Wal-Mart Orientation

[Asheran Mojomaster]

http://www.pfandp.com/videos/superwmart.html

[Truant]

I personally boycott Wal Mart for several reasons. But my father's side of the family contains several union electricians (including my father). They've known about this stuff for a while, as well as the conflict between Wal Mart and their butchers, etc. Needless to say, my father pretty much hates Wal Mart.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

I don't see an issue here. It's a typical big retail company video. They don't want a union and I don't blame them. We aren't in a society in need of unions right now, especially Wal-Mart employees. If you truly feel Wal-Mart employees are being persecuted and need the support of a union to help them, you need to do some research on actual cases of employee abuse, etc.

[Truant]

I don't see an issue here. It's a typical big retail company video. They don't want a union and I don't blame them. We aren't in a society in need of unions right now, especially Wal-Mart employees. If you truly feel Wal-Mart employees are being persecuted and need the support of a union to help them, you need to do some research on actual cases of employee abuse, etc.

I won't argue on any of the other points, but Wal-Mart is the number 1 violator of child labor laws in the US. They just pay the fines because it's cheaper to do so than to conduct business legally.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

I don't see an issue here. It's a typical big retail company video. They don't want a union and I don't blame them. We aren't in a society in need of unions right now, especially Wal-Mart employees. If you truly feel Wal-Mart employees are being persecuted and need the support of a union to help them, you need to do some research on actual cases of employee abuse, etc.

I won't argue on any of the other points, but Wal-Mart is the number 1 violator of child labor laws in the US. They just pay the fines because it's cheaper to do so than to conduct business legally.

How do they violate child labor laws? I've never seen a child working at a Wal-Mart.

[Funkmasterr]

I'm guessing at their factories/sweatshops off shore maybe?

[Morgrym]

So? They are paying kids to work their asses off in third world countries that would otherwise starve to death. Sounds like an international diplomat to me.

Just stirring the pot as this topic has some staying power.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

So? They are paying kids to work their asses off in third world countries that would otherwise starve to death. Sounds like an international diplomat to me.

Just stirring the pot as this topic has some staying power.

You might be stirring the pot, but your statement is all that crazy.

If unions didn't over-price their employees values, we wouldn't have so many non-US produced products on our shelves.

[masteen]

I worked in a CWA union shop up in Tampa. At first it was cool, I got good pay and benefits pretty quick once I started working. Two years in, it sucked balls.

I knew how to config and troubleshoot Cisco, Bay (became Nortel), and all the switches/routers produced by small companies bought and rebranded as Cajuns, but I was making the same pay as these old jackholes that hadn't learned a new product in 15 years.

I'd bang out 25+ trouble tickets a week, and not just opening and closing them like some people did to pad their stats; I actually fixed shit. Most of those old guys would take like 5, if that many calls for their old junk even came in. Those old guys were such fucking slugs, I learned their products just so I could avoid asking them for help on simple CSU/DSU configs, because they instantly added 2 fucking hours to the time to resolution while they sat at their desk shooting the shit with the field monkey instead of working.

[Siji]

The problem isn't so much with the union, as it is with the people abusing the protection that the union provides for them. We've got that issue here as well. People do the stupidest shit and complain about the most asinine crap you can imagine. I can only imagine the rude awaking they're all in for should they get laid off and can't complain because they don't like where they're sitting, or because the light is too bright (or too dark), or because they don't like the noise from their nearby co-workers, or because they're mad that they can't wear jeans and flip-flops when customers and/or potential customers are going to be touring the building..

On the other hand, I usually wish I never went from union to management. When we get laid off, we get jack. When they get laid off they get a huge payout. With the time I've got, I'd be good for at least a year or two based on what they get. That and the union is the main reason we've got such good benefits (presently) and a decent vacation package, etc.

You could say we don't need the union(s) now that all the benefits are in our hands, but someone has to be there to insure those benefits stay there every 3 year (or however long your union contract happens to be good for).

Ed: Cajuns suck! Suck suck suck!

Ed2: Wal-Mart sucks even more than Cajuns!

[Aslanna]

It has nothing to do with overseas factories. It's all based on violations in their US stores. A simple Google search will provide you with details if you actually want to do your own discovery.

[Morgrym]

Oh, Boo Freaking Hoo! Looks like a law that needs changed to me. If you are old enough to work, you should be old enough to learn all aspects of the damn job (upon passing an aptitude test for whatever it is you are attempting to OJT for). You can join certain aspects of the Military at 16 with a parental waiver..."Here, son, go learn how to shoot an M-16 and snap a neck but don't you even think about driving a fork lift!"

