I was reading a Washington Post article on how WHFS turned into a Spanish station (DAMN YOU!), and on the other page was an ad from Wal-Mart, saying that people who criticize them on their employment policies are liar-liar-pants-on-fire nyah-nyah and that their pension and healthcare plans are really the best thing since sliced bread, without actually directly addressing the criticisms of the company. Wal-Mart, as you know, is a major benificiary of anti-human trade policies, not to mention infamous for being anti-union, monopolistic, and whatnot.
WAL-MART IS WORKING FOR EVERYONE. Some of our critics are working only for themselves. - Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart, 1/13/2005
As one of the world's most visible companies, Wal-Mart expects attention and criticism. When the criticism is warranted, we use it as a tool to improve the way we operate.
But when special-interest groups and critics spread misinformation about Wal-Mart, the public deserves to hear the truth...
(cut, mostly nyah-nyah blather)
Wal-Mart provides good jobs with excellend advancement opportunities to our 1.2 million U.S. associates.
- This year, we plan to create more than 100,000 new jobs in the United States...
- We promote from within. Seventy-six percent of our store management team started at Wal-Mart in hourly positions.
- Our average wage for full-time hourly store associates - such as cashiers, stockers and sales associates - is almost twice the federal minimum wage.
- Cut - Associate premiums begin at less than $40/mo. per individual, less than $155/mo. per family, other benefits include 401k, etc.
- Seventy-four percent of Wal-Mart's hourly associates in the United States work full-time. That's well above the 20-40 percent typically found in the retail industry.
Cut
...more than half of the associates we surveyed said the benefits package, including healthcare, was a very important factor in their decision to accept a position at Wal-Mart.
Thank you for being open to the facts about Wal-Mart. You can learn more at a Web site we are launching today - www.walmartfacts.com
Sincerely,
Lee Scott
President and CEO
Walmart Stores, Inc.
Much of the statistics in the ad are meaningless upon further examination. What are they REALLY trying to pull, here? Are they trying to stave off criticism without actually doing so? Then again, I'm probably just mad at them for pulling that anti-labor shit in California. Questions? Answers? I already posted this on the BuyBlue site, and still have yet to receive an answer.