WalMart - Store closing over unionising, Boycott called

[Reverend Blair]

RE: WalMart - Store clos

Wal-Mart should be banned from doing business in Canada. They want to bust unions? Fine, let them do it in Paco's backyard. We have plenty of Canadian entrepreneurs who are willing to employ people under fair terms in Canada. We don't a bunch of criminal slave-drivers up here.

 

[Paranoid Dot Calm]

Hey! Reverend Blair

Have you ever had to fire somebody or discipline somebody at your workplace?

I couldn't do it. It just was not in me. It would feel too much like kicking a person in a wheel chair.

However; as a local union executive, many times I have had to present a grievance to an employer for unjust dismissal or unjust disciplinary action being taken against an employee.

Fighting a discharge and asking for re-instatement is something that I could not lose at. If I lost the grievance, it was me who had to go and tell the guy that I lost the grievance. .... that he was fired.
I was so fearful of losing the grievance, that I left no stone unturned. I never lost a discharge grievance! Never!

God! I hated fighting discharge grievances.

About Walmart:

When you got a store that big, the overhead must be huge. When you run a business based on volume and not service for your profits .... you need to hire "robots" and not human beings.

I don't think robots can unionize.

Calm

 

[Paranoid Dot Calm]

Hey! Reverend Blair

Have you ever had to fire somebody or discipline somebody at your workplace?

I couldn't do it. It just was not in me. It would feel too much like kicking a person in a wheel chair.

However; as a local union executive, many times I have had to present a grievance to an employer for unjust dismissal or unjust disciplinary action being taken against an employee.

Fighting a discharge and asking for re-instatement is something that I could not lose at. If I lost the grievance, it was me who had to go and tell the guy that I lost the grievance. .... that he was fired.
I was so fearful of losing the grievance, that I left no stone unturned. I never lost a discharge grievance! Never!

God! I hated fighting discharge grievances.

About Walmart:

When you got a store that big, the overhead must be huge. When you run a business based on volume and not service for your profits .... you need to hire "robots" and not human beings.

I don't think robots can unionize.

Calm

 

[Paranoid Dot Calm]

Hey! Reverend Blair

Have you ever had to fire somebody or discipline somebody at your workplace?

I couldn't do it. It just was not in me. It would feel too much like kicking a person in a wheel chair.

However; as a local union executive, many times I have had to present a grievance to an employer for unjust dismissal or unjust disciplinary action being taken against an employee.

Fighting a discharge and asking for re-instatement is something that I could not lose at. If I lost the grievance, it was me who had to go and tell the guy that I lost the grievance. .... that he was fired.
I was so fearful of losing the grievance, that I left no stone unturned. I never lost a discharge grievance! Never!

God! I hated fighting discharge grievances.

About Walmart:

When you got a store that big, the overhead must be huge. When you run a business based on volume and not service for your profits .... you need to hire "robots" and not human beings.

I don't think robots can unionize.

Calm

 

[peapod]

Annoying practices that are sure to get you banned from your local Wal*Mart stores!



