----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Pensinger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 11:04 PM Subject: Re: Br!n: some thoughts and quotes.
> Dan wrote: > > > Is there any indication that their treatment of workers is unusual for > > retail? We do know that without Wal-marts, K-marts, Targets, etc., lower > > income people would have a much lower effective standard of living. I'm > > willing to change my mind if places like Abercrombie and Fitch having > > high prices only because their employees get such good benefits. > > So you're saying it's OK for the industry leader to mistreat their > employees and compensate them poorly as long as everyone else is doing it? No. I'm saying its wrong to single out discount stores. > Around here one of the arguments is that the super Walmarts - those that > have grocery stores - will undercut unionized grocery stores. From what I > understand, the difference in pay and benefits is substantial. > Checking.... here's some stuff: http://tinyurl.com/4f7bf > "Wal-Mart is the largest employer in the United States, with over one > million workers. It is the largest food retailer and the third largest > pharmacy in the nation. The company employs approximately 44,000 workers > in California, and has plans to expand significantly in the state over the > next four years. Wal-Mart workers receive lower wages than other retail > workers and are less likely to have health benefits. Other major retailers > have begun to scale back wages and benefits in the state, citing their > concerns about competition from Wal-Mart. > > We estimate that Wal-Mart workers in California earn on average 31 percent > less than workers employed in large retail as a whole, receiving an > average wage of $9.70 per hour compared to the $14.01 average hourly > earnings for employees in large retail (firms with 1,000 or more > employees). California is a bit unusual in that it is an extremely expensive place to live, and that the retail wages are that high. For example, in Wisconsin my brother-in-law managed a restaurant for a salary in the mid-$20s. He worked 60-80 hour weeks. It was a step down when he lost that job because the store managed by a friend of the owners was shut down and his store was handed over to be managed by the friend. It was a hard job to lose; even though he got around 20% more than minimum once all his hours were figured in. His hourly earnings were close to the Wal-Mart number, when inflation was worked in....and he ran the place. Retail jobs don't pay in Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc. Here, the union grocery store starts out around $6.00-$6.50/hour. I appreciate the data you gave me, BTW. Its interesting that our experiences are so different regarding this. BTW, don't teenagers work retail in California? Does the Gap really pay kids >$10.00/hour out there? In Texas, I know of a number of folks who work retail, for a number of stores, none of which have benefits. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
