained the retailer is innocent of the group's criticisms.

"You become the target of a lot of different criticisms when you're as large as we are," she said. "I firmly believe at Wal-Mart we do our best to treat people right and treat them with respect. We believe we bring good things to communities."

[KOZ.]

fyi

[El Conservador]

Speaker after speaker -- from religious and political leaders to labor and community activists to current and former Wal-Mart employees -- accused the company of providing low-paying jobs with meager benefits, gobbling up competitors and running roughshod over women and illegal immigrants. Wal-Mart disputes the claims, saying it has been unfairly maligned.

Well, well, well. They've nailed every leftist talking point to the last one!!!

[jtminton]

A for-profit business is created for the sole purpose of making money. It's purpose is not to provide high wages and benefits. If Wal-Mart is employing people, then they are paying enough. The only time they HAVE to raise wages is when they lose employees. These are just commies and union thugs scared that Wal-Mart is going to expose the union racket.

[Thebaddog]

It's a union thang. I saw an interview in Crains where the black Alderwoman who's district one of the stores would be in wants the deal.

And does anybody have a leash for Fr. Phleger?

[KOZ.]

does walmart have a union?

[Willie Green]

Everybody used to pooh-pooh the plight of Main Street merchants when WalMart was content to attack SmallTown, USA.
NOW the Beast is getting ready to devour Chicago... it MUST be stopped!!!

[jtminton]

I am reasonably sure they don't.

[B Knotts]

Too bad Fr. Pfleger doesn't get as outraged about politicians who support abortion as he does about a company that doesn't do business with union thugs.

Remember, this is the guy that let "Rev." Al Sharpton speak at his church.

[KOZ.]

pricetaggers local #422?
shelfstocker brotherhood local #1283?
local teamsters of cashier button pushers?

[Graybeard58]

As an African-American woman, I once worked for $1 an hour. I'm not talking about what I don't know."

As A White Anglo Saxon Protestant I worked for 50 cents an hour, 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, as a matter of fact this was my summer vacation from school from the time I was 10 years old until I went in the military at age 18- basic training was a vacation for me. Can I get some reparations?

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

Are these the same people who act as though life on Earth will end when gasoline goes up a nickel a gallon?

They're going to love Wal-Mart's everyday low, low prices.

[Fausto]

Interesting. I was channel surfing last night and came across a pro Wal-Mart demonstration apparently led by a few different community leaders, including (interestingly enough) some from the regligious community on WGN (I live in Vegas). Among the signs put forward from folks in the neighborhood was something like "Wal-Mart or welfare?". They got a point. I know my money gets stretched the farthest thanks to Wal-Mart as a consumer, and it provides jobs people do want.

Good to see such passion for consumerism, and not against it! I was actually surprised by the news report as I was expecting to see the some libs giving the normal anti-capitalism talking points against WalMart. Sounds like they won't have any problems finding passionate employees should they move into the 'hood. Obviously, a lot of people don't think it is *slave wages*. Let the individual decide.

[dufekin]

Perhaps we should call this hodgepodge of economics-class dropouts the

Chicagoans against Capitalist Competition

or

Chicagoans for Excessively High Cost of Living

If you don't like Wal-Mart, don't shop there, don't give them your money, don't let them make a profit. Personally, I usually avoided Wal-Mart because I found their stores labrynthine--until I moved to Oklahoma and found their employees friendly and helpful, willing and able to tell me where I need to go to get what I want to buy. And for the record, it's illegal to hire illegals. It may not be fair, but it's the law, and Wal-Mart must obey it. If you want to change it, go to the Congress. (Presumably, illegals can be independent contractors or start their own businesses.)

[facedown]

They've nailed every leftist talking point to the last one!!!

Nah, they missed the one about it being bad "for the children".

[Moonman62]

I find it hard to believe that a well run company like Walmart would go into a market where it isn't wanted. These people making all the noise are professional complainers of the left, who don't represent the majority of their community.

[KOZ.]

i'd like to think that capitalism wins in the end. and the fascism of unions loses. jobs and prices will make people realize whats important. in the end you will see everybody flocking to the store, which is why they are protesting now, cuz they wont have a leg to stand on when it gets built.

the only problem i do have with all this is that goods tend to be made in china, but hey as long as a can pick up a bookshelf for 4.99.....

[KOZ.]

good point, BKnotts mentioned that he had sharpton talk at his church, all professional bitchers.

[JoeSixPack1]

does walmart have a union?

Check the plumbing aisle.

[PacesPaines]

And does anybody have a leash for Fr. Phleger?

Don't forget a muzzle!