"Re-alphabetize" the CD's in Electronics.
As the cashier runs your purchases over the scanner, look mesmerized and say, "Wow. Magic!"
Ask other customers if they have any Grey Poupon.
Attempt to fit into very large gym bags.
Attempt to fit others into very large gym bags.
Challenge other customers to duels with tubes of gift wrap.
Contaminate the entire auto department by sampling all the spray airfresheners.
Dart around suspiciously while humming the theme from "Mission: Impossible."
Drag a lounge chair on display over to the magazines and relax.
Drape a blanket around your shoulders and run around saying, "...I'm Batman. Come, Robin--to the Batcave!"
Follow people through the aisles, always staying about five feet away.Continue to do this until they leave the department.
Hold indoor shopping cart races.
If the store has a food court, buy a soft drink; explain that you don't getout much,and ask if they can put a little umbrella in it.
Leave Cheerios in Lawn and Garden, pillows in the pet food aisle, etc.
Leave cryptic messages on the typewriters.
Make up nonsense products and ask newly hired employees if there are any in stock, i.e., "Do you have any Shnerples here?"
Move "Caution: Wet Floor" signs to carpeted areas.
Nonchalantly "test" the brushes and combs in Cosmetics.
Pay off layaways fifty cents at a time.
Play "Hide And Go Seek" and hide in the middle of the round racks.
Play soccer with a group of friends, using the entire store as your playing field.
Play with the automatic doors.
Play with the calculators so that they all spell "hello" upsidedown.
Put M&M's on layaway.
Randomly throw things over into neighboring aisles.
Re-dress the mannequins as you see fit.
Relax in the patio furniture until you get kicked out.
Repeat Number 14 in the jewelry department.
Ride a display bicycle through the store; claim you're taking it for a "test drive."
Ride those little electronic cars at the front of the store.
Say things like, "Would you be so kind as to direct me to your Twinkies?"
Set all the alarm clocks to go off at ten minute intervals throughout the day.
Set up a "Valet Parking" sign in front of the store.
Set up a tent in the camping department; tell others you'll only invite them in if they bring pillows from Bed and Bath.
Start playing Calvinball; see how many people you can get to join in.
TP as much of the store as possible.
Take bets on the battle described above.
Take shopping carts for the express purpose of filling them and stranding them at strategic locations.
Take up an entire aisle in Toys by setting up a full scale battlefieldwith G.I. Joes vs. the X-Men.
Test the fishing rods and see what you can "catch" from the other aisles.
Tune all the radios to a polka station; then turn them all off and turn the volumes to "10".
Two words: "Marco Polo."
Walk up to an employee and tell him in an official tone, "I think we've got a Code 3 in Housewares," and see what happens.
Walk up to complete strangers and say, "Hi! I haven't seen you in so long!..." etc. See if they play along to avoid embarrassment.
When an announcement comes over the loudspeaker, assume the fetal position and scream, "No, no! It's those voices again!"
When someone asks if you need help, begin to cry and ask, "Why won't you people just leave me alone?"
When someone steps away from their cart to look at something, quickly make off with it without saying a word.
When there are people behind you, walk REALLY SLOWLY, especially thin narrow aisles.
When two or three people are walking ahead of you, run between them,yelling, "Red Rover!"
While walking through the clothing department, ask yourself loud enough for all to hear, "Who BUYS this junk, anyway?"

 

[peapod]

Annoying practices that are sure to get you banned from your local Wal*Mart stores!



