Yes Steve, they need to unionize to make $30.00 an hour or more with full benefits and legacy costs.

It takes a tremendous amount of effort to stock those shelves or to utter, "Welcome to WalMart".

unionizing is never about effort.

Constantly, we talk about "Teamwork" and how we value it.

In sports, when the team wins, everyone benefits... players, owners, managers.

In business, when you're dealing with people's livelihoods, when the business wins, only the owners benefit and the players (and sometimes managers) are forced into slavery because the benefits of winning are not shared among those who played the game, and unless the players continue to play the game for less and less benefit, they will lose their livelihood - and sometimes their lives.

Unions protect Americans.

In a time today where corporations hold no national loyalty to the USA and will fire every American they employ and ship their entire operations to a foreign nation if they deem it profitable, unions are more important than ever.

In a multi-billion dollar corporation where every employee's effort results in profit, not revenue, but pure profit of over $60 per person per hour, a $20/hr raise per person per hour isn't prohibitive to a healthy profit.

Unfortunately, a healthy profit margin to short-term greedy people like yourself is whatever amount you can avoid paying everyone that works to make your business possible to exist.

You don't hate work, you just hate workers.

You don't hate America, you just hate Americans.

The majority of Wal Mart workers like their jobs. When openings come up at Wal Mart they get 10 to 100 times the applicants as job openings. Quit spreading the "union" mantra. If you unionize Wal Mart people will go find a cheaper store to do business. How about if we just say that if you belong to a union that you can only spend your money in a union store?

I throw this in the category of when teenagers paint swastikas on public property and then the local law enforcement launches an investigation into whether the Third Reich is on the rise. Complete waste of public resources trying to find a kid that doesn't even understand the symbolism except for its shock value.

Cynically speaking, if there was ever an announcement at my local Wal-Mart for all white people to leave the store, I'd just figure it was about time; me and the other five or so white people would just file out the door. :D

"Attention Wal-Mart customers: All black people leave the store now."

I'm so sick of certain people being so sensitive! Why is this racism?!!! They were probably just inviting them all to a special sale in the parking lot! They should feel privileged. Sheesh! extreme sarcasm

dewintre200...

Cynically speaking, if there was ever an announcement at my local Wal-Mart for all white people to leave the store, I'd just figure it was about time; me and the other five or so white people would just file out the door. :D

Congratulations on knowing what blacks feel every day of their lives...to be the only one (or one of a minute few) in a group of white people. But seriously, most people would just go to another Wal Mart if they were you, so good for you that you don't buy into the "fear factor" some people use with skin color.

To those that say lighten up...it was a prank...I think you should have been a black person at that Walmart at the time and see how funny you would think it was.

"You don't hate work, you just hate workers. You don't hate America, you just hate Americans."

Right out of the Communist Manifesto, Page one, Paragraph one. Unions were vital at the turn of the 20th century. Now unions are for unions only and don't give a whiff about the workers as long as they continue to pay their dues and finance unions' parties in Hawaii. But this isn't about unions; it is about WalMart, where many people work to support themselves and their families. How much would each be making working for small independent stores that WalMart replaced? Less than the minimum wage, that's what, and no job security or benefits. At a time when jobs are priceless, we don't need a union in between us and our employers.

@ dan 42day...I'm black and I'm OFLMBAO!

But this just goes to show that there are still some ingnorant color-struck people out there that have nothing better to do.

Where's that Budweiser truck at again?

LOL!!! That was likely most of the store customers!

As to the "Union" issue that seemed to come out of nowhere, I'd like to add my 2 cents -- I agree that Unions do a lot to protect American workers and most businesses overcompensate those at the top compared to those who actually do the hardest part of the work. But like all institutions, Unions have become corrupted and now don't always exist to protect American jobs per se, but their own jobs. Also, what I see with unionized workers versus those who are not is the incentive to work hard has been removed with so many layers of protection. That isn't to say their aren't hard workers amongst the many union employees, but they are because it is their OWN individual work ethic and they maintain that even when they really have no incentive to continue to do so. Most people require some incentives to make them work hard and efficiently...unions have removed much of that and thus have encouraged incompetence and laziness. And these people are often paid as much with their basic education as doctors and lawyers with their long years of education. Ridiculous! It's time to either go back to basics on this or give up unions altogether.

Would that have included African Americans and persons of color?

(There is an old, and tasteless joke about African Americans being asked to disembark a plane, and then Blacks, and then Colored People, etc...)

Maybe someone was "joking" around, but still totally tasteless.

JH-479998

The majority of Wal Mart workers like their jobs. When openings come up at Wal Mart they get 10 to 100 times the applicants as job openings

Wow, really? It's really hard to believe that majority like their job with little or no benefits at $6.00-7.00 per hr. You can't live on your own with that amount, live comfortable nor support a family. Reason why Wal Mart gets 10 to 100 times the applicants as job openings is because those are the only jobs available in that area. Remember? Walmart drove alot of small business out by undercutting costs. Then raise the prices back up once the small business goes out of business. Also alot of them are applying out of sheer desperation and not because they love to work there.

