Jury: Wal-Mart to Pay Workers $78M-Plus

[lovuian]

http://breakingnews.nypost.com/dynamic/stories/W/WAL_MART_BREAKS?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-10-13-15-57-53

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's biggest retailer, must pay at least $78.5 million for violating Pennsylvania labor laws by forcing employees to work through rest breaks and off the clock, a jury found Friday.

Plaintiffs' lawyer Michael Donovan will also seek another $62 million in damages because the jury found that Wal-Mart acted in bad faith. Common Pleas Judge Mark Bernstein is expected to rule on that issue in the next few weeks.

The jury awarded the exact amount the plaintiffs sought, rejecting Wal-Mart's claim that some employees chose to work through breaks and that the loss of a few minutes' pay here or there was insignificant.

"It should send a message to corporate America that you can't say one thing and do another ... and that you should put people ahead profits," Donovan said
more...
Great news for the Workers

[Bushfire]

1. Let me be the first to recommend this thread

K&R!!!

[napi21]

2. If I did the math right, that should be about $150,000per semployee

after attorney fees! I'm sure WM will appeal this verdict, but this time they did somethingevery courtI know of supports. You CAN'T lock people inside the store any work them off the clock! Sorry WM,I think you lost BIG this time!!!!

[lovuian]

3. They use to call that slavery and in America thats against the

law...

[DaveJ]

6. Actually...

From the article linked: "Payments to each plaintiff are expected to range from about $50, on up to a few thousand dollars, depending on how long they worked for the company"

But judging from their glee you would think they'd won the lottery (they probably do not experience happiness that often at their jobs):



The lesson I am sure Wal-mart will learn from this that HR needs to be revamped. Their profiling procedure is wrong for hiring new employees. They should only hire people who are automatons who never question authority, or those who are easily converted into such (usually younger people). That's what the other big box stores do. That will be the next path Wal-mart takes, I'm sure of it.

[flaminbats]

8. why pay someone who goes home exhausted?

I agree, getting paid overtime or being hired without a health inspection isn't winning the lottery. But at least we can win more of these fights in the future. Most of these Walmart employees work their asses off, but who cares if the company gets millions from these taxpayers in subsidies? Most of these employees are still on welfare and Medicaid..boy our welfare system has really reformed! :puke:

[femrap]

4. Glad to hear it this. nt

[DaveJ]

5. And BTW, Wal-mart stock is up today -- The shareholders love it!

The messed up part is, all of these big box stored LOVE breaking the law because it gives them free advertising and shareholders are fond of investing in businesses that treat their employees like animals. There is no incentive for these big box stores to start behaving humanely... these judgments are actually good for them. So they will keep doing it and doing it. It started with Wal-mart but the other big box stores are following their lead -- "it's the Wal-mart way."

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[lovuian]

7. kick

:kick:

[proud patriot]

9. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !

I'm glad to hear this ..

We have to hit them where it hurts (their pocketsbooks)
perhaps then wallyworld will understand it is in their best
intrest (their pocketbooks) to treat their employees better.