Anyone have the latest on the bizarre Walmart closings?

[Atman]

This seems to be hugely under-reported, probably because Walmart is such a big advertiser on every network.

In case you haven't heard, a couple of days ago Walmart abruptly shut down stores in five states, leaving hundreds of people unemployed with no notice. Kiosk vendors and employees alike were given just hour to clear out. Not in one location, this happened in FIVE STATES simultaneously. Walmart officials claimed they had "plumbing problems" and were just closing for remodeling, except they never pulled any permits for plumbing or construction work anywhere. They left fresh food on the shelves, new flower deliveries in the floral department, stocked shelves...just told hundreds of employees to go home. Buh-bye.

I haven't heard much about it on the news since the first announcement. WTF? Something weird in Wally World.

[MerryBlooms]

1. Local Chicago channel this morning gave the same "plumbing" excuse and mentioned

2,000 employees let go.

Very mysterious...

[lapfog_1]

2. five stores in four states.

Wal-Mart suddenly closed five stores in four states on Monday for alleged plumbing problems.

The closures could last up to six months and affect roughly 2,200 workers in Texas, California, Oklahoma, and Florida, CNN Money reports.

Wal-Mart employees say they were completely blindsided by the news, having been notified only a couple hours before the stores closed at 7 p.m. Monday.

"Everybody just panicked and started crying," Venanzi Luna, a manager at a store in Pico Rivera, California, told CNN Money.

All workers will receive paid leave for two months. After that, full-time workers could become eligible for severance, according to CNN Money. But part-time workers will be on their own.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/wal-mart-suddenly-closes-stores-2015-4#ixzz3XaxXBLzy

[woodsprite]

9. Maybe that's why Walmart told them "up to 6 months".

The text of WARN says "over 6 months".

[unblock]

3. classic anti-union move.

imho.

[arcane1]

4. I read somewhere that all of these stores have experienced organizing by the employees

I don't remember where I came across that, or what they were organizing for.

I guess this reply isn't much help

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. Perhaps the walmart corporation ...

has never heard of the WARN Act. http://www.doleta.gov/programs/factsht/warn.htm

Well, I'm pretty certain the DoL, or a bevy of Employment attorneys will introduce them to it, shortly.

[tammywammy]

7. Wal-Mart is paying them for the next 60 days that satisfies the WARN provisions. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

8. Okay. I missed that in the OP. n/t

[951-Riverside]

14. I didnt know that either

It kind of explains why the now ex-employees haven't descended on Bentonville AR and havent spoke out.

[951-Riverside]

6. Looks like most of the closings (except for California) took place in "at-will"/anti union states

The locations:

Brandon, Florida
Pico Rivera, California
Livingston, Texas
Midland, Texas
Tulsa, Oklahoma.

At-will states:

Oklahoma
Texas
Florida

Which means if employees were organizing to unionize in those 3 states, Walmart could have have fired them but maybe they're doing this to scare others thinking about unionizing from doing it.

I guess the only way to find out by is sending reporters to find the current CEO of Walmart C. Douglas Mcmillon and ask him directly when he's out golfing with his rich buddies

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. Even in "At-Will" states ...

employers "can't" fire an employee for organizing activities.

Of course, they COULD fire the person/people because she/they wore the color green on the Wednesday following pay-day! The coincidence that they were organizing ... well, that's purely a coincidence.

[KamaAina]

13. Isn't California at-will as well?

Not the same thing as right-to-work-for-peanuts.

[Octafish]

11. Geez!

Computers make it quick work to close down where needed for as long as union busting cough necessary.

More importantly: Are the Walton, Clinton and Bush portfolios OK?

[KamaAina]

12. Something stinks about this.

And it's not the plumbing.

[underpants]

15. Yeah, they are locking employees OUT of the stores

They typically lock their employees IN the stores.

[malaise]

16. It's a very weird story

and the plumbing excuse makes no sense.

[Aerows]

19. Click on the two links

I posted - probably should click on the second first (never said I got sequencing correct )

Also, just do a search on Jade Helm 15.

[Aerows]

17. Note the areas where they are closing.

Note, oh hell.

I will sound like a nut if I complete the sentence I was about to type.

Jade Helm 15.

There, I went full bore nut on DU.

Context

[Aerows]

18. There are a large bunch of oddities

operating here, that aren't odd at all in context.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3013900/Fears-martial-law-special-ops-set-swarm-Southwest-operate-undetected-civilians-ve-deemed-HOSTILE-massive-military-exercise.html

[Atman]

20. I had never heard of Jade Helm 15 until today.

One of the craziest things I've ever heard. I mean, this takes Tea Bagger bat-shit craziness to new heights. I know America is fooked up, but this is like full on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest stuff.

http://allnewspipeline.com/What_Martial_Law_Will_Look_Like.php?hc_location=ufi

[sendero]

21. As batshit crazy as it is....

.. the idea that old wal-mart stores are somehow needed for this is even batshit crazier.