Nice try. You must own Walmart stocks or work for them (higher management)

@ Greg...It would have included me because I'm Black. I don't buy into that "African-American" label. 1. Never been to Africa, 2. Wouldn't white South Africans be considered African-Americans too? I'm just plain ole black folks. (with flava) LOL

boogablue

Let me understand this!

$20/hr raise per person per hour isn't prohibitive to a healthy profit.

You are proposing Unions pay each worker $30/hr. to stock shelves in a wholesale store?

For a 5-day work week that would be more than $62,000/yr. - not including benefits!

Good Luck with that one!

Unions protect Americans.

From what, WORKING!

Oh by the way, WORK is getting paid 8 hours work for 8 hours worth of prodution!

For the record unions do protect a lot of people: The lazy, the drug addicts (especially when said behavior has a high probability of causing the deaths of other workers), those with no marketable job skills and an undo sense of entitlement, children of union officers, people who fake medical injuries....

Getting back to the actual story: Someone using the paging system isn't particularly hard. The phones were fairly visible in the last Wal-Mart I ever visited and activating the paging is a skill set so complex you need at least... 2... maybe 3 functioning brain cells to work out. I'm predicting some great copycat behavior to come out of this. This might actually be funnier than those losers who call 911 over fast food orders. (And won't tie up vital police services, so double bonus!!)

And the pulling of the Race-Card commences.

Quit collapsing all the funny comments you oversensitive pansies!

I gots to hurry up 'n pay for my XXL wife beater shirt an my Nascar poster so I kin git back thar to the beers.

Yeah, if the announcer said for all white people to leave the store, it would be no news at all.

All the funny comments are collapsed. Interesting how some engage in censorship under the sham of protecting someone’s feelings.

Dan your comment was funny because it was all-inclusive. Good joke, good job. Too funny.

Probably a Wal-Mart employee themselves did it!!(Manager) Afterall they did just fire a terminally ill man for medical pot.....

Funny comments herein, but with an edge of truth.

Whomever made the alleged statement was likely spouting off without being aware that the microphone was switched on. Sometimes what was meant as a localized joke can become a humiliating error, when no harm was intended. It is quite possible that two Black associates were kidding around. Whatever the case, it is shameful--even as a private joke.

Considering it is the shoppers who pay the wages with their purchases, I suppose there are some out there who wouldn't mind paying more for WalMart goods so their employees could get higher pay. Wouldn't bother me. I stopped shopping at WalMart many years ago.

I was brought up that "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me", when did that change? That being said, did they all leave? Just curious....

It never amazes me when I read things like this:

Most people require some incentives to make them work hard and efficiently...unions have removed much of that and thus have encouraged incompetence and laziness. And these people are often paid as much with their basic education as doctors and lawyers with their long years of education. Ridiculous!

First let me qualify my dismay at this kind of statement by letting you know that I not only have one bachelor degree, but two. Second the statement "Most people require some incentives to make them work hard and efficiently" reads, at least to me, of a "slave driver" in that people that work for a living are nothing more than chattel for the benefit of the "privileged" or those in "authority". I believe people whose incentive's are by their own needs and wants, not by what others perceive as "good" work ethics of others to benefit them. That is why there is a need for unions (no I do not belong to one, and as long as I can keep my employees feeling like they are sharing in the benefits of my business, they have not asked for one) because most managers and corporate hierarchy would be blatant of taking advantage of laborers, you know...maximize profit. Third, why do people think that just because you have "more" or "better" education, automatically you are entitled to greater compensation? Especially the lawyers, what social redeeming value do they bring to the table? Would you not think that the EMP saving your life at the scene of an accident is worth more than all the education of an Ivy league school barrister? Or how about that truck driver running across country with the responsibility to safely haul your food or for that matter poisonous gas? Our society does not reward based on the critical nature of ones work, but on how much education you might have?

I would bet money that it was a Union thug community agitator.

RobWI,

You forgot to mention that not everyone has parents who have enough money to put them through the ivy league educational system. Some people think that their born-in status gives them the right to look down at everyone else as inferior.

Why in the hell is this NOT front page news, and also buried in a "foot note" on MSNBC's Internet News Page! Is MSNBC afraid of WALMART and it advertising money that they might loose on MSNBC-TV, NBC-TV, and NBC Radio? I have built some of these Walmart's, and the intercom, and the managers office are highly secure areas! MSNBC / NBC should be ASHAMED for their actions! RACISM is RACISM no matter how you want to hide it, or color it so it doesn't really appear to be there! This news about a Walmart is DEPLORABLE, but MSNBC / NBC hiding it as a 'back page issue' is reprehensible!

Absolutely - worked in Detroit !! And puts you right in line for SELL YOUR VOTE and receive your piece of the "bail-out" money ....

JG 479998 The last group to unionize Wmart was outsourced.

