Walmart employees to get raises

[Zippyjuan]

Another issue is who gets the increases in productivity. Following the end of WWII, there was a relative shortage of labor and high demand for goods- not just pent up demand in the US from people who pinched pennies and saved during the war and GIs returning home but in Europe and Japan where they needed things to rebuild following the war and they had no infrastucture to produce them. Companies paid higher wages to attract workers. Gains from productivity were shared by both the workers and the owners of capital (the companies). Today, there is less competition among employers for labor (not just locally but internationally as well) so workers have been getting smaller and smaller pieces of the pie. Corporate profits have soared while worker gains have been minimal- despite high increases in per capita outputs.

"If we let companies keep more of their profits, they will create more jobs" so far does not seem to be happening. They are getting more profits, but they are not trickling down to the workers- either in the form of more jobs (which has been improving) or higher wages for workers.

There wasn't much of a true middle class prior to WWII and we now seem to be returning to that state.

 

[Madison320]

We don't want good paying jobs. We want low prices.

Wrong. We want a higher standard of living. We want an hour of pay to buy more stuff. The best way to get that is thru capitalism (freedom).

 

[invisible]

Looks like good money.

Yeah, 30 years ago.

 

[invisible]

KCIndy,

Have you seen negative effects over the past year in the fracking industry? I'm wondering what it's now like in eastern Montana, N Dakota, and W Texas.

They're starting to lay people off here in OK. Oilfield work is suddenly no longer the sure-fire high paying job that it has been. It remains to be seen how much of an actual impact this will have around here, it only just seems to be starting.

 

[Anti Federalist]

The Walmarts where I live are already horribly understaffed and miserable circuses of corporate laughability.

Sooo...you get what you pay for, basically.

 

[Zippyjuan]

They're starting to lay people off here in OK. Oilfield work is suddenly no longer the sure-fire high paying job that it has been. It remains to be seen how much of an actual impact this will have around here, it only just seems to be starting.

Fracking oil requires high prices for oil to be profitable and wells tend to have short life-spans compared to more traditional wells (many hit peak production after just one year). That means you need to be constantly drilling new ones to keep production at its current level. It is an industry set up for boom and bust. Recently we have had an explosion at one oil refinery and workers went on strike at a few more. That could cause the price of oil to rise back up some more (enough to stop cutbacks in production? Remains to be seen).

Some of the oil areas have been through this boom- bust cycle before (seems to happen about every 20 years or so) and that is why they were reluctant to spend money on infrastructure for oil workers- like more hotels and houses- fearing a glut of them when the crash hit.

Many think oil will stay around $40 to $50 for a while. Tar sands in Canada need closer to $80 to $100 to be profitable and depending on the wells, fracking in the $65 to $80 range. You are right- it is probably just starting.

 

[paleocon1]

A good day for WalMart employees and maybe even for customers.

 

[DamianTV]

We've become a nation of WalMarx Employees and Truck Drivers.

 

[angelatc]

"If we let companies keep more of their profits, they will create more jobs" so far does not seem to be happening. They are getting more profits, but they are not trickling down to the workers- either in the form of more jobs (which has been improving) or higher wages for workers.

There wasn't much of a true middle class prior to WWII and we now seem to be returning to that state.

"If we let.....?" Of course they aren't making more money. We have a glut of workers. Rising wages isn't a function of profit. It is a function of labor demand. Every time we get to peak employment, the immigrants flood in and drive wages back down.

 

[56ktarget]

Must be a lot of significant union grumbling again. Thanks for raising costs and prices.

Its funny because Walmart doesn't even have a union. Try again.

 

[KCIndy]

We've become a nation of WalMarx Employees and Truck Drivers.

It's simple.

Trucking is pretty much the last blue collar job that pays a decent living wage. The high paying factory jobs are all gone.

 

[Anti Federalist]

It's simple.

Trucking is pretty much the last blue collar job that pays a decent living wage. The high paying factory jobs are all gone.

This x1000

That and the maritime field, but that has very limited opportunities, it's tough to break into, and 8 out of 10 people get too seasick to even think about doing it.

And most important to not forget, it was done on purpose.

 

[DamianTV]

This x1000

That and the maritime field, but that has very limited opportunities, it's tough to break into, and 8 out of 10 people get too seasick to even think about doing it.

And most important to not forget, it was done on purpose.

I tried to get a fishing job in the Gulf of New Mexico, but they're only hiring mexicans...

(waits for someone to find what is wrong with that statement...)

 

[Zippyjuan]

I have a friend working fishing boats in Alaska. Out after crabs right now.

 

[oyarde]

Only three weeks or so to April for the raises .

 

[PRB]

The Walmarts where I live are already horribly understaffed and miserable circuses of corporate laughability.

Here's a toast to more of that. Oh yeah.

and more people complaining they can't be hired. YAY.

 

[oyarde]

Sooo...you get what you pay for, basically.

That's how see it .

 

[Weston White]

Last time I was on the premise of a Walmart--2007. Walmart can go die.

 

[Spikender]

and more people complaining they can't be hired. YAY.

I can be hired...

For the right price.

Then again I don't have a degree in liberal arts or women's studies so I might have a better chance than most.

 

[PRB]

I can be hired...

For the right price.

Then again I don't have a degree in liberal arts or women's studies so I might have a better chance than most.

You're not complaining, so no worries.