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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMike Rowe responds...
After an interesting thread as seen here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024527051
I thought it was worth revisiting what Mike Rowe has to say in response to the recent flurry over his association with Wal-Mart. The article is much longer than 4 paragraphs and I encourage you to read it all here.
https://www.facebook.com/TheRealMikeRowe/posts/746743822002430
Selected paragraphs follow...
Im back. Three days of press, five hours of sleep, four bottles of wine, a speech, a job offer, 5,000 form letters, and a couple of good-natured death threats. All because of a commercial that I narrated about American manufacturing paid for by Walmart. Press tours are fun!
--snip--
Of course, Im not the only one with an agenda, and Aimee knows it. Ori Korin is a spokesperson for Jobs with Justice, and shes trying very hard to persuade people that Walmart is treating its workers unfairly. Aimee quotes Ori as being disappointed with my decision to work with a company as notorious as Walmart. Ori also believes I was too quick to dismiss the workers she represents.
--snip--
Were not enemies, Ori. Were just fighting different battles. Youre trying to wring out a modest increase for people who feel unappreciated by their employer and unhappy in their work. Im trying to get those same people excited about possibilities and opportunities that go beyond their current positions. Frankly - and I say this with all due respect - I dont believe that your strategy is in the long-term interest of your members, or for that matter, anyone who wants to improve their lives in a meaningful way.
--snip--
Think about it, Ori. Many of the workers you represent have jobs that could very well become obsolete in just a few years. Automation, technology, automatic checkouts...the writing is on the wall. But the skilled trades are different. Welders, auto technicians, carpenters, masons, construction workers, healthcare...these opportunities are real, and the rewards go far beyond the minimum wage - whatever that might turn out to be. Walmart may have cornered the market on retail jobs, but the world's a lot bigger than Walmart. Anyway, I want to help. Please forward your members this link. http://profoundlydisconnected.com/the-mikeroweworks-foundation-scholarship-opportunities/
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)store workers any time soon.
sir pball
(4,784 posts)I was there for a spell when I was living in Maine (sadly it paid better than the kitchens in the area); over a year and a half I watched them roughly triple the number of self-serve registers while cutting cashiers, and continually improve the inventory-tracking logistics which let them drop the hours of the "stockmen".
Honestly, their technology is quite impressive in a vacuum, but believe me when I say it *is* only a matter of time until all those trivial jobs are automated...at this point it's just a cost issue, there are already almost zero technological barriers to completely robotic shelf-stocking, store cleaning and cashiering.
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)Customer service, security, loading docks, etc. They'll be around for a long time.
warrior1
(12,325 posts)Not everyone can be Welders and construction workers in America. Many jobs never offer union jobs that guaranteeds at least a decent salary and working hours. Walmart is one of those places. Many times there's not any other place for someone to work. They don't offer enough hours for some people to qualify for healthcare. US taxpayers end up paying for the welfare that some of these folks have to be on. Some of the same folks don't want to be on welfare but Walmart won't pay them a living wage. Why don't you just shove it.
Hell Hath No Fury
(16,327 posts)Walmart demands suppliers sell them products at such a low cost that the workers who make those products -- the welders, auto technicians, carpenters, masons, construction workers, etc -- may very well be working at close to the dismal wage the "sales associates" currently work at.
Is Rowe stupid enough to think the new manufacturing jobs Walmart is spouting off about will be good paying Union jobs??
If so, I got a bridge for you, Mike....