Wal-Mart's war on workers

Last year, I wrote a column detailing the negative effects that Wal-Mart has on workers, communities and society as a whole. As you've probably noticed, Wal-Mart is becoming increasingly omnipresent in our society. It's tough to turn a corner without having to watch your head for those crafty falling prices we see in the commercials.\nIn that column, I tried to detail why something we think is so good can really be so bad for us. Recently, there have been a few incidents regarding Wal-Mart that have caught my attention. These incidents deserve mention, and they should serve to spark new debate about the effects of America's largest retailer.\nThe most conspicuous event was a federal raid that netted over 300 illegal workers at Wal-Mart stores across the country. The workers, who were members of cleaning crews, were not hired directly by Wal-Mart, but by independent contractors. \nAlarmingly, there is evidence that Wal-Mart was aware of the presence of illegal workers in its stores. An Oct. 24 Associated Press article cited an anonymous federal investigator who said investigators found evidence that Wal-Mart executives were aware of the illegal workers.\nRegardless of Wal-Mart's complicity with these violations, they are a symptom of the company's unending war on workers. At Wal-Mart, the bottom line is the only consideration. Workers' wages must be kept low, at any cost. In the past, this has meant cracking down on workers attempting to get better pay, violating labor laws and denying adequate health care to employees. This recent crackdown indicates that Wal-Mart's demand for low wages is forcing contractors to break the law.\nAt the same time, while Wal-Mart's contractors break the law, it is forcing other companies to attempt to break the backs of their workers. Because of Wal-Mart's extremely low labor costs, other companies are forced to demand major concessions from their employees.\nHere in Indiana, nearly 4,000 Kroger workers are preparing to strike after failing to reach a new contract agreement with management. Similar grocery strikes have occurred in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri and California. According to an Oct. 27 Associated Press article, stores like Kroger pay as much as $10-14 per hour more (including health care and pension costs) than Wal-Mart. \nSuch a price disparity is forcing quality community employers to demand concessions from their already stressed workers. This is evidenced by the Kroger disputes in Indiana and around the nation. Traditionally, supermarkets have been able to provide workers with a decent wage and health care (Kroger, for example, currently pays 100 percent of health care premiums, according to the Indianapolis Star). Wal-Mart, on the other hand, suppresses workers' pay and benefits by actively and illegally fighting unionization efforts. \n The recent federal crackdown on Wal-Mart and strikes against competing supermarkets are clear evidence of the negative effect Wal-Mart has on communities. Not only do its large-box stores take away from community atmospheres, they also serve to drive local wages down. While its cost demands force contractors to hire illegal labor, Wal-Mart's war against workers forces other companies, such as Kroger, to demand major concessions from its own workers.\nSome day, each of us will look for a job in our community. If the current trend continues, stores like Wal-Mart may continue to force down our future quality of life. Hopefully, this realization and the aforementioned new developments will force us to think twice before shopping at Wal-Mart in the future.