The Department of Labor conducted an investigation of 25 of the company's stores from October 1998 through April 2002. 21 stores were in Connecticut, three were in Arkansas, and one was in New Hampshire. The investigations showed that Wal-Mart employed 85 minors aged 16 and 17 who were performing prohibited activities, including loading and occasionally operating or unloading scrap paper balers, and operating fork lifts.

[Al]

The problem isn't so much with the union, as it is with the people abusing the protection that the union provides for them. We've got that issue here as well. People do the stupidest shit and complain about the most asinine crap you can imagine. I can only imagine the rude awaking they're all in for should they get laid off and can't complain because they don't like where they're sitting, or because the light is too bright (or too dark), or because they don't like the noise from their nearby co-workers, or because they're mad that they can't wear jeans and flip-flops when customers and/or potential customers are going to be touring the building..

On the other hand, I usually wish I never went from union to management. When we get laid off, we get jack. When they get laid off they get a huge payout. With the time I've got, I'd be good for at least a year or two based on what they get. That and the union is the main reason we've got such good benefits (presently) and a decent vacation package, etc.

You could say we don't need the union(s) now that all the benefits are in our hands, but someone has to be there to insure those benefits stay there every 3 year (or however long your union contract happens to be good for).

That pretty much sums up my opinion. I worked in a union at Cutco Cutlery (You may know their knives, or KABAR, same company, same plant), and at first it was great. I started off making good money, with nearly as good benefits as what I had in the military (minus the housing). After 3 years I was happy to be laid off. I have never worked with so many slather-asses in my life. We had a guy get caught, red-handed, selling pot in the workplace. His excuse was "I didn't take my medicine today", and the union got his job back. That wasn't the first time, either. I wish I could run a company like that for 2 weeks, without the union. The company would be much better off, as I would trim the fat that our CEO would bitch about every month at our meetings, but would never take care of himself. And it wasn't that his hands were tied by the union, it was that he was a useless sack of accountant crap.
Bah... I'm drunk and I hate how people take advantage of the services unions offer. It gives them a bad name everywhere, especially among the hard workers who get screwed by fuck-offs with seniority.

[Aabidano]

I don't see an issue here. It's a typical big retail company video. They don't want a union and I don't blame them. We aren't in a society in need of unions right now, especially Wal-Mart employees. If you truly feel Wal-Mart employees are being persecuted and need the support of a union to help them, you need to do some research on actual cases of employee abuse, etc.

Wal Mart is a great place to work as long as you don't need anything that impacts the bottom line. Do all the research you want, they settle out of court and require silence if you want paid.

I've seen the CWA in action, trying to get a raise out of a company that's in the process of going bankrupt doesn't seem too bright.

They priced themselves out of a job for the most part where I work.

[Animalor]

The story of the Wal Mart in Jonquiere,QC a storet hat got unionized and then closed by the company shortly after.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 971115.htm

[Fairweather Pure]

Here in Battle Creek, MI, Kellogg's detroyed the union by shutting down factories and later rehiring the good workers. The whole process took about 5-6 years.

There's a lot of backscratching going on in the bigger unions. They're as corrupt as anything they were developed to fight against.

However, sometimes they are needed. If Wal-Mart employees feel they require a union, who am I to say they do not? The fact that Wal-Mart squashes any and all union activity is a sure sign that they probably need one.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Here in Battle Creek, MI, Kellogg's detroyed the union by shutting down factories and later rehiring the good workers. The whole process took about 5-6 years.

There's a lot of backscratching going on in the bigger unions. They're as corrupt as anything they were developed to fight against.

However, sometimes they are needed. If Wal-Mart employees feel they require a union, who am I to say they do not? The fact that Wal-Mart squashes any and all union activity is a sure sign that they probably need one.

Yes, please. Let's continue to legislate and govern by feelings. It's gotten us this far. *PUKE*

[Truant]

It has nothing to do with overseas factories. It's all based on violations in their US stores. A simple Google search will provide you with details if you actually want to do your own discovery.

Thank you. I was in class, so unable to post.

[Funkmasterr]

It has nothing to do with overseas factories. It's all based on violations in their US stores. A simple Google search will provide you with details if you actually want to do your own discovery.

I was just taking a guess, I'm not interested in researching and becoming more versed in the issue, hence why I did not utilize a google search.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

It has nothing to do with overseas factories. It's all based on violations in their US stores. A simple Google search will provide you with details if you actually want to do your own discovery.

I was just taking a guess, I'm not interested in researching and becoming more versed in the issue, hence why I did not utilize a google search.

False advertising. They call it CHILD LABOR LAWS, so the image in peoples minds are of little 7-8 year olds nodding off after 20 hours at a rusty sewing machine. It's actually some cases against Walmart for allowing 16-17 year olds to push buttons designated for 18 year olds.

