The Best and the Worst about Wal-Mart.

More WM in Manitoba

Two great videos on the last time the UFCW tried to unionize the Thompson WM in Manitoba. First is a documentary on union preparation for the 2003 vote (18:45), and second is a news report about WM contesting the vote (2:16).

WM in Manitoba, Canada

Reader Julie Eisenband emailed, asking about the results of the June 4, 2004 vote in Manitoba, Canada on whether a local WM should be unionized. Unfortunately, I have no information about this vote.

But it is important to note that this is the second attempt by the United Food and Commercial Workers to unionize the Thompson store. The first attempt last year failed by a narrow margin of 61 to 54. Last time the vote count was delayed because WM objected to the voting procedure, and the union responded by saying that WM illegally influenced its workers who had previously indicated that a majority would join the union.

5 and 10

Marlene Gelfond fondly remembers the 5 and 10 of her youth:

I miss the three of them. It was always fun to stop in and visit them, roam around for notions, makeup, crayons, pencils, colored thread, hair clips and curlers. And when the wafting aromas of the food counter reached us, we would pull up a stool for a malted milk.

Yes, I miss them very much ... the three dime stores I grew up with in Chicago, Woolworth's, Neisner's and Kresge's.

Multiple Traffic Studies

The Davis County Clipper reports that three competing traffic studies--by WM, the government, and a private citizen--agree on one thing: people do not understand what traffic studies mean:

Snyder explained that one element of traffic studies that remains foreign to the public is the understanding of traffic service levels, given in letter grades A, B, C, D, E and F. (A means a signalized intersection wait of 10 seconds or less, and F means a wait of greater than 80 seconds.) The confusion comes when the public makes the incorrect connection between traffic letter grades and the familiar ones on school report cards.

“A D at an intersection is not the same as a D at school,” Snyder said.

“And," he added, “we tend to look at Layton’s traffic and say, ‘That’s horrible.’ And it is. But Layton had exceeded its limits long before Wal-Mart.”

Some Donations

WM donated $50K to purchase equipment for San Diego firefighters.

WM also coordinated with Make-a-Wish to give this boy a shopping spree.

John Menzer Interview

The Chinese People's Daily interviews John Menzer, chief executive of WM International. You have to marvel at the mix of national pride, communist propaganda techniques, and an avid support of market-driven expansion and prosperity:

Excited at talking about Wal-mart's story in China, Mr. Menzer described the incredible way Wal-mart has gone through in China since it entered the country in 1996. Starting with a shopping mall and a membership store in Shenzhen, the giant retailer has extended its business into 18 cities in China with 39 stores employing more than 20, 000 people. The great Chinese culture and the Chinese people full of enthusiasm for development have created Wal-mart's best chain stores.

Wow. Also, it sense an impulse towards a buy Chinese so Chinese work view:

As to the question about whether it would keep on its policy of local procurement, Mr. Menzer answered that they buy goods in bulks locally in all countries, including China.

The rest of the article has Mr. Menzer not answering directly any of the questions asked.

A Change in Location

This poorly written article notes that WM decided to pull out of a site in rural Indiana after residents showed up by the dozens to protest the choice of site:

“Is this another sign that perhaps Wal-mart just isn't welcome in certain communities,” speculated Wal-mart attorney Steve Huddleston. “I can't speak for other situations and I think in this situation they listened to the community and reacted on it."

This is not the only time Wal-mart has gotten the cold shoulder. The city's eastside didn't welcome one at 38th and Franklin Road. Fishers put up a fuss and so did Westfield.

"Is Wal-mart willing to work with communities when it comes to this kind of opposition? I think this shows that it's willing to work with communities and that they respect what the community says and they want to be a good neighbor,” added Huddleston.

There were a few people who showed up -supporting the retail chain, but when the vote came down and city
leaders voted against the new Wal-mart coming to Greenwood you heard more claps and cheers than anything else.

More Details on the New Wage Policy

Read this CNN/Money article.

Among some of the other changes, Scott said the company would establish an office of diversity and an automated lunch break messaging system that would alert employees to take their breaks on time.

"If 50 percent of the people applying for the job of store manager are women, we will work to make sure that 50 percent of the people receiving those jobs are women," Scott said. "My bonus next year could decline by as much as 15 percent if I don't live up to my diversity goals."

50% regardless of the applicants qualifications?!?

Full details still forthcoming.

New WM Pay Policy

How off the wire is news of a change in the WM pay policy:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is preparing to introduce significant changes to its pay system that could mean raises for new workers but penalties for higher-paid veterans, according to published reports.

At its annual shareholders meeting Friday, the world's biggest retailer is expected to unveil a new compensation policy for hourly workers that is expected to tie pay more closely to job responsibilities, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Wendy Zellner, writing in BusinessWeek has incredibly more detail.

Costco vs. Sam's Club Wages

Just wanted to point out Bob Arne's excellent post comparing CostCo and Sam's Club wages (and resulting profits) on my other blog Truck and Barter.