I worked a few years ago as a seasonal employee at Sam's Club, because I wanted to get the Wii my son wanted for Christmas (I had another regular full time job, one I'm still employed at). I was hired at $11 dollars an hour to start (and would have received more had I not taken two years off to have my son), with promises of a raise if I were hired on full time.

They weigh your work history as to what they hire you in at. I still, occasionally, see people I use to work with, as I recall, most of us were hired at $9 or better. The Walmart myths are soooo damn funny.

Edit, I will say however, the vast majority of people who shop at Walmart and Sam's Club are trashy people with extremely RUDE manners, if they have any at all. I, myself, will not go near either store, If I can help it, but most especially I wont enter one on the weekends or in the evenings. Frankly, I haven't been in either store in about 2 years...

I'd like to see McDonald's paying $30/hr. I've always wondered what a $50 cheeseburger tastes like.

Here's a hint for morons and union agitators: The money for payroll doesn't come out of the "profits" column. It comes out of the "retail price" column. Ditto for taxes.

My nearby "inner city" Walmart just closed down and moved to the suburbs to within just a few miles of an already established "superstore". I asked the manager, who was an acquaintance, why? He said that he just couldn't afford all of his customers and employees stealing him blind anymore. The vast majority of customers and employees were black. He himself is black.

hahahaha if i were there i would have been on the ground laughing my a$$ off hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Oh please! I worked in a Wal-Mart for almost 7 years. It was years of hell!! The intercom system is there for anyone and everyone to use!! It still remains so in the newer stores. I enjoyed the first couple years, when Sam Walton was still alive. It was a family oriented store. It all went downhill when he died. The final straw that made me quit: I was a CSM (customer service manager) in charge of the checkouts. It was a particularly busy day and raining. In my area, when it rains, they all go shopping. Anyway, I was told that I had to yank a cashier off a register and have said cashier walk people out to their cars with an umbrella. The lines were well over 10 people deep and I had all available people, even floor people, running every register. I told my manager that it was impossible, so I got written up. I quit 2 days later. That is the bull@!$%# you put up with working for Wal-Mart.

I wished they said, would all the illegal aliens please leave the store and the country. We live in Garland Texas which is safe haven for these criminals. There is a Nasty WalMart store within a mile from our home, which is full of illegal Mexicans. They drag their family of 12 into the store. The babies are screaming, the kids or opening toy packages and playing with the toys and dropping where the left them on the floor. The garments in the clothing department or pulled off the hangers and tried on and then just dropped on the floor. The store's stock is in complete disarray and the store is filthy and this store is only a year old. On the other end of the spectrum there is another store two years old about 6 miles away that is clean and orderly and guess what maybe 10% mexican shop there. I will not shop walmart ever. My partner does all the shopping and he'll drive the 6 miles to the better store. Call me a bigot I don't care, but this government needs to start doing it's job and inforcing the laws and ship these blood suckers back to mexico.

I was in a Walmart once and two black kids got on the mike and said, "F**k you mutherf***ers" over the mike.

I understand why the black people are upset, but I don't know why they would hold Walmart completely responsible. It was probably an idiot employee or smart a** customer doing it. So if the lady don't want to go back in there, find somewhere else to shop. You can't control morons these days.

Unions kept people from getting killed in unsafe working conditions and HELPED (did not garentee) "comperable" wages. Atleast that is the reasion unions were first formed.

Today: Unions DESTROY business, and stifle economic growth.

This cannot be argued. They force business to hire less people, they sue if an employee is fired, and they ring every last economic drop out of the company claiming it is for the good of the workers. I'm a UPS Vet, and Unions were a good idea. Now they are simply cancer in a global economy. Unionizing anything will garentee sending jobs overseas.

Also, this was funny. If it had said "All white people" this wouldnt have made it in the news, and i would have still laughed. Black men and women are not these pathetic hyper sensative weaklings that need "us" (white folks) to pamper them. Just like eveybody else they can appreciate the HARMLESS antics of some dumb kid. This isnt racism, this is somebody being a dumb kid. So pretend to be an adult for a while and just leave this be.

It probably was some black guy having a good laugh. I cracked up when I read this and probably would have laughed out loud in the store if I had been there. I'm black. Lighten up people!

Yeah right!!

...customers and store employees looked stunned.

lmao....I could only imagine! Well, whether this idiot (probably under 18), asked black, white, red, or whatever color of people to leave the store on a PA system, I think it's kinda funny. I wonder how many people actually left the store? lol

While I understand the need to "investigate", what are they going to do if/when their big investigation determines who did this?

This couldn't have happened in Jersey because the announcement didn't start with, YO, YO!

But seriously, this sounds like a dumb prank by some moron that figured out how to use the PA system. I seriously doubt that anyone was offended, and even if they were, the bigger deal you make about it, the more power you give to the idiot that was looking for a reaction.

Come on folks don't we have bigger fish to fry???

Sorry if I offended any fish during the making of this comment.

Actually, if you consider motive (who would most likely benefit), it seems most likely an African American did this stunt. Let's wait to see who files the lawsuits which are surely to come.