[Zaelath]

It has nothing to do with overseas factories. It's all based on violations in their US stores. A simple Google search will provide you with details if you actually want to do your own discovery.

I was just taking a guess, I'm not interested in researching and becoming more versed in the issue, hence why I did not utilize a google search.

False advertising. They call it CHILD LABOR LAWS, so the image in peoples minds are of little 7-8 year olds nodding off after 20 hours at a rusty sewing machine. It's actually some cases against Walmart for allowing 16-17 year olds to push buttons designated for 18 year olds.

They're children until they turn 18, and deserve every protection granted to an 8 year old. In fact, in your messed up nanny state you give them all the responsibility at 18 but won't let them drink until 21, perhaps we should call everyone under 21 children.

Unfortunately, yes, some people like you react emotionally rather than logically to everything around them, so you have an almost visceral reaction to a phrase like child labor laws. I'm afraid, the fault there is yours.

The fact that Wal*Mart should have the corporate responsibility to ensure that children aren't given high risk jobs that they legally don't have the ability to agree to accept the risks of, is the issue; not what you consider child labor based on a reference to it in your 5th grade history class.

[Gzette]

Dude I used the fork lift at Office Depot when I was 16. It was pretty much my favorite part of the job.

Wal-Mart is still evil

[Markulas]

Unions aside, I have a standing boycott on Wal-Mart and limit spending on big-box stores in general, because of the massive amount of energy waste they develop. However, with gas prices rising as they are Wal-Mart will be one of the first businesses to feel the pinch and have to rethink their business strategy.

[Al]

Here in Battle Creek, MI, Kellogg's detroyed the union by shutting down factories and later rehiring the good workers. The whole process took about 5-6 years.

There's a lot of backscratching going on in the bigger unions. They're as corrupt as anything they were developed to fight against.

However, sometimes they are needed. If Wal-Mart employees feel they require a union, who am I to say they do not? The fact that Wal-Mart squashes any and all union activity is a sure sign that they probably need one.

Yes, please. Let's continue to legislate and govern by feelings. It's gotten us this far. *PUKE*

Everything humans do is based on "feelings". If you want to be legislated without human emotion involved, design a computer that will take every aspect of human life into account and have it make our laws for us. Of course, you can't govern an emotional entity without taking emotion into account, so I guess this would just end up being a computer that governs emotionally...

How about an example? Why is murder illegal? Is it illegal because killing people for whatever reason is illogical? Not at all, in fact, in many cases the logical thing to do would be murder. It is illegal because you can't have people running around killing other people "just because". Our emotions will not let that be OK, ever. (well, almost never. Some people lack the compassion most of us have)

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Here in Battle Creek, MI, Kellogg's detroyed the union by shutting down factories and later rehiring the good workers. The whole process took about 5-6 years.

There's a lot of backscratching going on in the bigger unions. They're as corrupt as anything they were developed to fight against.

However, sometimes they are needed. If Wal-Mart employees feel they require a union, who am I to say they do not? The fact that Wal-Mart squashes any and all union activity is a sure sign that they probably need one.

Yes, please. Let's continue to legislate and govern by feelings. It's gotten us this far. *PUKE*

Everything humans do is based on "feelings". If you want to be legislated without human emotion involved, design a computer that will take every aspect of human life into account and have it make our laws for us. Of course, you can't govern an emotional entity without taking emotion into account, so I guess this would just end up being a computer that governs emotionally...

How about an example? Why is murder illegal? Is it illegal because killing people for whatever reason is illogical? Not at all, in fact, in many cases the logical thing to do would be murder. It is illegal because you can't have people running around killing other people "just because". Our emotions will not let that be OK, ever. (well, almost never. Some people lack the compassion most of us have)

Uh-huh

It would be completely logical to kill a fuckton of scum on this earth spending their days in our prisons soaking up our tax dollars. We don't need computers to run the government or the world. We need more people who employ a larger portion of logic than emotion.

[Winnow]

Unions aside, I have a standing boycott on Wal-Mart and limit spending on big-box stores in general, because of the massive amount of energy waste they develop. However, with gas prices rising as they are Wal-Mart will be one of the first businesses to feel the pinch and have to rethink their business strategy.

Their strategy is to run the little guys out of business and then shut down select Walmarts when times get tough which will really screw the rural areas that now have no smaller stores.

[Fairweather Pure]

Here in Battle Creek, MI, Kellogg's detroyed the union by shutting down factories and later rehiring the good workers. The whole process took about 5-6 years.

There's a lot of backscratching going on in the bigger unions. They're as corrupt as anything they were developed to fight against.

