SURVEY

CESL Newstalk
Wal-Mart & Unions Survey (__ m __ f)

Thank you for helping us with this survey!

1. Do you like to go shopping at Wal-Mart? ___ Yes ___ No

2. How often do you go? ___ >once a day
___ once a day
___ 2-6X a week
___once a week
___less than once a week

3. What is the most important advantage of Wal-Mart??
___ cheap
___ always open
___ free parking
___ stocks everything
___ close to home

4. Do you think Wal-Mart will continue its success?
___ Yes ___ No

5. Would you want to work at Wal-Mart? ___ Yes ___ No

6. Do you think Wal-Mart treats employees fairly?
___ Yes ___ No

7. Do you think Wal-Mart should accept a union? ___ Yes ___ No

8. Would you pay more at Wal-Mart, if you knew employees were making more money?
___ Yes ___ No

9. Are you a member of a union? ___ Yes ___ No

10. Would you join a union? ___ Yes ___ No

11. Do you think health insurance is more important than higher salary?

___ Yes ___ No

12. Do you think Wal-Mart is good for the US? ___ Yes ___ No

Why or why not?

Wal-Mart's Union problem

In this article, the writer maintains about Wal-Mart’s reaction to unionization. Many workers need to make some union there, but they deny accepting the new system. Because that spends a lot of money to keep, and workers can be stronger and the payment for them also can be up by a strike. Wal-Mart wants efficient management, so they don’t want to do that. However, the movement for workers has become stronger, so they act something about this soon. And the writer says this huge company’s system of employment has great influent for others.

In my opinion, Wal-Mart should be more polite for workers. Surely, this supermarket sells some products by really reasonable price, and we can understand the efficient system makes those can be. But too much efficiency leads to clashing of management. To avoid bad problems about employment, Wal-Mart should be good for their workers.

Ayuko Watanabe 9/12

We expect WalMart’s positive effort!!

Griffiths (May 11, 2005) writes that WalMart closed a store to go against union in Canada. It occurred in Jonquiere, a little town. WalMart employees’ union decided a fight against Walmart, because 190 employees felt an unfair labor practice and disregard. But WalMart opposed them by closing its store. WalMart was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton and has spread around the US. But it provokes many social problems. The biggest social issue is that Wal-Mart does not accept unions. In addition they suppress unions. Finally this aspect brings about organizing of a global anti-WalMart movement. The union will keep going against WalMart.

It is true that WalMart makes many jobs in society. Although this factor is a good aspect, working conditions is a problem. It seems to be unfair: low salary, the high number of working hours and disregarding the union. Nowadays WalMart is growing enormously. But anti-WalMart movement also is increasing around the world. Therefore we need an improved relationship between employer and employee. Especially we expect Wal-Mart’s positive effort.

By Yehun

Walmart and Unions--> Arwa Alamoudi

The Summary:

The first union against Walmart started in north America in Canada. They made the union because Walmart company wasn't treat fair with them as emplyees. Then, it talks about the owner of Walmart whose name is Sam Walton. Also, the article claims that Walmart doesn't accept unions and doesn't support the unions. Furthermore, it said that unions who oganaized anti-Walmart is being more known in the country. Moreover, it shows that more and more people enter to unions. Finally, they said the Walmart store in Jonquiere, Canada will close because there is no income.

The Opinion:

I think if Walmart makes much money, it should change the policies toward the employees. They are people, they have families and they need insurance. It's not fair to struggle in the work without reward. at least, give the employees good salary. if the unions continue their jobs, they will attract many people. Then, Walmart will lose in thse areas where have big unions to force Walmart to change their rules.


Arwa Alamoudi

Wal-Mart

Accoding to Wal-Mart Loves Unions (In China). American WalMart doesn’t have a union. Many employees who work in Wal-Mart are paid so little, so they can’t afford to get health insurance. WalMart’ employees tried to join an American union, but WalMart didn’t allow what they did. WalMart suggested that if its associate wants a union, the associate should be affiliated with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. China is a communist nation, so this Chinese union can’t speak up for wage increases or safer machinery. The associate doesn’t want a Chinese union which can’t give benefits to them. With using that point, Wal-Mart can be unable to have a union.

Many people work in Wal-Mart. They might want to get a job easily, so they might apply to WalMart, and then WalMart accepted them easily. They sign on the contract. This means that they have a duty to obey the article of the contract. I think, because many people were satisfied to work for WalMart, there are many employees in WalMart. I believe WalMart does not treat its employees badly.
-Steve-

How Wal-Mart Keeps Unions at Bay: Organizing the nation's No. 1 employer would give labor a lift

In this article, the author talked about the fight between Wal-Mart and Unions. Wal-Mart has had pressure from unions since 1962. Wal-Mart doesn't accept a union. In Las Vegas, the UFCW helped Wal-Mart workers to acquire some rights for the first time. There was a worker who was a union supporter working at the Wal-Mart. She could definitely feel that she was pushed out from her work team. Also, a woman who was pro-union was fired after three years. Plus, many cameras set up at the Wal-Mart in Scottsburg to monitor the employees. Even though they said, "nothing to do with union activity," Wal-Mart has been stayed away from unionization until now.

I think the fight has never stopped. The unions struggle to change the stance of Wal-Mart. If people want to work at Wal-Mart, they can't be pro-union or union supporters. I think that's not fair. Maybe people want to work at Wal-Mart because they change their stance. The employees suffer too much pressure if they are related to unions. The only way that they can choose is quitting. Also, Wal-Mart has some strategies to prevent the employees from joining unions, so their employees are afraid of attending the unions.

By William

Wall-Mart Crushes Union by Closing Store

This article talked about the fight of the Wal-Mart and the union. The 190 employees in the Wal-Mart, in the little town in Canada, thought there was unfairness in the Wal-Mart and they didn't feel be respected there. Ms Lavoie started to fight with Wal-Mart. Eventually, Wal-Mart closed the store. It shocked her and her coworkers. Sam Walton established Wal-Mart in 1962. Wal-Mart grew up very fast and earned much money by reducing prices for customers. The United Food and Trade Workers' Union (TUAC) has allied anti-Wal-Mart expositions across Canada. Wal-Mart insisted opinions and disagreed with the union. If Wal-Mart needed to accept the union's demands, they would close the store.

I agree with the Wal-Mart is unfair for the employees, but the jobs for the employees who work at the Wal-Mart are still very important. I think they knew the situation before they work at the Wal-Mart. Why did they still choose to work at the Wal-Mart? Maybe they really need these jobs. Wal-Mart closed the store directly. It sharked many people because they lost their jobs. Also, the problem still exited and Wal-Mart still insisted the stance. They have never changed their mind to respect their employees. I think not only the union, but also the government needs to consider about that. This is really a big problem in USA.

By Linda

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