This is a form of extortion that Jesse Jackson made famous. I still laugh about the fact that NASCAR paid Jesse $250,000 to keep him from picketing events and declaring all who are involved with the sport are racists.

Its a prank. I've used to work in Circuit City and we would sometimes make jokes on the announcement system. I remember a guy announcing a co-worker has to "report to the restrooms with a toothbrush" and other silly stuff like that. It was hilarious. Even the managers laughed.

People are getting overly sensitive because there is race involved. Lighten up !

I'm black.

LOL! You look green to me...

or Burple

Well black people do have a sort of public relations problem.

A waitress told me recently that she never had a problem before she waited tables, but that they generally DON'T tip and they're ruder than the other customers. And that's not the first time I've heard that blacks don't tip. Would be interesting to hear some feedback from others in the service industry.

Exactly! This is like Pam from the Office farting around on a store PA system. "Luke, I'm your father!"

dewintre200 Your waitress friend is most likely a racist liar. The fact is, Black people "over-tip" because they don't want to be perceived as unworthy of the service being rendered. Have you ever wondered why Black people always end up paying full MSRP for cars and other goods? They are so grateful that they are even being considered worthy of buying the car in the first place. Again, your friend is just a racist liar.

"But every race have their own quarks and vices, Even mine is a bad bunch of people, Beer drinkers church going mindless buffoons..."

After reading this and the rest of your comment, you did not have to tell us that.

Hardlaborer, are you discriminating against waitresses?

Hardlaborer:

When I was a waitress some years ago the case was VERY TRUE in that a group of say 8 black people would ocme in and their bill would be 60 or 70 dollars and they would leave only a $2.00 tip.

As for paying the full MSRP for your car dont blame it on being black blame it on being a DUMBASS consumer.

mr_arcadian:

Black people are rude, untrustworthy, they think the world owes them a favor or two.

dewintre:

Well black people do have a sort of public relations problem.

WTF??? I was in the service industry for 22 years. There was absolutely no distinction between races when it came to gratuity. I simply provided the most excellent service to my clients no matter what they looked like. Maybe your friend makes assumptions about people ahead of time, and doesn't offer equal service to everyone and therefore doesn't provide service worthy of tipping. Anyone that groups an entire race together like that is a racist. Your friend is an idiot.

That being said, there are people that don't believe in tipping no matter what. In my experience, those people come in all colors, and are so few and far in between it is impossible to give it a second thought.

eldorado:

Blacks don't tip...... they are proud that whites serving blacks..........

"they are proud that whites (are) serving blacks" you have GOT to be kidding. Maybe this is your view of how you think blacks should feel???

Here we go spreading sterotypical bullsh!t!...Blacks don't tip..That's like saying all whites smell like dogs when they're wet. I ALWAYS tip. It may not be what they feel they deserve, but it's what I can afford. If they don't like it, they can gladly hand it back to me. But to say blacks don't tip is utterly STUPID. This is how such crap spreads and becomes facts to you non-black folks.

I would have gone searching for the nearest intercom and said, "Why, is there free watermelon outside?" Now, this kind of crap, I don't get sensitive about. I mean, who the hell doesn't like watermelon? But, the things that dewintre are arcadia say, yeah, that's something I get rather pissed at.

I wonder what would have happened if they had said, "Will all people with an IQ over 50 and good taste please leave the store"?

Probably nothing.

Ah yes, the infamous Jersey Hillbilly. A true recluse of his kind. Thanks for the laugh Chris.

They're called "Pineys" and they usually have the sticker of what exit they live off of on the Parkway on their vehicle; and the number on that sticker is usually below 80! AND, they drive pickup trucks with a confederate flag emblazoned somewhere on it. All kidding aside, having grown up in Nashville TN, it shocked me to realize the fact that Nashville was less racist that south Jersey. It's a little creepy south of the Raritan Bridge.

I've waited tables at one time and have found that the elderly are the worst tippers.

Greg 28912

I wonder what would have happened if they had said, "Will all people with an IQ over 50 and good taste please leave the store"?

Probably nothing

Thanks for proving you are a worthless racist by insinuating all blacks are stupid and have poor taste.

Please tell me you are kidding or have misworded this.

The demographics says it all.

That city is less than 9000 people and only 0.86% black. median family income, 88000. Oh and it's only 3 square miles in area. Stupid white boy prank.

Oh and how can the police investigate anything? There is no crime here. If stupidity and bigotry were a crime then, well you figure it out...

I'm pretty sure that he was just saying that ANYONE who shops at Walmart has poor taste, not just black people. It was a joke; you're reading way too much into it.

Kpokeefe, you don't know the half of it. A number of years ago jessie told budweiser he was going to have the blacks in Chicago boycott bud unless he gave HIS SON a exclusive north side (where all the bud gets consumed, but has very few blacks) distributorship. Extortion that would have made the mob proud.

Once again, ignorance and racism is proudly showing it's ass on NV.

