Posted on 10/25/2005 2:29:37 PM PDT by Crackingham
Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott said he's urging Congress to consider raising the minimum wage so that Wal-Mart customers don't have to struggle paycheck to paycheck. Scott told Wal-Mart directors and executives in a speech Monday that he believes "it is time for Congress to take a look at the minimum wage and other legislation that can help working families."
"The U.S. minimum wage of $5.15 an hour has not been raised in nearly a decade and we believe it is out of date with the times," Scott said. "We can see first-hand at Wal-Mart how many of our customers are struggling to get by. Our customers simply don't have the money to buy basic necessities between pay checks."
Given increasing gas prices and other economic pressures on Wal-Mart customers, Scott went on to say that Wal-Mart shoppers will further be challenged to "support themselves and their families."
"While it is unusual for us to take a public position on a public policy issue of this kind, we simply believe it is time for Congress to take a responsible look at the minimum wage and other legislation that may help working families," he said.
Tracy Sefl, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart Watch, a group that's been highly critical of the retailer, said Scott's comments on raising minimum wage were "laughable and out of left field."
"I find it disingenuous and laughable that Lee Scott makes these remarks while the company hires lobbyist such as Lee Culpepper who oppose raising the minimum wage," Sefl said.
"We would be the first to applaud real change. But when a comment on raising minimum wage is dashed off and it flies in the face of Wal-Mart's own corporate stance, that's laughable," she added.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
~snicker~
TEE HEEE!!!!
How be you?
I am doing great.
How are you?
Ankle back to normal?
Good to hear it.
Ankle is not back to normal, but is much better, thanks.
You are welcome.
It's good to hear that your ankle is on the mend.:)
Thanks for the cynicism...why don't you learn some manners....then maybe we can talk.
As far as WMT caring about 'good public policy'...they are a business, not a social welfare agency, first job training program or economic think-tank...they exist to make money for their shareholders. If raising the minimum wage in their estimation makes them more money, like any well run business I would expect them to be in favor of it.
I'm tired of reading Walmart bashing posts from people that think that Walmart exists to further the public good ror provide some social safety net.
There should be no minimum wage.
I think people are reading entirely too much into this statement from the CEO. If you take it purely from a business perspective, increasing the minimum wage will increase the amount of money some poor shoppers have to spend at Walmart...therefore as a businessman, he would support it. Not to mention the fact that it would hurt other business competitors by increasing their costs of doing business.
Walmart already pays most if not all of their employees MORE than minimum wage, so while it may affect their cost structure to some degree (compensatory increases), it would not affect them primarily.
I do not agree that the minimum wage should be increased either...I wish the government would abolish the minimum wage altogether as a matter of fact.
I'm just stating that I understand why as a BUSINESS, it might be in WMT's best interest for the minimum wage to be increased...and therefore I understand where this spokesman's statement is coming from.
I think people are reading entirely too much into this statement from the CEO. If you take it purely from a business perspective, increasing the minimum wage will increase the amount of money some poor shoppers have to spend at Walmart...therefore as a businessman, he would support it. Not to mention the fact that it would hurt other business competitors by increasing their costs of doing business.
Walmart already pays most if not all of their employees MORE than minimum wage, so while it may affect their cost structure to some degree (compensatory increases), it would not affect them primarily.
I do not agree that the minimum wage should be increased either...I wish the government would abolish the minimum wage altogether as a matter of fact.
I'm just stating that I understand why as a BUSINESS, it might be in WMT's best interest for the minimum wage to be increased...and therefore I understand where this spokesman's statement is coming from.
I guess stupid people run big corporations sometimes.
Just because they give to the Republican party doesn't mean they're a friend. Sam Walton (?sp) sure, present company, I wouldn't jump with them into the sack so quick.
You make too much sense. the WalMart bashers will not understand.
Lee Scott is running the company into the ground by appeasing the leftists who aren't going to shop or support Wal-Mart anyway. Sam Walton is spinning in his grave.
Toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper....are useless crap?
Most people don't buy TVs, stereos, or computers at Wal-Mart. They just buy the daily essentials and maybe some groceries.
Raise it to ZERO. The minimum-wage should be abolished.
Yep. And don't forget about Aldi and other stock-up food stores.
LOL...I know.
As a WMT shareholder, the only reason I want for WMT to raise worker's pay is out of necessity...i.e., they cannot attract capable workers at their current payscales.
Everyone that assumes WMT is caving to the 'left' here doesn't realize that WMT already pays their workers MORE than minimum wage, which is an important fact.
I look at this as nothing more than a statement that WMT wants their 'typical' shopper to have more to spend in their stores....it is not a statement on WMT's political or financial philosophies per se; they are too smart for that.
I love this corporate welfare that Walmart is sponsoring. They themselves pay minimal wage and set no example but demand that the government forces all other businesses to raise wages.
Now, if in fact WMT paid only minimum wage (and they do not) and businesses cannot hire workers for less than minimum wage, why would WMT care if other companies were forced to pay minimum wage workers more?
You cannot hire someone for LESS than minimum wage now, right?
Sure, if we accept the following as enforcable:
1. No illegal alien work
2. No pay under the table
3. No forcing of employees to work off the record (something that Walmart has been sued over several times and lost)
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