However, sometimes they are needed. If Wal-Mart employees feel they require a union, who am I to say they do not? The fact that Wal-Mart squashes any and all union activity is a sure sign that they probably need one.

Yes, please. Let's continue to legislate and govern by feelings. It's gotten us this far. *PUKE*

You're right. Let's just let corporations do whatever they want. That's worked out very well in the past. *POOP*


If a person feels they need a union so badly that they are willing to put their job/way of life on the line, I think that is a pretty strong message. Combined with Wal-Mart's heavy handed tactics, it shows that there is pretty good chance that there's something fishy going on that needs further investigation.

[Markulas]

Their strategy is to run the little guys out of business and then shut down select Walmarts when times get tough which will really screw the rural areas that now have no smaller stores.

Very true. But one of the reasons they are able to do this is because of cheap energy. Wal-Mart uses massive amounts of oil to move shipments from China to the US on our interstate. Their business strategy in the future will have become more localized to be profitable.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Their strategy is to run the little guys out of business and then shut down select Walmarts when times get tough which will really screw the rural areas that now have no smaller stores.

Very true. But one of the reasons they are able to do this is because of cheap energy. Wal-Mart uses massive amounts of oil to move shipments from China to the US on our interstate. Their business strategy in the future will have become more localized to be profitable.

How does every other business in the World get their merchandise to their shelves?

[Lynks]

Same way, but when you have the cash to buy in bulk, in the end, you pay less per unit and on shipping.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Same way, but when you have the cash to buy in bulk, in the end, you pay less per unit and on shipping.

So Walmart is more energy efficient.

[Asheran Mojomaster]

Well they also have to use a lot of energy to run those giant stores 24\7.

[masteen]

Same way, but when you have the cash to buy in bulk, in the end, you pay less per unit and on shipping.

So Walmart is more energy efficient.

Wrong. They get their savings on the cost/widget, but the cost in fuel to ship X tons of shit is still the same.

[Aabidano]

How does every other business in the World get their merchandise to their shelves?

You see so many WalMart trucks on the road because they maintain no localized inventory and store bulk quantities in regional warehouses. That strategy has served them very well, they keep no static quantities of "stuff" sitting in a location where it might not be selling. That also allows them to keep nearly all the space in the retail store available for goods vs. needing storage space. Nothing come from "in the back". When you pull something off the shelf and buy it, the next one generally speaking has to come from a distance in a truck.

It's a great strategy while transport costs are cheap and volumes are high. As oil prices keep increasing sea transport will become more and more expensive, greatly reducing the attractiveness of foreign made goods over time.

*Edit - They're also a bitch to do business with, they want great detail on what you're trying to sell them and essentially will tell you what your profit margin on your product will be. There's a whole bunch of vendors that refuse to sell via WalMart for that reason.

[Aslanna]

Same way, but when you have the cash to buy in bulk, in the end, you pay less per unit and on shipping.

So Walmart is more energy efficient.

They're using the same amount they are just paying less for it. That's not exactly how I would define energy efficient.

Energy efficient products/systems are meant to save nonrenewable resources and/or use renewable resources; to save money on utility bills; and to protect the environment by producing little or no waste.

[Aabidano]

Same way, but when you have the cash to buy in bulk, in the end, you pay less per unit and on shipping.

So Walmart is more energy efficient.

They're using the same amount they are just paying less for it. That's not exactly how I would define energy efficient.

They spend more on transportation overall but more than make up for it with other efficiencies. For now.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/4716.aspx

Wal-Mart to Open First High-Efficiency Store; Supercenter Expected to Use 20 Percent Less Energy

Wal-Mart Extends Environmental Efforts to Kansas City –
Donates $110,000 in In-Kind and Cash Contributions to Local Community



*Attention Journalists*
See "Related Resources" at the bottom of this release for downloadable press kit and high resolution images of the Kansas City High-Efficiency Supercenter

Attention TV stations:
Broadcast-quality video available for download


Bentonville, Ark., Jan. 18, 2007 – Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announces it will open tomorrow in Kansas City, Mo. the first in a series of High-Efficiency stores that will use 20 percent less energy than a typical Supercenter. In addition to the cutting-edge technologies already found in Wal-Mart stores, the new High-Efficiency stores will integrate industry-leading heating, cooling and refrigeration systems to conserve energy. High-Efficiency stores will help the retailer move one step closer to achieving its environmental goals, which include using less energy and producing less waste.

“Just over a year ago, our CEO Lee Scott challenged our associates to open a store that was 25 to 30 percent more efficient by 2009,” said John Menzer, vice chairman, Wal-Mart Stores. “The Kansas City High-Efficiency store is the first of its kind, and shows Wal-Mart is capable of operating stores, clubs and distribution centers in a way that saves energy, lowers utility costs, reduces emissions, and above all, provides a better shopping experience for our customers.”