Please, try to grasp this simple, simple truth....

the color of one's skin has absolutely nothing to do with their character, intellect, or personality.

Race does not determine if people give tips, fly jets, cut hair, or anything else. Saying otherwise is like holding up a big sign proclaiming that you are a moron, if not a racist moron.

It is 2010 and people are still this damn dumb.

But when I read NV, I could swear it's 1962.

That was way too funny an event. Wish I was there. Lighten up people. It was very funny and if it upset some people then that's just too bad. Remember the old time comedians? They insulted EVERYONE and people thought they were great! Very funny.

howquickly:

"Thanks for proving you are a worthless racist by insinuating all blacks are stupid and have poor taste.

Please tell me you are kidding or have misworded this."

Actually, I think you misread this. He was insinuating that all of the people there (white, black, Asian, etc) were stupid. Hence why if they made an announcement for people with higher IQs and good taste to leave, nothing would happen. His comment had nothing to do with race.

funny, funny, ha, ha. I am so sick of folks telling others to lighten up. This was a stupid and crude joke. Any intelligent, sensitive person should have been offended of any color. A sad state of affairs when folks have to offend others to get a laugh.

OMG, I am still laughing at this one, that was way too funny, love to shake the hand of the funny guy that pulled that one off. I only wish I could have been there to have heard it and seen the looks on their faces, priceless.

12 pack of soda at NJ Walmart: 2.99

5 gallon jug of laundry detergent: 3.99

Seeing the looks on all the black peoples faces when told to get out: PRICELESS....LOL

Watch how you use the word " hillbilly " you might be one yourself.

probably some spanish chick

Howquickly,

Me believes who the REAL racist is....................

Well it isn’t intended to go to court – the negotiations will take place behind closed doors and involve a threat to fill the store and parking lot with “wounded” blacks protesting their indignation over this “racial incident” at not only that store but dozens of others across the country – they might bring in some self-righteous ministers, the NAACP and ACLU just to muscle up the threat … so Wal-Mart will quietly settle and sign a non disclosure writ guaranteeing no one will know what really went on … think of it as kind of a fund raiser … they’ll split the goodies and look for another opportunity … it's been working pretty good so far .... ask our President - didn't he help "organize" these neighborhood sorties?

Oh please... It could have been anybody. The intercom sysyems in bog box stores are hardly well protected.

you mean peopleofwalmart.com ? that stuffs classic

what the hell has the union got to do with this @!$%# Eddie? Union Hater,

"under investigation" LMFAO, what law was broken? is there a law against the first amendment, the only ones who can do anything is walmart, if they can show on a camera where people actually left the store without purchasing they MAY be able to collect on lass sales,

I guess eddie s is content to make almost nothing an hour and be treated like cattle. That's WAY better than decent money and respect. Why NOT put more millions in the hands of the Waltons? Worshipping rich folks is what got us where we're at today.

correction, "loss of sales"

Ok, so what you're saying is that union people are so stupid that they would pull a prank like this to bring down a company that is non-union.

And, as far as not wanting a union to represent them, then tell them to quit their job w/benefits and try getting their wage and benefits on the open market with a nonunion job. LOL My dad spent his career with at&t breaking unions. He'd go work for weeks working in the desert to keep the company running without the employee's help. Management loved him. So much he got to be management himself. Now he has a golden parachute retirement plan. I know lots of union workers who are very happy with their union and it's representatives. Oh, and their benefits. And not a one of them is dumb enough to pull a stunt like this.

Walmart gaters

Go start your own store and show them...............

CommonSenseDude

Walmart gaters

Go start your own store and show them...............

Good luck with that. Many thousands have tried but failed. Walmart undercut their prices until it drove them out of business. And once they are gone, drove the prices back up. No wonder they are universally hated everywhere.

with all the in-store phones placed around the place......anyone could have made that page.

And since the vast majority of those camera domes and bubbles are EMPTY.....good luck finding footage of the culprit.

This is not news! It was an insensitive prank. But because race was in it, NOW it is national news. Get over the race B.S. Our economy is in the toilet. We are in another war that cannot be won. The banking system is starting the same non-sense that got us into this position and we are talking about a adolescent prank!

C'mon, don't be so naive to automatically assume a white person did this. It could've just as likely been a black person.

Gaithersburger, when you use the word "white trash" i will counter with "it could have been black trash also"

read post 2.1, Donna is an american, we are equal americans, you on the other hand are a racist bee eye tea see H

Derrick:

But, you have to admit no one does trash like whites.

True, Derrick, True!(White Trash American-lol)

what ??????

if you are insinuating that only whites do these things, you better back up and read the news on the recent noose in the library on a collage campus, it was a "minority" that excludes whites, if I got your statement wrong, please do explain, and accept my apologies, if not I will give you more unremorsefully,

Derrick, lighten up dude. I am white and it was a joke. You are awfully uptight.

LOL LOL LOL.

Probably. LOL LOL LOL.

How do you know it's White Trash Day at Walmart?

The store is open?

Slam!

