posted on March 14, 2006 05:35:58 PM new
AFL-CIO Report Targets Wal-Mart
By KRIS HUDSON
March 14, 2006 6:17 p.m.
Seeking to boost its legislative efforts, the AFL-CIO on Tuesday released a report identifying Wal-Mart Stores Inc. as having the largest percentage of employees on Medicaid programs in at least 19 states.
The AFL-CIO intends for the report to bolster its campaign in various states to pass so-called disclosure bills, which would require state agencies to report which companies employ the most enrollees on state Medicaid assistance. The bills often are viewed as a means of pressuring large employers, namely Wal-Mart, to boost their health-care benefits for workers.
Wal-Mart, Bentonville, Ark., dismissed the report as a rehashing of data that union groups have used repeatedly in recent years. "Wal-Mart insures more than 1 million [employees] and family members," Wal-Mart spokesman Nate Hurst said. "Thirty per cent of our associates had no coverage before coming to Wal-Mart. … We have helped over 160,000 associates get off the rolls of the uninsured."
The AFL-CIO report notes that, in various states, anywhere from 5% to 20% of Wal-Mart's employees were enrolled in Medicaid programs last year. In at least 19 states, Wal-Mart employed more Medicaid enrollees than any other company, the AFL-CIO reported.
However, the report has several flaws: it fails to differentiate between employees and their dependants in some states; it uses 2002 data for one state, Georgia; and the states have different methods for sorting and reporting the data, making comparisons difficult or impossible. As well, some states counted not only Medicaid enrollees but also people applying for other forms of assistance, such as food stamps or state programs partially funded by private employers.
Nearly 22 states have considered disclosure bills pushed by the AFL-CIO this year and last. Last year, disclosure bills in Hawaii, Massachusetts and Illinois became law, and those in Colorado and Washington state were vetoed. This year, bills in Indiana and Iowa failed to meet deadlines to advance out of certain legislative committees. Washington's Legislature this year passed a disclosure bill, which now awaits a decision by the end of this month by Gov. Christine Gregoire, a Democrat.
The disclosure bills are one part of the AFL-CIO's legislative campaign against Wal-Mart. The other entails Fair Share Health Care bills, which propose requiring large employers to spend more on health benefits for their employees. So far, only Maryland lawmakers have passed a Fair Share bill, and the Retail Industry Leaders Association has since challenged it in court.
posted on March 14, 2006 06:36:19 PM new
Well....the old AFL-CIO have got to do something to boost their numbers....lol.....which keep declining. Poor unions.....few workers are interested anymore.
BUT...did you hear that old hillary is remaining relative quite on this issue?.....guess she is close 'buds' with the founder. LOL LOL LOL
posted on March 14, 2006 07:23:19 PM new
Okay, I have to say, I have always hated Walmart and how it treats it's employees, and runs small businesses out of town upon arrival........
but.....my opinion has changed on a personal level since Hurricane Katrina.. I have to tell you our Walmart was the first to step up and help the communities, opened their parking lots to house tents to give water and supplies, etc.
They really became the hub and common meeting place for people to go. They donated more than their share of money and helped more than our local government in a bad situation.
posted on March 14, 2006 07:45:49 PM newwhat gives with you a large, successful American enterprises?
Nothing gives with me and American enterprises Linda. I'm sure you'd love to make this into some sort of "liberal" issue, but it isn't.
My beef with walmart?
They've muscled their way into every U.S. market, often to the disadvantage of local small retailers. They pay their mostly part time employees crap wages with no benefits, and most importantly to me, they sell cheap chinese junk. They've inured themselves into the American psyche to the point where lots of people figure they're the ONLY place to shop. Remember their famous "Made in America" bullsh!t marketing campaign they shoved down everyone's throats a few years back? What a crock that one was.
I don't like M$ for much the same reason. Most people have been fooled into believing that they somehow NEED that company's bloated, buggy products in order to use computers, and nothing could be further from the truth. Their products are absolutely unnecessary for the vast majority of people.
M$ and Walmart would like nothing better than to convince you that you not only don't need, but don't HAVE a choice in where you shop or what computer operating system you use. To me they are the ANTITHESIS of the commercial diversity that used to make this country's economy strong. Anyone willing to pay good money to put up with their inferior products is a sucker, in my opinion.
I don't have any problems with successful American enterprise. I have BIG ONES with de facto American monopolies. Congratulations to both companies. They've become successful due to the old adage, "A fool and his money are soon parted."
posted on March 14, 2006 07:50:29 PM newI have to tell you our Walmart was the first to step up and help the communities, opened their parking lots to house tents to give water and supplies, etc.
The absolute very least that they should have done.
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posted on March 14, 2006 09:16:09 PM new
Profe is absolutely correct. Wal-Mart (and Microsoft too) are just evil. When you think of the cliched stereotypical evil corporation, Wal-Mart is the real thing.
I only go to Wal-Mart (also Sam's Club and WalGreen) when someone else is driving and they drag me along.
Of my six computers only ONE runs Windows (Endicia needs to do something about getting Dazzle to run on Linux!).
Dr. Arcane, revelator of mystical secrets http://www.drarcane.com
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posted on March 15, 2006 03:36:48 AM new
The ONLY reason I even set foot in Walmart is because of their cheap coffee prices-and "classic" loves his coffee. Its 3 or 4 dollars cheaper for a 2lb can of Waxwell house pure columbian coffe then it is in the A&P.So I go in a buy 5 or 6 cans at one time and Im set for the week....
The place is dingy,the clientel is less then desirable,and everytime I walk out of the place,I have to go home a take a shower.
posted on March 15, 2006 06:49:25 AM new
Yeah, right. Low wages, poor benefits, yadda, yadda.
Excuse me, but why does every job have to be a "career"?
When I was young, working in a food chain or dept store was for high school kids or college students during intersession.
Now the checkout person at the local Pathmark gets $10/hr, a stock plan and benefits.
If you want to retire early, send 5 kids to college, etc, don't work at Walmart or the corner gas station.
[ edited by desquirrel on Mar 15, 2006 11:39 PM ]
Poor unions.....few workers are interested anymore.