"Re-alphabetize" the CD's in Electronics.
As the cashier runs your purchases over the scanner, look mesmerized and say, "Wow. Magic!"
Ask other customers if they have any Grey Poupon.
Attempt to fit into very large gym bags.
Attempt to fit others into very large gym bags.
Challenge other customers to duels with tubes of gift wrap.
Contaminate the entire auto department by sampling all the spray airfresheners.
Dart around suspiciously while humming the theme from "Mission: Impossible."
Drag a lounge chair on display over to the magazines and relax.
Drape a blanket around your shoulders and run around saying, "...I'm Batman. Come, Robin--to the Batcave!"
Follow people through the aisles, always staying about five feet away.Continue to do this until they leave the department.
Hold indoor shopping cart races.
If the store has a food court, buy a soft drink; explain that you don't getout much,and ask if they can put a little umbrella in it.
Leave Cheerios in Lawn and Garden, pillows in the pet food aisle, etc.
Leave cryptic messages on the typewriters.
Make up nonsense products and ask newly hired employees if there are any in stock, i.e., "Do you have any Shnerples here?"
Move "Caution: Wet Floor" signs to carpeted areas.
Nonchalantly "test" the brushes and combs in Cosmetics.
Pay off layaways fifty cents at a time.
Play "Hide And Go Seek" and hide in the middle of the round racks.
Play soccer with a group of friends, using the entire store as your playing field.
Play with the automatic doors.
Play with the calculators so that they all spell "hello" upsidedown.
Put M&M's on layaway.
Randomly throw things over into neighboring aisles.
Re-dress the mannequins as you see fit.
Relax in the patio furniture until you get kicked out.
Repeat Number 14 in the jewelry department.
Ride a display bicycle through the store; claim you're taking it for a "test drive."
Ride those little electronic cars at the front of the store.
Say things like, "Would you be so kind as to direct me to your Twinkies?"
Set all the alarm clocks to go off at ten minute intervals throughout the day.
Set up a "Valet Parking" sign in front of the store.
Set up a tent in the camping department; tell others you'll only invite them in if they bring pillows from Bed and Bath.
Start playing Calvinball; see how many people you can get to join in.
TP as much of the store as possible.
Take bets on the battle described above.
Take shopping carts for the express purpose of filling them and stranding them at strategic locations.
Take up an entire aisle in Toys by setting up a full scale battlefieldwith G.I. Joes vs. the X-Men.
Test the fishing rods and see what you can "catch" from the other aisles.
Tune all the radios to a polka station; then turn them all off and turn the volumes to "10".
Two words: "Marco Polo."
Walk up to an employee and tell him in an official tone, "I think we've got a Code 3 in Housewares," and see what happens.
Walk up to complete strangers and say, "Hi! I haven't seen you in so long!..." etc. See if they play along to avoid embarrassment.
When an announcement comes over the loudspeaker, assume the fetal position and scream, "No, no! It's those voices again!"
When someone asks if you need help, begin to cry and ask, "Why won't you people just leave me alone?"
When someone steps away from their cart to look at something, quickly make off with it without saying a word.
When there are people behind you, walk REALLY SLOWLY, especially thin narrow aisles.
When two or three people are walking ahead of you, run between them,yelling, "Red Rover!"
While walking through the clothing department, ask yourself loud enough for all to hear, "Who BUYS this junk, anyway?"

 

[peapod]

Annoying practices that are sure to get you banned from your local Wal*Mart stores!



"Re-alphabetize" the CD's in Electronics.
As the cashier runs your purchases over the scanner, look mesmerized and say, "Wow. Magic!"
Ask other customers if they have any Grey Poupon.
Attempt to fit into very large gym bags.
Attempt to fit others into very large gym bags.
Challenge other customers to duels with tubes of gift wrap.
Contaminate the entire auto department by sampling all the spray airfresheners.
Dart around suspiciously while humming the theme from "Mission: Impossible."
Drag a lounge chair on display over to the magazines and relax.
Drape a blanket around your shoulders and run around saying, "...I'm Batman. Come, Robin--to the Batcave!"
Follow people through the aisles, always staying about five feet away.Continue to do this until they leave the department.
Hold indoor shopping cart races.
If the store has a food court, buy a soft drink; explain that you don't getout much,and ask if they can put a little umbrella in it.
Leave Cheerios in Lawn and Garden, pillows in the pet food aisle, etc.
Leave cryptic messages on the typewriters.
Make up nonsense products and ask newly hired employees if there are any in stock, i.e., "Do you have any Shnerples here?"
Move "Caution: Wet Floor" signs to carpeted areas.
Nonchalantly "test" the brushes and combs in Cosmetics.
Pay off layaways fifty cents at a time.
Play "Hide And Go Seek" and hide in the middle of the round racks.
Play soccer with a group of friends, using the entire store as your playing field.
Play with the automatic doors.
Play with the calculators so that they all spell "hello" upsidedown.
Put M&M's on layaway.
Randomly throw things over into neighboring aisles.
Re-dress the mannequins as you see fit.
Relax in the patio furniture until you get kicked out.
Repeat Number 14 in the jewelry department.
Ride a display bicycle through the store; claim you're taking it for a "test drive."
Ride those little electronic cars at the front of the store.
Say things like, "Would you be so kind as to direct me to your Twinkies?"
Set all the alarm clocks to go off at ten minute intervals throughout the day.
Set up a "Valet Parking" sign in front of the store.
Set up a tent in the camping department; tell others you'll only invite them in if they bring pillows from Bed and Bath.
Start playing Calvinball; see how many people you can get to join in.
TP as much of the store as possible.
Take bets on the battle described above.
Take shopping carts for the express purpose of filling them and stranding them at strategic locations.
Take up an entire aisle in Toys by setting up a full scale battlefieldwith G.I. Joes vs. the X-Men.
Test the fishing rods and see what you can "catch" from the other aisles.
Tune all the radios to a polka station; then turn them all off and turn the volumes to "10".
Two words: "Marco Polo."
Walk up to an employee and tell him in an official tone, "I think we've got a Code 3 in Housewares," and see what happens.
Walk up to complete strangers and say, "Hi! I haven't seen you in so long!..." etc. See if they play along to avoid embarrassment.
When an announcement comes over the loudspeaker, assume the fetal position and scream, "No, no! It's those voices again!"
When someone asks if you need help, begin to cry and ask, "Why won't you people just leave me alone?"
When someone steps away from their cart to look at something, quickly make off with it without saying a word.
When there are people behind you, walk REALLY SLOWLY, especially thin narrow aisles.
When two or three people are walking ahead of you, run between them,yelling, "Red Rover!"
While walking through the clothing department, ask yourself loud enough for all to hear, "Who BUYS this junk, anyway?"

