As Walmart pursues expansion into major urban markets, Wake Up Walmart and the United Food and Commercial Workers have sought the opinion of local residents in DC, Philadelphia, and Baltimore to find out how they feel. The response to this poll, preformed by the respected polling firm Lake Research, was clear: Resident have clear standards and support a living wage for big box retailers.
Specifically, people want career jobs in their communities that pay a living wage and provide benefits - not low-wage jobs that cannot support a family.
Residents in these areas were read conditions a large supercenter retailer would have to meet and asked if they would support legislation making certain requirements of these retailers. Specifically the poll asked if residents agreed to the following statement:
The zoning and building for a new big box retail store would be approved only if the company agrees to:
- Pay a minimum wage of at least $12 an hour for entry-level employees and only pay less if they provide quality, affordable health care
- Designate at least 75% of jobs to full-time positions and commit to recruiting and hiring workers from the local community
- And reinvest a portion of any local tax breaks they receive into charities and community organizations in the surrounding neighborhoods.
In all three cities, residents supported a law that would impose these conditions very strongly.
Residents were then given a pitch similar to the one that Walmart gives when entering a community to see if their opinions changed. Even after hearing these messages support was very strong.
In DC, 74% of respondents supported these standards for large retailers, with 54% reporting that they strongly supported the idea (in darker blue).
In Philadelphia, 76% of respondents supported these standards for large retailers, with 54% reporting that they strongly supported the idea.
The same was true in Baltimore, where 76% of respondents supported these standards for large retailers, with 55% reporting that they strongly supported the idea.
One important part of this poll is that retailers may pay less than $12 per hour "only if they provide quality, affordable health care." Many employers, retail and otherwise, would be able to continue paying their current wage levels because of good health care packages that are part of their employment package (often as part of a union contract), making career growth opportunity and benefits a part of the definition of what is a "good job."
Posted by Will - July 23, 2010 10:39 AM - Real Facts
thank You very much wakeupwalmart.com try for make Wal Mart join the UFCW Union for all Wal Mart Cashier Worker and Wal Mart Department Store Worker and for all Wal Mart Grocerey Department Worker and for all Wal Mart Stock Person Worker and for all Sam's Club Cashier Worker and for all Sam's Club Meat Cutter@Meat Wripper Worker and for all Sam's Club Cafe Worker and for all and try to make Wal Mart Join the UAW Union for all Wal Mart Tire@Lube Express Worker and for all Sam's Club Tire@Car Battery Installment Worker and try to make wal Mart Join the Teamster Union for all Wal Mart Truck Driver Worker and for all Wal Mart Garden Department Worker and for all Wal Mart Hardware Department Worker and for all Wal Mart Customer Desk Worker and for all Wal Mart Courtesy Association Worker and for all Sam's Club Forklift Driver@Stock Person Worker and for all Sam's Club Wholesale Department Worker and for all Sam's Club Membership Desk Worker and for all Sam's Club Cart Attendance Worker right of away and right now please by try make Wal Mart give all Wal Mart and Sam's Club Worker a Living Wage with Affordable Health right of away and right now please without Close Down all the Wal Mart Store and Sam's Wholesale Club and let get Wal Mart Join the UFCW Union and Teamster Union and UAW Union for all Wal Mart Worker and Sam's Club Worker right of away and right now please by make Wal Mart give all Wal Mart Worker and Sam's Club Worker a Living Wage with Affordable Health right of away and right now please without Close Down all the Wal Mart Store and Sam's Wholesale Club by Write to Wal Mart Home Office 702 SW 8th Street Bentonvliie Arkansas 72716-8611 or Call Wal Mart and Sam's Club Home Office at 1-479-277-7000
Posted by Tom P Noonan - July 25, 2010 7:27 PM
let Vote all Wal Mart Worker and Sam's Club Worker get a Living Wage with Affordable Health Care right of away and right now please
let Vote make Wal Mart let Employee Free Choice Act Unionize the Wal Mart Store and Sam's Wholesale Club with Union Card Check Bill Without Close Down All The Wal Mart Store And Sam's Wholesale Club
Posted by Tom P Noonan - July 25, 2010 7:38 PM