Wal-Mart the High Cost of Low Price
Free movie screening
Thursday, December 15th, 2005
Where: Kean University, University Center 226B
Come and Discover the Truth about American's Favorite Store.
Sponsored by Students for Solidarity and Justice
Everyone is invited to attend contact information
www.ssj.8k.com "The film shines a light on the problem, connects the dots, makes what is abstract personal and tells a story. The film is not the solution; that comes from the good people around the country who use the power of democracy to exercise their opinions, views, and activism in numerous ways. Wal-Mart is a big corporate problem, it will not be fixed by one film or one action, but the film will be a step towards the vital debate, discussion and actions we need to begin to get the problem front and center." - Robert Greenwald
- In just the past year, two union-backed groups have formed with the shared mission of challenging the megaretailer's business, labor, environmental and social standards. Wal-Mart Watch and WakeUpWalMart. Anti-Wal-Mart organizers also say the company hurts communities, small businesses and the environment.
- The anti-Wal-Mart groups say employees don't qualify for health care or can't afford it. Wages are too low, they say, and the retailer discriminates against women. (Wal-Mart is facing the largest class-action lawsuit in history from 1.6 million current and former female employees who are suing for discrimination.)
Wal-Marts Worker’s:
- Workers tell a different story--that Wal-Mart intimidates, coerces and harasses employees to prevent them from making their voices heard with a union. Wal-Mart would even close its store rather than acknowledge workers' right to a union.
- Wal-Mart employs 1.4 million workers worldwide and over 1 million in the United States. More than half of Wal-Mart’s U.S. employees leave the company each year.
Health Benefits:
- In October, a memo from a Wal-Mart benefits executive leaked to Wal-Mart Watch suggested the retailer could lower its health care costs by dissuading unhealthy people from working at its stores.
- 600,000 of its employees--5-10% of Wal-Mart's uninsured employees are on Medicaid or other government healthcare plans.
Sweatshops:
- Bangladesh children ages 10-13 earn as little as nine cents an hour making shirts for Wal-Mart.
- Clothing sewn in China is usually done by young women, 17 to 25 year old (at 25 they are fired as ‘too old’) forced to work seven days a week, often past midnight for 12 to 28 cents an hour, with no benefits.
- Wal-Mart puts children at risk when teenage workers operate such dangerous equipment as cardboard balers. Maiming, amputations and death are not uncommon occurrences for workers operating this equipment.
- Bangladesh and Wal-Mart:
Starvation Wages: 9 to 20 cents an hour, 40% to 70% below the legal wage, $4.28 to $9.52 a week
The Big Bad Wal-Mart
- The world’s largest and richest retailer-with more than $250 billion in annual revenue--can afford wage increases. Wal-Mart could pay each employee a dollar more per hour if the company increased its prices by a half-penny per dollar. For example, a $2.00 pair of socks would then cost $2.01. This minimal increase would annually add up to $1,800 for each employee
U.S. manufactures have been forced to cut good jobs and eliminate entire operations when Wal-Mart shifts to contractors with poverty-level wages.