In 2005, Wal-Mart opened two experimental stores in McKinney, Texas, and Aurora, Colo., to test several different environmentally friendly technologies, ranging from wind power to pervious pavement, from waterless urinals to light-emitting diodes. The aim was to experiment with innovative technologies, with the intention that they could some day be incorporated into a store prototype. The Kansas City High-Efficiency store is the first store to bring some of these experiments from the preliminary testing phase to a practical trial phase. Wal-Mart plans to open the next High-Efficiency store in Rockton, Ill., this spring.

“We are learning a tremendous amount from our experimental stores,” said Eric Zorn, president, Wal-Mart Realty. “Wal-Mart stores are already some of the most energy-efficient in the retail industry, but we want to take efficiency even further. This new Supercenter is where we really get to put what we’ve learned into practice, and we’re excited to reach a 20 percent energy reduction so quickly.”

To achieve the 20 percent energy reduction at the new Kansas City High-Efficiency store, the company will target two main energy-consuming units: the heating and air conditioning system (HVAC), and the refrigeration system. With the installation of special equipment, such as a water source heat pump and cooling towers, hot and cold water can be harnessed to drive new levels of efficiency. Specifically, the new HVAC and more efficient refrigeration systems are fully integrated so that 100 percent of the heat rejected by the refrigeration system is reclaimed into the HVAC. The reclaimed heat is then converted into usable energy. By incorporating a loop-piping design, the advanced refrigeration system also reduces the amount of installed copper and the total refrigerant charge required.

“For years, retailers have used air cooled equipment for air conditioning and refrigeration,” Vice President of Prototype and New Format Design Charles Zimmerman said. “In recognizing that water has four times the heat carrying capacity of air, we realized it would be much more efficient as a conductor of energy in our heating, cooling and refrigeration systems. In this High-Efficiency store, we’re putting that to the test by utilizing our on-site resources to full capacity before applying secondary power sources.”

Other energy-saving technologies in the High-Efficiency store include the installation of ultra-efficient case fans, glass doors on medium temperature grocery cases, RollSeal® quick response doors to seal air in areas such as the Garden Center, and a top-of-the-line dehumidification system. The store will also have a daylight harvesting system, which uses skylights to refract daylight throughout the store and light sensors to monitor the amount of natural light available. During periods of higher natural daylight, the system then dims or turns off the store lights when they aren’t needed, thereby reducing energy-usage.

Like many other Wal-Mart stores opening this month, the Kansas City Supercenter also features GE’s energy-saving light-emitting diode (LED) refrigerated case lighting. LEDs have a longer life span than fluorescent bulbs, produce less heat and use significantly less energy than typical grocery case lighting. In the High-Efficiency store, motion sensor-driven LED lights have been installed in all freezer and medium-temperature refrigerated cases. When not in use for a few seconds, the lights in these cases automatically turn off, and quickly turn back on when a customer approaches. This direct learning from the Aurora and McKinney experimental stores is expected to add a 2 to 3 percent energy reduction, and will be rolled-out in new Wal-Mart stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Clubs beginning this month.

“We’re very excited to launch this High-Efficiency concept in Kansas City, where our residents and local business leaders have shown that the environment is a key priority for them,” said Dan Steele, Wal-Mart store manager. “Though most of the energy-saving technologies here are not visible to the public, we’ve added new signage to show our customers how these systems can help save money and keep our prices low.”

Lighting the Way for Energy Savings in Kansas City
In addition to the focus on energy-efficient stores, Wal-Mart is committed to selling products that sustain our resources and our environment. As part of this store’s grand opening events, Wal-Mart announces a partnership with Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes to support the city’s “A Million Lights Campaign.” With its donation of 21,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), Wal-Mart will aid the city’s campaign to distribute CFLs to low-income and senior citizen households in Kansas City, Mo. The Wal-Mart gift will also help the city reach its goal to change one million incandescent bulbs to energy-saving CFLs by October 2007. This in-kind donation of more than $53,000 brings this store’s total grand opening donations to local charities and organizations – such as the Kansas City Weatherization Improvement Project, Bridging the Gap, and the Boys Club of Greater Kansas City – to $110,000.

About Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, more than 127 million customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $245 million to local United States communities. To learn more, visit http://www.walmartfacts.com, http://www.walmart.com, or http://www.walmartfoundation.org.


