300 sought at Wal-Mart (A Little Perspective on the Wal-Mart "Controversy")

CNN.com ^ | 10/23/03

[Recovering_Democrat]

WASHINGTON (CNN) - U.S. officials are sweeping Wal-Mart stores across the country in a bid to arrest about 300 illegal workers, law enforcement officials said Thursday.

The arrests came as part of investigation into subcontractors that provide cleaning crews for Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer. Many of those arrested were eastern European nationals who were coming off night cleaning shifts at various Wal-Mart locations, the officials said.

[Recovering_Democrat]

I am against illegal immigration, okay? So keep that in mind as you try to absorb these numbers, because I think this might turn into a free-for-all as the press tries to "pile on" to a successful American corporation.

300 illegal workers is a problem, no doubt. Here are the numbers for perspective:

Wal-Mart has 3,400 stores in the United States, nearly 2700 are Discount stores and Supercenters.

Wal-Mart employees 1,400,000 people.

This averages out to 411 employees per store.

The 300 workers represent .0214% of Wal-Mart's entire workforce.

Do I endorse illegal workers? No. Do I think this is a story making national news because somebody wants to get in the spotlight? Yes. Do I think some in the press are eating this up because they hate capitalism? Absolutely.

By the way, all these numbers can be verified via walmart.com and cnnfn.com, where the financial information for the company is available.

[So Cal Rocket]

Q: What do you call it when the US Government arrests 300 Illegal Aliens?
















A: A nice start.

[truthkeeper]

You said it!

[Lurking Libertarian]

The 300 workers represent .0214% of Wal-Mart's entire workforce.

The illegal aliens were not Walmart employees. They were employed by a cleaning service hired by Walmart. Walmart had no obligation (and probably no ability) to verify their immigration status; that was up to the cleaning service.

[gubamyster]

ping

[noprob]

The 300 workers represent .0214% of Wal-Mart's entire workforce.

Didn't the article say they were contractors employees?

Yes, they are attacking Wal-Mart simply due to it's success!!

[madison10]

They hate capitalism and the unions are their bread & butter. The unions have been trying to "get at" Wal-mart for years. Is Wal-Mart even in trouble that much? Weren't the migrants hired through a cleaning contractor and not hired directly by Wal-Mart?

Won't stop me from shopping there.

[Bikers4Bush]

Only when the realize that they cannot hold the jobs they want will they leave and go back home.

This is a start.

[NautiNurse]

Moreover, the illegals do not appear to be WalMart employees. Instead, they are subcontractors with cleaning companies. Is WalMart responsible for doing background checks on all subcontractors? Next it will be the workers who manufacture the merchandise WalMart sells.

On second thought--that's already been tried.

[Tacis]

300 illegal criminals? That wouldn't slow down the gardening in ANY Teaxs residential area!

[rolling_stone]

Q: What do you call it when the US Government arrests 300 Illegal Aliens?

A. To little too late.....just a token enforcement headline opportunity...

[mrustow]

Note that this sting involves illegals from Eastern Europe, who represent a tiny fraction of the illegal numbers. Mexicans, who are 50% or more of the illegals in the U.S., have so far been shielded.

I wouldn't hold my breath, waiting for stings of Mexican and other Latin (or of African) illegals.

[Bikers4Bush]

I thought they had also raided on of the walmart execs offices as well.

As though he/she may have been somewhat aware of the situation.

[Molesworth]

Maybe the senior citizen greeter at the front door of Wal-Marts is really a lookout: "Hey guys, immigration! Run!"

[Recovering_Democrat]

Thanks for the clarification!! :) rd.

[mrustow]

Weren't the migrants hired through a cleaning contractor and not hired directly by Wal-Mart?

Won't stop me from shopping there.

"Migrants"?! That's open border code for ILLEGALS.

[Columbine]

No reason that Walmart can't stipulate to their subcontractors that they use legal workers.

Yes, I do hold Walmart responsible for anyone working in their stores and my letter to them is already on the way.

This isn't their first time. There was a story some months back about Walmart and illegal construction workers.

They have to take responsibility for the workers on their property.

[gubamyster]

Look at how much press these 300 illegals are getting. If the gov't really wanted to crack down on illegals, they wouldn't need to "round 'em all up and deport em." They need to do more of these type of raids involving high profile companies. Then follow-up with well publicized prosecutions. Word would get out to the companies hiring the illegals, and to the illegals themselves. Stop the incentives to come here, and you will stop the illegals from coming.

[GovernmentShrinker]

What I don't get is how it happens that these workers were mostly "Eastern European nationals" (code term for "white"). In a nationwide investigation of janitorial contractor employees, what are the chances of this particular group forming the largest component of the illegals found? Does this investigation involve a single contracting firm that has ethnic connections? If so, why was this firm focused on, when Wal-Mart uses many different contractors for janitorial services?

[Humidston]

Send the feds to raid ALL major corporations located in high rise buildings. At 5:30PM, sit outside and watch all the Mexican cleaning crews entering while workers exit. You'll know what I mean.