Reality is though that Wally World is an equal opportunity collector of dumbasses. I hate going there. I really hate it when my t-shirt is too small and my gut is hanging out in the breeze. At least that hopefully draws away attention from the fact that I am house slippers instead of shoes and jogging pants are in the 8th day of service.

I cannot type, I prove the above is true. Should read as.....

Slam!

Reality is though that Wally World is an equal opportunity collector of dumbasses. I hate going there. I really hate it when my t-shirt is too small and my gut is hanging out in the breeze. At least that hopefully draws away attention from the fact that I am wearing house slippers instead of shoes and my jogging pants are in the 8th day of service

sheese

I counter with NO ONE does RACISM like blacks....NO ONE!

Blacks tend to see racism everywhere they look in even the most innocent of words, deeds or actions. Heck, blacks see racism from not being picked first at 'Duck Duck Goose' on the school yard playground to driving 45 miles an hour on the freeway in the fast-lane and can't figure out why the cops pulled them over to picking on kids who speak correct English as being too 'white' to not understanding why a Ebonics filled resume and pigeon English didn't get them a job they think they are entitled to...

I hate when the pot screams black at the kettle, oh wait I'm sure someone of 'color' will find racism in that too! *end of snark*

White trash day at walmart is redundant!

And being jealous of 'white skin' isn't?

lol
If they said whatever.
They didn't so stop making excuses.

Just more racist showing their true colors.

If the announcement was "All white people, please leave the store." There would have been some, any, African American's, they could even minutely pin the charge on, face plastered on every evening news story's chyron. WalMart would have made sure of it!

Walmart protects its European American customer base without question. WITHOUT QUESTION. It caters to them above every other American sub-culture. Without European American gullibility in WalMart's pro-protectionist statement that they sold only "100% Made In The USA" goods in the late 1980's and early 1990's, WalMart would still be about the same size as KMart.

Some European Americans, even today, believe that the majority of the foreign-manufactured goods sold by WalMart are "100% Made In The USA."

It is sad. I got tired of all the racism I see here, so I have started a folder in which I save racist comments I encounter reading NV. It is getting bigger every day.

At some point I'll write an article about it. And these statements I've saved are not border line either, they are flat out, blatant, racism. Stereotype city.

If they said asked all white people to leave the store all the ones complaining now would then say "They are being racist by not asking the black people to leave". Just no pleasing some people. I think it was a very funny practical joke that's all.

I agree....the announcer should have said "All people that ended up on one of those 'People of Wal-Mart emails that I get mailed to me and have me laughing so hard I cannot see for hours' should leave now."

The country may have been built by unions but now it is being destroyed by them. A union tried to unionize my sons business. The union has nothing invested in the business but wanted to tell him how much to pay his employees, when they will work, what kind of vacation times they will have and more. What they were demanding was going to destroy the business. He decided to sell it instead. The new owners got stuck with the union and were out of business within a year.

I now know why people take their businesses overseas.

Sounds more like the mafia Jaeger.

Truthisoutthere - I've got all that without the union.

I doubt very much that Walmart provides fewer benefits or pays their people less than any other store, be it Target, K-Mart, Sears, Penneys, Dillards, etc., grocery stores or your local convenience store. People who work in retail sales rarely make much more than minimum wage. It's sad really, that they don't pay their employees more. Everyone who works should make a decent wage. I've worked in retail stores and it's not easy work. They do a whole lot more than stand at a cash register and ring sales. Plus the fact they have to deal with rude people who might be having a bad day and seem to think abusing someone who is trying to help them will make it all okay.

Lets see now; If everyone unionizes, everyone will make more money...of course then all prices go up... so the ONLY winners would be union fatcats!

If somyone spends seven years to become an electrician, why does it take only four to become an EE? Oh! I see, no stupid union rules in the university! Seems there is excessive IR loss between the iPod earbuds!

Grandma, please read http://wakeupwalmart.com/facts/ and educate yourself. It's been well known that walmart pays poverty wages.

While I think it's insane to suggest that Walmart employees should be paid $30.00 an hour, their employees are underpaid.

$7.00 an hour from a corporation the size of Walmart is naked greed.

If you can't afford to pay your people a starting wage of at least $12.00 an hour when you are the size of Walmart, then you shouldn't be in business. I shop at Safeway even though it costs me more, precisely for this reason.

I doubt people who say they are with a union really are when they suggest ludicrous stuff like paying Walmart employees $30.00/hr. No sensible person is suggesting that.

They are likely just anti-union, or maybe Walmart brass, trying to portray unions as being as greedy as they are.

$7.00/hr is shameful for a big corporation. Shameful. they ought pay nearly twice that and they could, were they not the epitome of greed.

