Posted on 02/22/2005 6:10:29 AM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
February 21, 2005 — While some welcome Wal-Mart to the city, others protested the store's long-standing position when it comes to unionized workers. Out goes the old Helene Curtis building. In comes Chicago's first Wal-Mart.
"It made god sense to bring jobs to your community. It made sense to take out something old and put in something new," said Ald. Emma Mitts, 37th Ward.
Alderman Mitts has led the way in bringing the retail giant to the West Side despite protests from some of her constituents. While a marching band tried to outplay protesters, they continued to have their voices heard.
"We're not against Wal-Mart. We are against their practices. We want descent wages," said Georgia Clayton, protestor.
That's something Wal-Mart promises.
"We probably pay an average of about $11 an hour," said John Bisio, Wal-Mart spokesman.
Other complaints include: Wal-Mart only deals with non union workers and that west side contractors are not part of the building process.
"I'm clearly a West Side contractor. I'm the general contractor and a lot of my employees come out of the area," said Margaret Garner
Garner's union wrecking company is hired to do the demolition work and Wal-Mart promises to use union workers to build the store, but what about if Wal-Mart employees want to unionize?
"We will respond to our associates if that is their desire," said Bisio.
The Wal-Mart on the West Side is expected to bring in more than 300 jobs and while the store offers cheaper products some area businesses, like the Dollar Store, fear Wal-Mart will drive them out of business.
"They will be a lot of competition a huge department store," said Sharif Ihmud, storeowner.
Not all businesses are upset. One clothing storeowner welcomes Wal-Mart. He believes his business will benefit from the traffic. The store is scheduled to begin construction in the spring and open next year in January or February.
Walmartophobia or is it that the LIEbbies just hate JOBS?~}
We want descent wages
Be careful what you ask for.
I've pointed this out to some of my union friends and they can only give me a confused look in response.
I don't care if they build 20 Walmarts in Chicago, I can't stand them and would never shop there. Too many out of control shoppers and I would rather pay more not to wait half an hour in the checkout line.
WalMart broke ground just recently near me too (in SE MI) and across the street a dollar store is opening. I have little hope for the dollar store.
IMHO the Walton's truly have class and this must be a bipartisan judgment since Hillary was once on their Board of Directors.
Yep. If he were serious about earning "decent wages" he wouldn't have time to be out protesting Wal-Mart. Instead, he'd be developing marketable job skills. Last time I checked, protesting wasn't in high demand....
The area where the store will be, Chicago's 37th Ward, is not prosperous. The jobs (and cost savings to shoppers patronizing the new Wal-Mart) will be welcome. Very welcome.
We want descent wages
the store offers cheaper products some area businesses
The editors must be on strike this week.
Walmartphobia, LOL!
Will Wal Mart finally break the Union mentality in Chicago? We can only hope.
"Will Wal Mart finally break the Union mentality in Chicago? We can only hope."
Either that or the union mentality will break WalMart. They should have stayed out of Chicago.
WalMart broke ground just recently near me too (in SE MI) and across the street a dollar store is opening. I have little hope for the dollar store.
The article is trying to paint a picture of Wal-Mart & dollar stores being toe to toe competitors. At least from my point of view, that just isn't the case. On an average total purchase in a dollar store, I spend less than $5 whereas I seldom get out of a Wal-Mart w/o spending less than $40. I am not a frequent shopper so WMT promises to deliver most of the goods on my list at a usually reasonable & competitive price whereas a dollar store adds one more stop to what I consider a distasteful chore.
Another thing that I've noticed in my community is that the dollar stores seem to have oversaturated the market. There is a Family Dollar & a Dollar General going head to head w/in a few blocks of one another and one other dollar type stores within 2-3 miles of my house. I almost always bypass all of them & go to WMT (not a SuperCenter), which is farther away.
Nah, they don't hate jobs. They hate non-union/non-socialist jobs.
can you imagine how much business WalMart will do when cities like Chicago and LA have the stores that people want? Waht about NYC? People think they are big now wait until the big cities get out of the way.
"Out goes the old Helene Curtis building."
North & Kostner ???
It's an entry level part time job, for most people. Why would you expect family-supporting wages for the kind of work you can get at Walmart (aside from management positions)?
Yeah she'd rather have a Nordstroms or Bloomingdales or something that appeals to the ordinary middle to lower class urban people that live there. (rolling eyes) These protestors need to get a life. They just get off on protesting, period. It's like those people that use coupons for cat food even though they don't have a cat. "but it's such a good deal!"
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