 

[Vanni Fucci]

I've never belonged to a union, so I can't really put forth any sort of educated opinion...but I will say this:

After being discharged from the army after a nine year stint, I found that I had no skills that were directly transferrable to a civilian occupation, so I ended up doing construction, specifically framing houses, which I did for about three years. I don't think that any of the bosses of these framing crews had any inkling what was written in the Manitboa Labour Code...during those three years, I worked on average 10 hours a day. Not once was I ever paid time and a half for my overtime...also, I had a problem with how I was paid, which was on the last day of every month, which again is not allowed under the labour code...also, he was a degenrate gambler, and there were a few times that I had to wait even longer for my paycheck, because he had tossed the payroll into a VLT...I brought up the labour code infractions to my boss, even provided documentation from the labour board, and he said that that's how things work in construction, and that if I wanted to keep my job, it would be best if I didn't push the issue...well I did push the issue, and got a raise out of the deal, but it still didn't sit well with me that he was playing fast and loose with laws that were enacted to protect me from crap like that...

So I quit, and got a job working for a company that did fire and flood restoration for insurance companies...I thought that things would be better there, but they were just as bad, and sometimes worse...because of the nature of the work I was doing, many times I was forced to work in an unsafe workplace, as we first had to make the site "safe" to work in...we never received any pay incentive for putting our lives on the line during these times...also, we never received overtime pay there either...one fo the boys went to the labour board with a complaint about this, and a few days later we had a staff meeting where our boss stated plainly that he could not afford to pay us extra for overtime, and that if there were any more complaints to the labour board, he would close his doors and put us all on the "pogey" line...he then made some hollow promises about profit sharing, and mandatory vacations (unpaid of course), none of which I saw come into effect after 6 months...so I facilitated my own lay off, and went to school so as to get out of the construction industry...

Having said all this, I think that if there were a union in place, I would have gladly paid my dues to be protected from some of the crap that I was forced to put up with, and then I might have still been swinging a hammer today...however, labourers (tradesmen with no papers) have no protection from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers...and I've not met any employers in the construction industry that have had any scruples...I guess having scruples would prevent them from vacationing three times a year...

Oh yeah...and the Manitoba Labour Board is a sick joke...