As a teacher with eleven years of experience in the state of North Carolina, I make about thirteen dollars an hour after taxes, maybe about $17.00 before taxes. I wonder, if a Walmart employee should get twelve bucks an hour for stocking shelves, what do you think teachers should be paid? I don't think the answer is necessarily more taxes to pay our teachers---there is a lot of wasteful spending in education, as occurs in any government funded job, but I am pretty sure that your taxes would have to increase to pay teachers a salary competitive with other jobs that require college degrees. This all comes down to choice, once again. People have a choice about where they work and what kind of jobs they take--I include myself here. I don't think of Walmart as a big corporation so much as a company that was started by lots of hard work. Why shouldn't the person/family who worked hard reap the benefits? It takes ridiculous amounts of work and sacrifice to build a large company. Why are they obligated to pay someone twelve bucks an hour to stock shelves when the job is not worth twelve bucks an hour? This belief reminds me of people who think that people who make more money should be taxed at ridiculous rates---when you punish the industrious, you stop industry.

I think that if you are a full time teacher in an average size district, you are woefully underpaid. but you say it's your choice. If that's the way you feel then what are you complaining about? You must be among the lowest paid teachers in the nation, but if it suits you, that's fine by me. Enjoy your paycheck.

Do you think you could support your family on less money than you make now? That is of course, assuming you have one? Do you expect others to? Are you aware of where the poverty line is?

I've done a very wide range of work in my life, you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you. Though there are exceptions, I have found that the more difficult and dirty a job is the less it usually pays...unless of course unemployment is critically low, say < 2%. At a certain point low compensation becomes exploitation, just like price gouging.

I have no trouble with saying that Walmart is not only a large corporation, but the largest retailer in the world. I have little doubt that those who built WalMart are not only those who are at the executive level, but regular employees as well. Do they deserve anything more than near minimum wage for their part in growing the company? Try doing it without them.

I believe that honest work is honest work and it deserves honest pay. I do not believe that the disparity in pay that exists in this country is right, fair, or healthy for the nation. The disparity has been growing since the 60s, and I don't see that society is any better off for it.

The gulf between rich and poor can only be so large before society becomes dysfunctional. We don't have much farther to go in my opinion, we are likely already there.

You are entitled to your opinion, which no doubt is different than mine, but I am entitled to mine as well, and so we will just have to disagree.

I am not complaining, and that is my point. For all of us, if we don't like where we work or what we get paid, then we need to find employment elsewhere. I hold myself to that standard and expect Walmart workers to do the same. As far as the workers creating Walmart's success, it seems to me that the workers mentioned in this article certainly aren't helping Walmart right now. Could I support my family on less than I make now? Probably--with some changes in lifestyle, but that too is my point. Jobs like Walmart aren't supposed to support families. If you want to support a family, you need to get an education or a marketable skill. I've worked at a grocery store before. Why should Walmart cashiers make more than the cashiers at Joe Shmoe Grocery just because the owners are more successful?A job is worth a certain amount, and that's it. I see your point about the growing disparity between rich and poor, but paying Walmart workers more is not the answer. We've seen this with increases to minimum wage; it just drives inflation. I still believe that if we want to close the disparity between rich and poor, we need to do more in the way of providing vocational training for those who don't want to pursue college, and that's a whole different ball of yarn. Then too there is the problem that we cannot MAKE people want to be educated.

we need to do more in the way of providing vocational training for those who don't want to pursue college, and that's a whole different ball of yarn.

I certainly agree with that.

If you want to support a family, you need to get an education or a marketable skill.

And I agree with that as well.

However, I do feel that the size of a corporation does have a bearing on what they should pay. If they want employees to feel like they are a part of the team, then do not offer them lip service, make them a part of the team. Give them a stake in the success or failure of company.

If all the company is ever going to pay them is what they can get at a Mom and Pop store, regardless of effort, then you will never motivate the employees to do anything more than the minimum they need to do to keep their job, maybe. Because unless there is severe unemployment like there is now, low paying jobs are a dime a dozen.

However, I appreciate your ability to disagree with my opinion without calling me a communist or a libtard.

I'm posting a link to a video you might find interesting. It is chock full of disturbing facts, and I would encourage anyone to watch at least the first 15 minutes before deciding if this is worth their while. It chronicles the financial pressures placed on American families from 1970 to the present and compares family expenses then and now.

It's a lecture given at UC Berkley (den of liberal iniquity) by Elizabeth Warren, who is a Harvard Professor and the Govt TARP watchdog. It lasts about an hour and it is entitled "The Coming Collapse of the Middle Class".

If the link doesn't work just paste the address into your browser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akVL7QY0S8A

Moo...

You shop at Safeway, Pay more for your goods, and the poor bag boy is still making $7 an hr. Sounds like your just throwing away money to me.

Walmart got as big as it is by being what it is. That company has a responsibility to its STOCKHOLDERS above its employees. BUT most walmart employees are Stockholders. So, by walmarts "blind Greed" arnt they still helping their employees? Walmart offers insurance, stock options, internal advances within the company, comperable wages (despite rumors), and is the single largest employeer in the US. Sounds like a pretty legit business to me.

Oh wait, All the anti-Walmart people just hate it because its been successful and they have not...

Think whatever you like Mr. Huffman.

