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Walmart’s Labor Practices Backfire

“Walmart U.S.’s relentless focus on costs does seem to have taken some toll on in-store conditions and stock levels,” the note says in regards to understaffing. “[O]ur store visits over the last six months show a repeating pattern of stocking issues in many departments in the store.” When products aren’t on the shelves, that means Walmart can’t sell them, depressing overall sales. And if the shelves are empty and the lines are long, there may not be a reason for consumers to frequent the stores.[…]

The research report also points out that the labor struggles that have ignited around its poor practices have come with a cost, noting, “Today, Wal-Mart spends a good deal of time and money in hopes of easing Washington scrutiny, bolstering its corporate image and assuaging labor groups.” […]

Walmart says it pays full-time workers $12.78 an hour, on average, but other reports put average pay just over $8 an hour. Costco, on the other hand, pays workers nearly $22 an hour on average. Its sales are up 6 percent over last year.

Psstt!! Walmart!!! Spend some of that money to pay a living wage instead of fighting the regulators and maybe you will gain some goodwill (and business) from that. Just a thought.

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Suicide Bomber Instructor Blows Up Suicide Bombers-In-Training

The commander of an Iraqi militant group accidentally killed 22 members of his unit Monday who were training to become suicide bombers after he conducted a demonstration with live explosives, the New York Times reported.

The Sunni militants belonged to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS, according the Times. They have been engaged in fighting with the Iraqi government army and conducted suicide bombings throughout the country.[…]

An Iraqi army official described the commander as a “prolific recruiter,” adding that he was “able to kill the bad guys for once”.

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More …

Eugene Robinson: The Out-of-Step GOP

The GOP’s failure to come to terms with immigration reform has two big implications. One is that the party’s estrangement from the nation’s largest minority group is likely to deepen. For many Latino voters — who went for President Obama by 71 percent over Mitt Romney — immigration reform is a threshold issue. The GOP ticket in 2016 may pay a steep price.

The other is that 11 million undocumented immigrants continue to enjoy a de facto amnesty while our society remains less productive and less secure than it should be. All thanks to the Republican Party.

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Global Poll Finds Most Catholics Actually Support Birth Control And Abortion Rights

A new global poll surveying the world’s Catholics finds that most of them don’t agree with the Church’s strict positions on issues of reproductive health. Specifically, most Catholics around the world actually support birth control and abortion rights – two “family values” issues that the Catholic hierarchy opposes. Despite the split between Catholic teaching and Catholic congregants, Church officials have fought hard to enshrine their position into legislation.

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The Threat Of Defaulting On U.S. Debt And Other Crises Have Cost 750,000 Jobs

The threat of defaulting on American federal debt thanks to lawmakers bickering over raising the debt ceiling – a situation that has now taken place twice, once in the summer of 2011 and again toward the end of last year – and other instances of governing by crisis increased unemployment by 0.5 percent, or in other words, meant the loss of 750,000 jobs, according to a new report from the Peterson Institute on International Economics.

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Editor’s Note: Feel free to leave links to other news items in the comment threads.


Categories: Uncategorized.

/ 14 Comments

14 comments

  2. JanF

    Wisconsin Club for Growth sues to shut down John Doe investigation

    A conservative group and one of its directors sued a judge and prosecutors Monday in federal court in an attempt to shut down a secret investigation of campaign fundraising and spending in Wisconsin’s recent recall elections.

    Named as defendants in Monday’s suit are Reserve Judge Gregory A. Peterson, who is overseeing the investigation; special prosecutor Francis Schmitz; Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm; Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf; Assistant District Attorney David Robles; and investigator Dean Nickel.

    So if you don’t want to be investigated for possible wrongdoing, simply sue to stop the investigation!  

  3. JanF

    BREAKING: Boehner Will Bring ‘Clean’ Debt-Ceiling Increase to House Vote

    Facing a rebellion over his latest debt ceiling proposal, Speaker John A. Boehner has told House Republicans that he will bring legislation to a vote Wednesday that would raise the government’s borrowing authority with no strings attached.

    “House Republican leaders told members this morning that it is clear the paid-for military COLA provision will not attract enough support, so we will be bringing up a ‘clean’ debt limit bill tomorrow,” a Republican aide said. “Boehner made clear the G.O.P. would provide the requisite number of Republican votes for the measure but that Democrats will be expected to carry the vote.”

    The military provision would have reversed a cut to the pensions of working-age veterans that Congress approved two months ago to try to trim the budget deficit.

    They rely on Democrats to be responsible adults. I hope we can convince people to bypass the middle man and just put the responsible adults in charge.

  5. princesspat

    Corporate backing is helping Obamacare go mainstream

    Although many companies remain wary of associating with the health law while it remains a political lightning rod, the Affordable Care Act is increasingly entering the mainstream as major corporations, sports teams and others integrate it into business.

    The development – little-noticed amid the political skirmishing in Washington – may not erase widespread skepticism about the law, which has deepened in recent months, polls show. But as the law becomes embedded in American life, the Republican drive to dismantle Obamacare will almost certainly become more complicated.

    I was pleased to read this yesterday….The Jet City Rollergirls should have health care too!

  6. princesspat

    Republicans Plan ‘Clean’ Debt Limit Vote Today

    Unable to sell their conference on their latest plan to raise the debt limit, Republican leaders plan to vote today on a “clean” debt limit increase.

    “We don’t have 218 votes,” Speaker John A. Boehner told reporters. “When you don’t have 218 votes, you have nothing.”

    ~snip~

    Earlier, Boehner left his news conference today singing “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”

  7. princesspat

    PCs lumber towards the technological graveyard


    The headquarters of iCore Networks has not seen a desktop computer in five years. Instead, each of the McLean, Virginia-based information-technology firm’s 160 employees relies on a company-issued iPad. They may request a laptop if they need it, but iCore is free of the bulky personal computers common to many offices, opting for devices employees can take home with them.

    My daughter is suffering with a corporate merger…she just doesn’t see how her work can be done on the new IPad only plan. Plus she will be “monitered” via gps settings which is making her really mad.

    It was interesting to watch how all the various medical settings use computers the last few weeks…..the ER docs and surgeon have a “scribe” to man the technology. My main Dr curses his computer while trying to pay attention to me 🙂

    Jan, are your experiencing changes in your business re technology choices and changes?

  8. Portlaw

    Washington State the death penalty may be on its way out

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

    OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday he was suspending the use of the death penalty in Washington state, announcing a move that he hopes will enable officials to “join a growing national conversation about capital punishment.”

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