.:Tuesday, May 22, 2007:.
Official Announcement
This is the absolute closest that any of us will ever come to another Wal-Mart. We decided on May 5, 2007 that we would forever boycott this company!  I won't say that it is because they treat their employees like crap....most companies do...although this one in particuliar is really horrible....what with the average "full time" employee making somewhere around $14,000 a year and 8-15% of that goes to paying for their health care insurance....if they can afford to provide their families with health care at all. Just one of thousands of examples on how even their own employees can't afford to live shopping with them! I won't say that it is because when one of their stores votes to become union, they shut them down.....literally....the whole store!...even though they do! Union Wal-Mart Store Closed ...that link will tell you about 2 stores in particuliar...and they aren't the only ones! I won't say that it is because they shut down most of the mom & pop local businesses....what national or international corporation doesn't lend a hand in that....granted not quite as destructively as this one. I won't say that it is because they sell cheap, non american made product.....you would be hard pressed to find a store that doesn't sell the same stuff. I won't say that it is due to their political stance on pro-life....although I will admit that is actually the only common factor I may share with this corporation. I won't say that it is because they hire illegal aliens to clean up and work in their stores....even though over 300 of them were arrested working at over 60 locations. Here are just a few of the endless news stories about this issue. Illegal Aliens More Illegal Aliens And even more Illegal Aliens One more I won't say that it is because they claim to be slashing prices to the bone in order to deliver us "always low prices"......and yet still rake in $220 billion dollars a year or that the 5 richest people in the world are of the Walton family. I won't say that it is because they cheat their employees out of pay...both regular and overtime hours......but they do! Just one example Here's a link explaining the $33 million dollar pay back to employees for exactly this! Although they opted for this "investigation" *by need to catch it before the labor board officially did it*, I have to wonder how much interest really was made off of all of that money?!?!?!?! Here's another link from Tyler, TX $33 MILLION Here is the link to the Wal-Mart decree for paying taxes on the back pay....the number is staggering....check it out Wal-Mart Decree Again, how much interest was made off of this amount? Here you go, Oregon, Colorado and New Mexico as well! More states too I won't say that it is because they force their employees to not only work through their break times, but also off the clock..... Top Stories here's a link where a store in PA was ordered by a jury to repay $78 million for doing this to their employees....think this is the only one in the enormous chain doing this? Not likely. I won't say that it is because they do not pay their workers in Mexico.....rather allowing them to grovel for tips from the customers as their form of income from this store. I mean, they only save approximately $78 million doing this.....*insert sarcasm* Who could blame them even if they are the largest, richest retailer in the world.....after all, the locally owned grocery stores and gas stations do the same right? Free Labor I won't say that it is because 66% of their employees are female and are being paid 15% or more less than the male employees in the same positions....even though they do....and are currently being served with a class action lawsuit due to this discrimination....here are just a few links but trust me, there are many, many more! Discrimination One Discrimination Two Discrimination Three I won't say that it is because more people are injured in one of their stores or on their property than all combined in our current "war on terrorism" or that they don't adhere to OSHA....even though hundreds and hundreds of websites will show you public reports/lawsuits and such of injuries each year. Here are just two of said sites Case One Case Two I won't say that it is because the majority of all of their workers are subsized by state welfare programs.....even though they are. Proof is in the pudding I won't say that it is because they are looking to receive government subsidies and regulation to competitors...even though they are/have and keep asking for more and more and more. Subsidies More Subsidies Even More on Subsidies Last one on Subsidies $2.7 billion worth in 2005. Wow! I won't say that it is because they seek to fill in parts of private lakes to build one of their supercenter stores on it....even though they have...this is just ONE instance of this Killing Natural Resources? you will need to scroll down about 2/3 of the way to reason number 2. I won't say that it is because they sell products that they know are defective...to the point of down right dangerous sometimes...but don't pull them from the shelves or adhere to federal reporting guidelines.....and yet they do this as well. Danger! Danger! Yep, still in danger! I won't say that it is because they not only sold, but kept on the shelves for quite some time after being ordered to remove them & agreeing to remove them, tshirts containing the nazi symbol on them. They claim that they were unaware of the meaning behind the symbol on the shirts of course. Nazi Wal-Mart? Can this issue not be fixed? And it's not the first time that they have sold such items Wal-Mart Selling Nazi? Here they used such images in advertisment....later they apologized for the image stating that they weren't aware of it's significance. Sound familiar? Public Apology...Kind of I won't say that it is because they sell counterfeit goods....but these do say otherwise! Fendi Fakes Hillfiger Fakes The list just keeps going I won't say that it is because they are the first to scream "discrimination" when it suits THEIR needs. WAH! More whining I won't say that it is because they typically have 4 times the allowed "over rings" or incorrectly priced items.....but they do just the same! Pricing Violations Pricing Violations Two Pricing Violations Three One of Wal-Mart's defenses to failing over half of Arizona's state inspections was "while some customers may be over charged, others are being under charged." Rationalization? I couldn't help but laugh hysterically at this statement! Just a few more More More Again And yet again more Still More Still More Last One And the list goes on and on and on of the exact same situation everywhere there is a Wal-Mart! It isn't because they are selling "organic" foods that don't actually meet organic standards/requirements. Fake Organic? Here's a site with tons of information on suits and legal entanglements of Wal-Mart....but it isn't because of any of this either. Quite an interesting read Let's face it, I could go on for days, possibly weeks or months detailing all of the seperate and valid reasons that Wal-Mart should be boycotted. I won't give any further reasoning at this point...... Let it suffice to say....... That we will not be shopping at ANY Wal-Mart, ANYWHERE because........ plain and simple.......... they suck! Period, end of story! |