FACT SHEET
Kansas City Wal-Mart Supercenter


Store fast facts

Location: 11601 E. U.S. 40 Highway, Kansas City, Mo.
197,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
VIP Preview night Thursday, Jan. 18, 6 p.m.
Grand opening ceremony Friday, Jan 19; 7:30 a.m. followed by store opening at 8 a.m.
Store manager: Dan Steele
Other Store features

Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, full line of beer, wine and liquor, apparel and accessories, toys, fine jewelry, lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, electronics, Tire & Lube Express, vision center, Subway restaurant, one-hour photo lab, pharmacy, SmartStyle hair salon, Wal-Mart Connect Center, Kansas City Chiefs and Royals sport shop and a UMB branch.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Nineteen full-service and 12 express check-out lanes.
Employment

More than 1,200 applications. Store plans to employ 480 associates.
Thirty-two of the Kansas City store’s associates have worked for Wal-Mart for more than 10 years.
The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates is approximately $10.11 per hour.*
Wal-Mart benefits – available to full- and part-time associates – include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. Wal-Mart associates are eligible for health care benefits. Wal-Mart also offers a 401(k) plan and profit sharing contributions, whether an associate contributes or not, store discount cards, performance-based bonuses, discounted stock purchase program and life insurance.
* Average wage taken December 2005. See http://www.walmartfacts.com for details.

For more information

Store manager: Dan Steele, (816) 313-1183
Wal-Mart information online: http://www.walmartfacts.com; merchandise sales: http://www.walmart.com
Charitable Giving Fast Facts



Kansas City Supercenter Donates over $110,000 in
In-Kind and Cash Contributions to Local Community



$53,000 in product donations of 21,000 CFL light bulbs for “A Million Lights” Campaign; City will distribute 21,000 energy-efficient light bulbs to low-income and senior citizen households in Kansas City, Mo.
$10,000 donation to the Home Weatherization Division of the Kansas City Neighborhood and Community Services
$10,000 donation to Bridging the Gap to support various environmental programs and community organizations
“A Million Lights” Campaign – More than $53,000 in in-kind light bulb donations
Wal-Mart is pleased to partner in the Kansas City, Missouri’s “A Million Lights” campaign – an effort to replace one million light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs to save the region over $2 million in energy costs by October 2007. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) consume 70 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Each CFL can save about $30 over the life of the bulb and keep as much as 450 pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. Wal-Mart’s donation of 21,000 CFLs, worth more than $53,000, will have far-reaching impacts in the city’s effort to distribute energy-efficient light bulbs to low-income and senior citizen households in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City Weatherization Improvement Project - $10,000 cash contribution
In 1977, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources established the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program, (LIWAP) and since the program’s inception more than 140,000 homes have been weatherized. The program operates year-round and service providers of the program examine furnaces and ductwork, perform window and door repairs, and target general heat loss areas with caulking and weather-stripping. The Home Weatherization program income guidelines are set at 150 percent of poverty and are funded through several income sources. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Federal Department of Energy serve as the largest source of funds. The program is also funded through utility providers including Kansas City Power & Light and Missouri Gas Energy.

Bridging the Gap -- $10,000 cash contribution
In 1991, Bridging the Gap opened Kansas City’s first volunteer recycling center. A year later, the group formed a 501(3)(c) organization with the mission to encourage an understanding of local and global interconnectedness through education and action. Today, Bridging the Gap operates as an organizing hub for numerous environmental projects—from waste prevention to environmental education, from recycling to picking up litter and keeping Kansas City beautiful. The organization works closely with business, schools, governments and the community to encourage local partnerships and support sustainable decision making.

Additional Charitable Outreach -- $37,500 in charitable contributions are directed to 15 area organizations

Greater Kansas City Foundation for Citizens with Disabilities
Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission
Special Olympics Missouri
City of Kansas City Police Department
Blue Hills Community Services Corporation
City of Independence Fire Department
Gillis Center Inc.
Kansas City Community Gardens
Raytown Fire Department District
Sickle Cell Disease Associations of America – Kansas City Chapter 2301
Vietnam Veterans of America
Boys Club of Greater Kansas City
Police Athletic League of Kansas City
American Cancer Society
City of Kansas City Police Department - Tactical Response Team
For more information

Wal-Mart information online: http://www.walmartfacts.com; merchandise sales: http://www.walmart.com
Kansas City Neighborhood and Community Services Department. Robert Jackson, director
Home Weatherization Division: (816) 513-3025 http://www.kcmo.org/neigh.nsf/web/weath ... endocument
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There's always two sides to every story. You can make your claims about every company.

ARGG that evil Circuit City is ruining the world and blah blah blah.
ARGG that evil Party City is evil and it's employees work terrible hours and get paid like employees who only work in a Party City. And, ummm, yeah.
ARGG that evil Old Navy ships their goods across the world with ships and trucks and it makes Al Gore cry.

