WalMart fighting $11.75 min wage bill

[ErikJ]

Last edited Tue Mar 19, 2013, 08:10 PM - Edit history (2)

In screwed news (Thom Hartman)... Wallmart wants to keep Washington, D.C. employees in poverty. The low-wage retailer is scheduled to open six stores in the D.C. region, while at the same time actively fighting a proposed bill that would ensure workers at large retailers earn a living wage.

Currently, the minimum wage in our nation's capital is $8.25 an hour, but this new legislation would require national retailers who make over $1 billion a year to pay an hourly wage of $11.75, and offer benefits to their employees. D.C. Council Chair Phill Mendelson introduced the proposal, saying, "by adopting a living wage standard for large retailers, the District can ensure economic development better meets the community's need for family-supporting jobs."

A substantial wage increase like this one could reduce the need for government wage subsidies, such as food stamps and Medicaid. It's clear that Wallmart would rather have taxpayers pick up the tab for services that it's low-wage workers can't afford, but it's time to stop their corporate welfare. If Wallmart wants to do business in D.C., they may finally have to pay for the privilege to do so.

http://truth-out.org/video/item/15192-on-the-news-with-thom-hartmann-maryland-to-become-18th-state-to-ban-death-penalty-and-more
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‘Large retailer’ living-wage bill is moving forward
Posted by Mike DeBonis on March 13, 2013 at 1:02 pm Wash. Post

A D.C. Council bill that would require the city’s largest retailers — including Wal-Mart, Costco, Home Depot and others — to pay higher wages is showing signs of life.
The “Large Retailer Accountability Act,” introduced by Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) in January, will get a hearing next Wednesday before the council’s Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs committee.
The bill would require “large retailers” — defined as businesses operating an indoor store of at least 75,000 square feet and whose corporate parent has sales of at least $1 billion — to pay wages no lower than $11.75 per hour plus, benefits. That “living wage” would be indexed to the local consumer price index every year.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2013/03/13/large-retailer-living-wage-bill-is-moving-forward/

[blm]

1. Dump WalMart....make them leave town. Replace them with Costcos.

Best bargain store employer in the country.

[SunSeeker]

2. The Waltons are not hurting. And if they embraced this, it would be good for business anyway.

If people knew Walmart was taking care of its workers (and if its workers could afford to shop there), Walmart would get way more business, which would more than make up for the pittance of a wage increase it is fighting.

[progressoid]

3. Unfortunately, they won't ever see it that way. n/t

[UnrepentantLiberal]

4. Assholes.

[Initech]

5. When did obscene corporate profits get put above people? Fuck Walmart!

[AtheistCrusader]

6. $11.75 Is a living wage in the Wa DC area? Not unless you're living in your car.

[FairWinds]

7. There's another Min. Wage campaign . .

going on in Eureka, California. It is also partially aimed at Wal Mart.
We need more of that - work for living wages in your community.

[Tab]

8. Yeah, and now the rush to convert all retail space to no more than 74,999 sq ft.

Jes' sayin'

[Blue Owl]

9. WalMart -- America's Biggest Welfare Queen

n/t

[heik418]

10. the WalMart Solution

WalMart has already seen a way to circumvent all this by their use of "independent contractors" working for vendor companies. Average pay there is $8.00 an hour or a set fee per task and NO benefits of course because you are not an employee of anyone and are "self" employed as far as the IRS is concerned.

[olddots]

13. WELCOME

great info

[snagglepuss]

14. That company is a vile POS. I hope walmart management rots in hell.

Information like this is critical to get out there. Thanks for posting. Welcome to DU.

[talkingmime]

11. Walmart sucks moose cock. They'd pay $1.98/hr if they could get away with it.

[olddots]

12. Don't think its just Slavemart

Wal -Mart set the model that others followed .Proof again that organized crime though uneducated and amoral can make a fortune it always has and always will until we teach people real math about economics instead of teaching people how to cheat.