 

[Vanni Fucci]

I've never belonged to a union, so I can't really put forth any sort of educated opinion...but I will say this:

After being discharged from the army after a nine year stint, I found that I had no skills that were directly transferrable to a civilian occupation, so I ended up doing construction, specifically framing houses, which I did for about three years. I don't think that any of the bosses of these framing crews had any inkling what was written in the Manitboa Labour Code...during those three years, I worked on average 10 hours a day. Not once was I ever paid time and a half for my overtime...also, I had a problem with how I was paid, which was on the last day of every month, which again is not allowed under the labour code...also, he was a degenrate gambler, and there were a few times that I had to wait even longer for my paycheck, because he had tossed the payroll into a VLT...I brought up the labour code infractions to my boss, even provided documentation from the labour board, and he said that that's how things work in construction, and that if I wanted to keep my job, it would be best if I didn't push the issue...well I did push the issue, and got a raise out of the deal, but it still didn't sit well with me that he was playing fast and loose with laws that were enacted to protect me from crap like that...

So I quit, and got a job working for a company that did fire and flood restoration for insurance companies...I thought that things would be better there, but they were just as bad, and sometimes worse...because of the nature of the work I was doing, many times I was forced to work in an unsafe workplace, as we first had to make the site "safe" to work in...we never received any pay incentive for putting our lives on the line during these times...also, we never received overtime pay there either...one fo the boys went to the labour board with a complaint about this, and a few days later we had a staff meeting where our boss stated plainly that he could not afford to pay us extra for overtime, and that if there were any more complaints to the labour board, he would close his doors and put us all on the "pogey" line...he then made some hollow promises about profit sharing, and mandatory vacations (unpaid of course), none of which I saw come into effect after 6 months...so I facilitated my own lay off, and went to school so as to get out of the construction industry...

Having said all this, I think that if there were a union in place, I would have gladly paid my dues to be protected from some of the crap that I was forced to put up with, and then I might have still been swinging a hammer today...however, labourers (tradesmen with no papers) have no protection from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers...and I've not met any employers in the construction industry that have had any scruples...I guess having scruples would prevent them from vacationing three times a year...

Oh yeah...and the Manitoba Labour Board is a sick joke...

 

[Vanni Fucci]

I've never belonged to a union, so I can't really put forth any sort of educated opinion...but I will say this:

After being discharged from the army after a nine year stint, I found that I had no skills that were directly transferrable to a civilian occupation, so I ended up doing construction, specifically framing houses, which I did for about three years. I don't think that any of the bosses of these framing crews had any inkling what was written in the Manitboa Labour Code...during those three years, I worked on average 10 hours a day. Not once was I ever paid time and a half for my overtime...also, I had a problem with how I was paid, which was on the last day of every month, which again is not allowed under the labour code...also, he was a degenrate gambler, and there were a few times that I had to wait even longer for my paycheck, because he had tossed the payroll into a VLT...I brought up the labour code infractions to my boss, even provided documentation from the labour board, and he said that that's how things work in construction, and that if I wanted to keep my job, it would be best if I didn't push the issue...well I did push the issue, and got a raise out of the deal, but it still didn't sit well with me that he was playing fast and loose with laws that were enacted to protect me from crap like that...

So I quit, and got a job working for a company that did fire and flood restoration for insurance companies...I thought that things would be better there, but they were just as bad, and sometimes worse...because of the nature of the work I was doing, many times I was forced to work in an unsafe workplace, as we first had to make the site "safe" to work in...we never received any pay incentive for putting our lives on the line during these times...also, we never received overtime pay there either...one fo the boys went to the labour board with a complaint about this, and a few days later we had a staff meeting where our boss stated plainly that he could not afford to pay us extra for overtime, and that if there were any more complaints to the labour board, he would close his doors and put us all on the "pogey" line...he then made some hollow promises about profit sharing, and mandatory vacations (unpaid of course), none of which I saw come into effect after 6 months...so I facilitated my own lay off, and went to school so as to get out of the construction industry...