[Aslanna]

Nice deflection but if you actually read the article you quoted that has nothing to do with shipping which was the whole point of the replies to your statement. It's good that they are working on energy-efficient stores but it's not specifically related to the topic at hand.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Sure it is. You only wish to focus on one small point, because it justifies your blind hatred. You're a hate-filled negative asshole. Negativity breeds negativity. Thus why I called you that. Have a nice day.

[Aslanna]

You're an idiot. No surprise there.

How does this conversation:

Same way, but when you have the cash to buy in bulk, in the end, you pay less per unit and on shipping.

So Walmart is more energy efficient.

Apply in any way to the energy required to run the store itself?

Your statement was incorrect to begin with. And your huge cut & paste of someting totally unrelated doesn't make it any more correct.

Have a great day!


(edit.. lame quotes)

[Aabidano]

blah blah blah

Every village needs an idiot I suppose.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

You're an idiot. No surprise there.

How does this conversation:

Same way, but when you have the cash to buy in bulk, in the end, you pay less per unit and on shipping.

So Walmart is more energy efficient.

Apply in any way to the energy required to run the store itself?

Your statement was incorrect to begin with. And your huge cut & paste of someting totally unrelated doesn't make it any more correct.

Have a great day!


(edit.. lame quotes)

I'll play along for a little bit.

Let's take a step back. You want to trash and hate Wal-Mart because it is a huge sucessful company. You gladly jump on the bandwagon against the big guy. I'm just acknowledging you are doing so. You want to continue to deny this and claim some false holier-than-thou altruism. You only chose to acknowledge one side. You and many like you on this board do it all the fucking time. You are such pathetic simple minded children. You will never appeal to people like me, because you are incapable of looking into something with a logical viewpoint.

Remind me again how Wal-Mart is an evil-energy wasting company? Have they developed special tractor trailers that emit twice the carbon monoxide/dioxide than any other tractor trailer, just because they have a secret agenda against the ozone? Do they require all drivers to spil out 15 gallons of fuel on the ground first before filling their tanks? I'm confused.

[Xatrei]

http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/4716.aspx

Wal-Mart to Open First High-Efficiency Store; Supercenter Expected to Use 20 Percent Less Energy
<snip>

They're facts because Walmart tells me so! It even says so in their web address.

[Aslanna]

Let's take a step back. You want to trash and hate Wal-Mart because it is a huge sucessful company. You gladly jump on the bandwagon against the big guy. I'm just acknowledging you are doing so. You want to continue to deny this and claim some false holier-than-thou altruism. You only chose to acknowledge one side. You and many like you on this board do it all the fucking time. You are such pathetic simple minded children. You will never appeal to people like me, because you are incapable of looking into something with a logical viewpoint.

Seriously.. What drugs are you on?

None of my posts in this thread can be considered 'trash and hate' against Wal-Mart unless you're a mental simpleton. Which I guess means you have an excuse.

Remind me again how Wal-Mart is an evil-energy wasting company? Have they developed special tractor trailers that emit twice the carbon monoxide/dioxide than any other tractor trailer, just because they have a secret agenda against the ozone? Do they require all drivers to spil out 15 gallons of fuel on the ground first before filling their tanks? I'm confused.

Please point out where anyone said they were an evil energy-wasting company. I was simply disagreeing with you calling their shipping methods 'energy efficient'. Not being energy efficient doesn't necessarily mean energy wasting. If anyone is unable to acknowledge logical viewpoints here it would be you.

[Sylvus]

I'll play along for a little bit.

Let's take a step back. You want to trash and hate Wal-Mart because it is a huge sucessful company. You gladly jump on the bandwagon against the big guy. I'm just acknowledging you are doing so. You want to continue to deny this and claim some false holier-than-thou altruism. You only chose to acknowledge one side. You and many like you on this board do it all the fucking time. You are such pathetic simple minded children. You will never appeal to people like me, because you are incapable of looking into something with a logical viewpoint.

Remind me again how Wal-Mart is an evil-energy wasting company? Have they developed special tractor trailers that emit twice the carbon monoxide/dioxide than any other tractor trailer, just because they have a secret agenda against the ozone? Do they require all drivers to spil out 15 gallons of fuel on the ground first before filling their tanks? I'm confused.

