While employee benefits are something that are important to a healthy economy there are many employers who limit or do not pay employee benefits. This is not the main issue people do not want Wall Marts around. Its their business practices. They are large enough that they can under cut all competitor prices until the competitor quits. This lowers the average wage in this business sector. They are large enough that they can demand reduced prices from their suppliers. This requires the supplier to cut costs which usually means cuts in benefits to employees, layoffs, requiring employees to work overtime without pay, etc. Their brag about how many jobs a new Wall Mart means to an area. However, their wages are at or near minimum wage. This means very little to the economic viability of an area.
Their prices look so attractive to many people. Therefore, these people shop there. But in doing so, they support low wages, fewer employee benefits and a major shift in the economic viability of an area. (If you make less money because your employer is cutting costs to be able to compete with Wall Mart or lost your job because your employer went out of business you have less money to buy things. This means less money in the economy to generate economic expansion.) Unfortunately, since the 80s, the focus has been on "what's in it for me". Many people think this is how the American dream is built. But in reality the American dream is built on increased wages and benefits, increased production, increased competition, and IMHO a greater inclusivity in the community. Mike Fratto Payne Phalen >>> "Gail" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 05/27/2004 6:45:30 PM >>> The point about Wal-Mart not being the only business to deny benefits to workers is absolutely correct. But it's not only business. State government (I don't know about county/city) and school systems have been using that tactic for years. While I think we need to look at big-picture systems that support the robbing of workers, we could also hold our own politicians responsible for fair labor practices. _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
