Protesters bash Wal-Mart's attempt to open 2 stores in city

Chicago Sun Times ^ | may 2, 2004 | Protesters bash Wal-Mart's attempt to open 2 stores in city

[KOZ.]

Chants bashing Wal-Mart filled the St. Sabina Church auditorium Saturday as more than 300 people attended a Chicago Workers' Rights Board protest of the retail giant's attempt to move into Chicago.

Speaker after speaker -- from religious and political leaders to labor and community activists to current and former Wal-Mart employees -- accused the company of providing low-paying jobs with meager benefits, gobbling up competitors and running roughshod over women and illegal immigrants. Wal-Mart disputes the claims, saying it has been unfairly maligned.

"I think we have to get away from the mentality that we're just glad to get a job," said St. Sabina's pastor, the Rev. Michael Pfleger. "We've got to stop accepting crumbs as if it's the only thing we're meant to eat. A slave job is a slave job."

Wal-Mart's efforts to open two stores in predominantly black Chicago neighborhoods have fueled tensions. The proposals are for a former West Side industrial area at Kilpatrick and Grand and on the site of the old Ryerson Steel plant at 8301 S. Steward.

"I'm for jobs in this community, but I have an insult level," said state Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago). "People need a livable wage. As an African-American woman, I once worked for $1 an hour. I'm not talking about what I don't know."

Despite a fierce zoning battle led by the Chicago Federation of Labor and its aldermanic allies, Wal-Mart's initial entries into the Chicago market are expected to come before the full City Council for a vote Wednesday.

"Right now, we have to organize and tackle this beast," said Elce Redmond of the South Austin Coalition Community Council, who added that "a ton" of West Side residents will attend the meeting.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sharon Webber maintained the retailer is innocent of the group's criticisms.

"You become the target of a lot of different criticisms when you're as large as we are," she said. "I firmly believe at Wal-Mart we do our best to treat people right and treat them with respect. We believe we bring good things to communities."

[ServesURight]

does walmart have a union?

If they did, they wouldn't be in existence.

[Thebaddog]

Isd that guy a head case or what. He should drop the collar, run for election and be done with it.

[DugwayDuke]

"Well, well, well. They've nailed every leftist talking point to the last one!!!"

Actually, there is a vocal contingent of Walmart bashers here on freerepublic. Just wait, they'll show up with rhetoric exactly like this. Of course, they claim they're the real conservatives. BTW, they're the "fair trade, not free trade" contingent. Or, didn't you know walmart is the principal reason all our "good jobs are gone"?

[Steve_Seattle]

Anyone know what kind of a church St. Sabina's is? Sounds Eastern Orthodox.

[Steve_Seattle]

And these same people defend Castro's Cuba, where people earn 50 cents a day, cannot organize unions, and have no civil rights whatsoever.

[KarlInOhio]

Well, well, well. They've nailed every leftist talking point to the last one!!!

They left out kicking dogs and drowning sacks of kittens.

[Chi-townChief]

Always good to hear from flaky Father Mike. And then when no jobs at all come their way, he can preach about that as well.

[Chi-townChief]

St. Sabina is Roman Catholic and is one of the parishes name-checked in the South Side Irish song:

"Our parents came from Mayo, from Cork and Donegal.
We come from Sabina, St. Kilian's and St. Gall
St. Leo, Visitation, Little Flower and the rest.
The South Side parishes are mighty-they're the best!"

[vpintheak]

These pathetic, moronic, statists are actually saying that they would rather not work, and despise capitalism. That is the heart of their "protests." If you don't like Wal-Mart, don't shop there, simple as that, it's how free markets work. If you don't want to work, well I shouldn't have to fork over my income taxes to support your lazy self. There is no "Beast" that needs to be stopped, as someone else has posted.

[arjay]

Let's see... WalMart wants to move in to a neighborhood and sell stuff cheaper than its competitors. The folks there can buy more for less money.

Yet, they protest against it.

If they don't want it, let them pay higher prices.

[jpsb]

Does wal-mart sell anything made in the USA? All I ever see in a wal-mart, the few times I am forced to go there, is Chicom crap. Good for Chicago screw wal-mark.

[Mike Bates]

Why the war against Wal-Mart?

[jpsb]

"If you don't like Wal-Mart, don't shop there"

Since wal-mart puts all the mom and pop retailers that sell American out of business you either buy Chicom crap at wal-mart or do without. I do without.

[LittleRedRooster]

As an African-American woman, I once worked for $1 an hour. I'm not talking about what I don't know."

As a dishwasher I once worked for 75 cents and hour, and I often talk about what I don't know. Damn I applied for the wrong job.

[hunter112]

Good one on that "plumbing section" Joe! I had to think about it for a few seconds!

When WM came to a small town I used to live in, there was a lot of worry. Yes, some really inefficient retailers went out of business, and other ones had to change their marketing plans, to avoid going head-to-head with them, but overall, the town is better off. A goodly number of businesses sprung up around them, and those places are providing jobs and choices for locals.

I am surprised to hear about this being in the greater Chicago area, I'm familiar with WM locating out in boondocks areas, where isn't too much competition to have to knock off.

[Ciexyz]

This should be an interesting battle. Keep us posted with the results.

[Chi-townChief]

Phleger and his thugs have put "mom and pop retailers that sell American out of business" for selling alcohol. Reread the article. Walmart is replacing an empty steelyard.

[Chi-townChief]

We already have Walmarts all around Chicago; on my end of town: 103rd and Harlem and 72nd and Cicero. Just not within city limits. The 72nd and Cicero store is right across the street from Ford City in Chicago.

[VeniVidiVici]

Does wal-mart sell anything made in the USA? All I ever see in a wal-mart, the few times I am forced to go there, is Chicom crap.

Yes, ammo. It's all I ever buy there. Oh, oil too. (And my lunchbox, and that's all I need ;-)

[hunter112]

I guess the marketing plan has changed, then.