Huffman

Turns out you are wrong. The pay isn't great, about a buck and a half better than Wal Mart. There is another benefit to shopping at Safeway however, I get to avoid customers like of you.

You say that the corporations first duty is to it's stock holders, over and above the employees. Typical rationale of a cheap employer, typical, and expensive.

It has obviously never occurred to you that happy well paid employees do a better job than those who have the misfortune to work for someone such as yourself....er WM.

Happy well paid employees are generally much more helpful, cheerful, and knowledgeable due to being on the job longer. They feel appreciated. They feel they have a stake in the company. That creates a high degree of customer satisfaction, and that translates to higher profits. Ergo, the stock goes up. Shocking isn't it?

Unhappy underpaid workers generally feel unappreciated and do not care about what their employer thinks of them. They are more prone to stealing and goofing off. Some even tell customers how bad the place sucks. Now if the stock is still going up in spite of all that, the employees are clearly getting screwed. And they are most assuredly screwing you,....er WM, right back.

Most Walmart employees are stockholders? Really? Management perhaps. I have my doubts about regular employees. Not to mention their use of temps. I mean who knew.... the door greeter at WM was really a wealthy major stockholder?

Lastly, I don't hate WM because I am jealous of their success. I just don't like to shop there because in my experience they are crowded, there are few checkout lanes open and the employees are not, for the most part, very knowledgeable or motivated at all.

And despite the insight you think you have into my financial well being, I can easily afford to shop elsewhere, and I do, whenever possible.

Thank you for informing us how every black person should feel about this story. And thank you for assuming that because a few black people were offended, the vast majority should be and are offended.

Did you miss your medicine check this morning, Debbie?

Debbie might have gotten the wrong Meds at Wal-Mart because she was to busy telling people how to feel!LOL!!!

No, Debbie's on the right meds. This isn't news at all. We are a nation with two wars, an economic recession, health care wars in Congress, teen pregnancies, drug abuse, domestic violence, gang rapes at high school dances-and someone playing a prank makes the national news?

This is only an issue because people are making it an issue. If no one cared about the comment and moved on with their day, the prankster's joke would have fallen flat. But instead, we are all responding over something stupid. Racist? Maybe yes, but stupid nonetheless.

You are reading way too far into Debbie's comment to think she's trying to tell all black people how to think, and that kind of reasoning is only perpetuating the race problems in America. Things only have the power that you give them, so as a country we need to stop looking for offensive subliminal messages and stop giving power to the overt ones.

Thank you jess

Thank You GS. I also loathe Wal-Mart for many reasons & our family doesn't go there either. BTW, I find $ Stores to be more than comparable & generally spend less there than in Wal-Mart with all their catchy end-of-aisle displays stragetically placed to get me to buy MORE...........!

My exact thoughts. I'm also a black individual, and I fail to see the racist intent. If he had said "All black people leave the store because your culture sucks and you are uneducated.", then yes, THEN there would be a problem.

But they didn't. They probably just shouted out the first race that came to them.

I'm white you 3 are too funny!!

Thank you for showing your racist thinking.
Mighty white of you to tell a whole race of people when they need to be offended.
Clowns like you are Smithsonian quality racist. lol

Give me a break bubba. lol

SHERIO, Im white and even I take offense to your comment, I have many OLDER black friends, one of them I call "grandpa" and I do not find that sentiment in any of them or their friends I meet, I do find it to be more in the younger groups, and if they are being racist, I get racist, but by the same standards you are being "wrongly racist", quit showing your stupidity

Same here. I have many "OLD BLACK FRIENDS" as you call them. I just call them friends. MY friends would have just tapped me on the shoulder and asked me "was that one of your relatives that got loose?"..lol

same here Gunny, but I was just responding to the above post, as a matter of fact, I have friends of many colors,

How very true!!

If you've ever heard a thoroughly brain-dead co-worker say "I'm just thankful that I have a job" (in earshot of management, no less!), then be aware that your box-of-rocks coworker just gave management the go-ahead to treat you worse than any slave!

Darn right we need unions; just read some the posts on any topic. Until humans as a race stop trying to define their own wealth by depriving others of bare sustenance, there has to be something in place to rein in the greed. Unions may not be perfect, but right now it's all we have standing between us and serfdom.

Pranks do NOT exist anymore with the advent of "P.C."

Then DON'T WORK FOR THEM. Very easy solution.

If they are a racist company, by not working for them, you make Walmart and yourself happy...of course, then you wouldn't have anything to complain about.

Too many blacks see racists in their rice crispies.

You must not be black. Yeah, I have to admit that sometimes it goes too far and everything is not racism but put any other group in that phrase and see how it sounds. Homosexuals, fat, jews, whites, muslims, christians, etc. Tell me then it would not racism or some other -ism. Until someone can walk in another's shoes, what do they really know?

If they said all fat people leave the store, I would laugh my head off. And I AM FAT. Get a grip people!!!

'tis too funny! LOL!

...then why did you even bother?????!!!!!