seven-o-seven seven-o-seven REPORTER - CAW Local 707

Wal-Mart
As workers we often feel the economic pressures from corporation
and failed government policies in the form of job loss, poverty,
homelessness and other at risk situations and circumstances
that further marginalize us as working class people. In many
sectors of the economy, we have time and time again seen the
suppression of workers’ rights, wages and benefits along with
a continuous decay of confi-
dence in the current system
of capitalism by working
class people.
I write about this to bring
attention to Wal-Mart Canada
and its bid to build a new
80,000 sq. ft. store in downtown
Hamilton at the site
of the former Centre Mall. I
have had many conversations
with working class people
who are so excited about
the jobs, the localization of
cheap goods (most often from China), and the pure joy that they
will have access to a new super store. While I understand that
many families will be able to spread their money further with
some of these cheap goods, I often find myself frustrated that
not enough of these same people are able to make the connection
back to the downward slope we face as these multi-national
companies reduce the standard of living for workers.
Jobs that will be created by Wal-Mart will be lost by smaller
businesses and a shift in shopping habits from other large retailers.
The downtown core of Hamilton has been in a steady
yet slow process to establish itself after many years of decay
as shoppers and residents moved to the suburbs. The very essence
of downtown will be set back with a monster Wal-Mart.
If people want to go to Wal-Mart, it is already accessible in any
direction within a 15-minute transit or car ride from downtown
Hamilton.
This does nothing to address the sexist management behaviours
of Wal-Mart, its anti-union agenda and its disrespect for
suppliers that once depended on Wal-Mart’s distribution network
only to find themselves ordered to cut costs or lose shelf
space. Wal-Mart places so much pressure that it forces these
suppliers to attack working class people in factories with cuts
to pay, reduced benefits and relocation to cheaper labour markets
all to ensure top profit for the world’s largest multi-national
corporation and its shareholders.
Holding such prestige and dominance in the retail market has
forced other fair pay companies to attack their workers in the
race to be competitive with Wal-Mart’s buying power. If Wal-
Mart is to hold such an important influence over the market, we
must demand it respects its workforce, stops union intimidation
tactics, e.g. closing stores to prevent union access, pay fair
wages and benefit packages. This company has been very successful
in the currently capitalistic system; but as we know, this
current system of capitalism always places the working class at
the bottom fighting for crumbs while the owners and managers
reap the rewards.
Human Rights Report
By William O’Neill
We in the auto sector have asked
time and again for workers to support us
by purchasing vehicles or products that
are proudly union-made. If we are to ever
make substantial gains as workers in an
unfair and unjust economic system,
we must unite and support each other.
I encourage you to more closely
examine your own buying habits
and ask the often uncomfortable
questions regarding the source and
the standard of living of the workers
making the products you use monthly in your home. We in
the auto sector have asked
time and again for workers
to support us by purchasing
vehicles or products that are
proudly union-made. If we
are to ever make substantial
gains as workers in an unfair
and unjust economic system,
we must unite and support
each other. This is something
I will try to improve upon
and I encourage each of you
to look closer at the products
and services you use and ask
yourselves if you are helping to support a higher standard of living
rather than helping to reduce the standards of workers.
In Solidarity,
Billy O’Neill
July – September 2011 – Page 31