For a guy who claims to have the eagle-eye when looking at the big picture, you're ironically myopic. "You want to trash and hate Wal-Mart because it is a huge sucessful company." Why would anyone want to trash a company for being successful? People are trashing Wal-Mart, in spite of its successes, because of the unfair or downright "bad" practices it engages in, many of which are detailed in this thread. If you were to say that those practices are more easily visible - or more often pointed out by the media - because Wal-Mart is a huge successful company, that is fair. If Wal-Mart were as big as it is today while engaging in practices that actively reduced pollution, paid a good wage and provided adequate benefits to its employees, and didn't engage in practices that violated laws including but not limited to child labor laws, I can guarantee you that Aslanna wouldn't be talking about them in this thread. The thread probably wouldn't exist. Do I expect Wal-Mart to operate that way? Absolutely not, though it would be nice if they did. And until they do operate that way, this is a reasonable discussion to engage in.

Are you denying that Wal-Mart is an "evil-energy wasting company"? (evil-energy, what?) Or are you trying to say that they are the same as any other huge company? You fall into that trap all the time. If someone points out a specific instance of malfeasance by one entity, you dismiss it out of hand because it's a general problem that they aren't the only ones guilty of. I don't see any problem leaving my refrigerator door open to cool my house while I'm at work, other people are wasting energy too. The only behavior that I've seen around here that reminds me of a simple-minded child is when someone unquestioningly accepts the status quo and thinks that something is cool to do just because everyone else is doing it. Which has pretty much been your m.o. since the day that I must have wronged a gypsy or something and was cursed to forever endure your never-ending bullshit.

In summation, I think you're merely defending Wal-Mart because it's one of the few convenient places that you and your family are welcomed with open arms. Circus sideshows involve too much travel and the desert from The Hills Have Eyes is already occupied. Wal-Mart is conveniently located in thousands of communities all around the world, so you can feel at home away from home wherever you go. Just to make sure that my metaphors are coming through clearly, I'm likening you and your family to a group of inbred, troglodytic mutants. Who shop at Wal-Mart.

That's just my opinion though.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Your post proves my point. People just love to tear down the big guy. All people who shop at Wal-Mart are inbred, red necks? Your small-minded comments are laughable and only go to prove my assertions about people like you. You're a sad little man.

[Fash]

I'm kind of anti-walmart myself, but it doesn't stop me from shopping there. I don't think there should be a walmart in every city because they kill local business. It stops someone from starting a business in their area selling house-wares and what-not, because they could never compete with a mega-global corporation who can spread their income and expenses across the entire world. It stifles competition and creativity and also sucks money out of every local economy. Of course, they aren't the only ones doing it, but that doesn't make it ok. It also puts a lot of eggs in one basket, where if a walmart disappears the community may go a long time without similar access to products and services and may wind up just putting those eggs in another mega-global corporations basket.

Look at ISP's... People were starting ISP's in their houses... It was a booming and competitive business market that just about anyone could get involved in on the cheap. Now, it's all controlled by monstrous corporations, and you have no chance competing against them.

I think it's kind of unfair to point to the energy usage of the company, which I could care less about (it's relevance in this discussion was that since energy prices are going up, walmart might be negatively impacted) because even in walmarts absence, if every item they would've sold would've been purchased anyways, the energy would've been used to get it there regardless.

I'm also anti-union, yet pro Quebec's approach to it... If a majority of the employees at an organization feel they're being fucked, they have some serious power to cock-slap the employer. I think just having this fear could help some corporations act properly. I don't like Walmart's response to it... They should have taken their beating and experimented with the union store for a while instead of killing it before it even got off the ground.

[Spang]

Your post proves my point. People just love to tear down the big guy. All people who shop at Wal-Mart are inbred, red necks? Your small-minded comments are laughable and only go to prove my assertions about people like you. You're a sad little man.

Here are a few reasons why some people hate Wal-Mart: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline ... mart/view/

[Sylvus]

All people who shop at Wal-Mart are inbred, red necks?

No, I said that your family is inbred, and that you shop at Wal-Mart. Independent variables. There was no mention of rednecks. Lots of people shop at Wal-Mart, a large number of whom are probably intelligent, well-rounded people. People who are not intolerant of other cultures or lifestyles, or stubbornly, hypocritically ignorant. The only group of inbred mutants that I was speaking of was your family, and even that may have been too harsh. It's quite possible that whatever is wrong with you is caused by a recessive gene, and for the sake of the future of humanity I hope that your wife's genes, the environment your children were raised in, or some other random variant has not expressed the same phenotype in your descendants.

Get it straight.

[Boogahz]

Look at ISP's... People were starting ISP's in their houses... It was a booming and competitive business market that just about anyone could get involved in on the cheap. Now, it's all controlled by monstrous corporations, and you have no chance competing against them.

Well, many of those people starting ISP's out of their houses were using the infrastructure of the "monstrous corporations." It is no surprise who will come ahead in that situation. It would be like that same Houseware store opening up, but using Wal-Mart as the supplier for the goods.