Having said all this, I think that if there were a union in place, I would have gladly paid my dues to be protected from some of the crap that I was forced to put up with, and then I might have still been swinging a hammer today...however, labourers (tradesmen with no papers) have no protection from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers...and I've not met any employers in the construction industry that have had any scruples...I guess having scruples would prevent them from vacationing three times a year...

Oh yeah...and the Manitoba Labour Board is a sick joke...

 

[Paranoid Dot Calm]

Hey! Vanni Fucci

Your storyline was pretty good. I enjoyed reading it.

The Labour Code in Ontario was gutted by the Harris government. It is now much more difficult to form a workplace union.

One piece of advice I woud give everyone entering the workforce today is to keep a diary. Keep records.
If you ever need to negotiate with your employer for proper pay or whatever .... you gotta have it all documented.
The way that employers' win in court is to have "documents" and "records".

My experience, especially when it deals with proper pay for hours worked .... any claim made by an employee is usually won if the employee has kept a proper record or diary. You can even make the claim years after the event.
50 years later, the Jewish folks are still trying to get proper pay for hours worked during the halocaust. They sued everybody and got billions upon billions. They don't fool around. They kept records.

The blacks in the U.S. never had any records to sue for slavery.
So, the US never paid them a dime.
But, the Jewish folks had the paperwork and they win in every court throughout the world.

Calm

 

[Paranoid Dot Calm]

Hey! Vanni Fucci

Your storyline was pretty good. I enjoyed reading it.

The Labour Code in Ontario was gutted by the Harris government. It is now much more difficult to form a workplace union.

One piece of advice I woud give everyone entering the workforce today is to keep a diary. Keep records.
If you ever need to negotiate with your employer for proper pay or whatever .... you gotta have it all documented.
The way that employers' win in court is to have "documents" and "records".

My experience, especially when it deals with proper pay for hours worked .... any claim made by an employee is usually won if the employee has kept a proper record or diary. You can even make the claim years after the event.
50 years later, the Jewish folks are still trying to get proper pay for hours worked during the halocaust. They sued everybody and got billions upon billions. They don't fool around. They kept records.

The blacks in the U.S. never had any records to sue for slavery.
So, the US never paid them a dime.
But, the Jewish folks had the paperwork and they win in every court throughout the world.

Calm

 

[Paranoid Dot Calm]

Hey! Vanni Fucci

Your storyline was pretty good. I enjoyed reading it.

The Labour Code in Ontario was gutted by the Harris government. It is now much more difficult to form a workplace union.

One piece of advice I woud give everyone entering the workforce today is to keep a diary. Keep records.
If you ever need to negotiate with your employer for proper pay or whatever .... you gotta have it all documented.
The way that employers' win in court is to have "documents" and "records".

My experience, especially when it deals with proper pay for hours worked .... any claim made by an employee is usually won if the employee has kept a proper record or diary. You can even make the claim years after the event.
50 years later, the Jewish folks are still trying to get proper pay for hours worked during the halocaust. They sued everybody and got billions upon billions. They don't fool around. They kept records.

The blacks in the U.S. never had any records to sue for slavery.
So, the US never paid them a dime.
But, the Jewish folks had the paperwork and they win in every court throughout the world.

Calm

 

[peapod]

I work for non-profit...no greed=no problems

 

[peapod]

I work for non-profit...no greed=no problems

 

[peapod]

I work for non-profit...no greed=no problems

 

[Vanni Fucci]

Thanks for the advice Calm...a little too late for me...but I'll spread the word to those who need it...

 

[Vanni Fucci]

Thanks for the advice Calm...a little too late for me...but I'll spread the word to those who need it...

 

[Vanni Fucci]

Thanks for the advice Calm...a little too late for me...but I'll spread the word to those who need it...

 

[Vanni Fucci]

I work for non-profit...no greed=no problems

I do desktop and network support for a few non-profits here in Winnipeg, and my wife is an office administrator for a non-profit as well...my business is listed in a catalogue for CED-based businesses...because for me, money matters less than people...