BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 02:20 PM

Penetration is right, our arses are still bleedin.....

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: Big Mick
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 04:28 PM

Hi Giok. I just returned from a festival performance in the Midwestern US, and noticed this.

I don't think much of it. The hallmark, or distinguishing difference, in US unions is that they are not connected to the government in any way. They are autonomous bodies. They are regulated by a series of laws, most of which are being gerrymandered by the right in an attempt to weaken us, and eventually end the existence. The Chinese Trade Federation mentioned is an arm of the Party, and hence the government of China. There is no democracy involved. It is akin to the old Soviet Trade Unions.

I don't see this as any sort of inroad by organized labor. This was a deal cut with the government of China so that they can sell in the largest emerging marketplace in the world.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 04:32 AM

That's what turnover is all about Richard, sell everything that is on the shelves every day. Stock sitting on the shelves is money tied up.
G.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 04:14 AM

Aldi is very much a marginal bottom feeder in Gravesend. Small, unattractive, cash only, no range, few familiar brands, assistants and even managers who do not speak much English, and customers mostly showing all the signs of extreme poverty. Some stuff is very cheap if you get it before it sells out.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 02:11 AM

Walmart principles have been swallowed hook line and sinker by some chains here in Oz. Some problems for organisations like Walmart though, include local council regulations, toilets, parking, fire safety, and etc - and some similar money saving things which I have been told that Walmart is able to skimp on in the USA.

Funnily enough Aldi is not doing all that great here - the obnoxious fact that their special draw card items sell out on the first day, and the fact that they want to charge for credit cards and bags, as well as a total lack of variety and lack of popular big name brands.... they HAVE driven down prices at nearby competing chains stores, but they have relatively so few stores that the overall effect is negligible.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 06:04 PM

Well WalMart is like Topsy it growed and growed, but nobody was looking till it was too late.
G

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: Ron Davies
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 06:00 PM

Yes, the Journal article said the loyalty cards are quite effective--and Asda, the British chain Walmart had bought, couldn't compete.

The problem for those of us who are not Walmart's biggest fans -- (think, in fact, that, like Mr. Bush, it represents the worst of US culture)-- is that Walmart has very deep pockets---and can easily buy into a country at the top. Late last year, for instance, it bought a stake in the largest Central American retailer. Now it has a majority stake.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: Peace
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:56 PM

LOL

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:47 PM

Japan of course P, you'll have heard of Suntory?
G.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: Peace
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:45 PM

"it's nice to get the price of a decent bottle of Malt Whisky back through the post 4 times a year."

Giok, where does Scotland import it from?

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:32 PM

I have a Tesco Loyalty Card, it gives me 1% on all my shopping apart from some special offers which may give you 2%. Every quarter I get a statement from them and cash vouchers which can be redeemed in store for their face value. You can also trade them against all sorts of things from affiliated companies, and sometimes your points can be worth quite a lot more in those circumstances. I know I pay for it in the end, but it's nice to get the price of a decent bottle of Malt Whisky back through the post 4 times a year.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: Peace
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 04:46 PM

"The Chinese trade unions take the Constitution of the People's Republic of China as the fundamental criterion for their activities, conduct their work in an independent way and in accordance with relevant laws and the Constitution of the Chinese Trade Unions, and play an important role in the political, economic and social affairs of the country."

from here.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: Peace
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 04:41 PM

Yes. The 'union' in China. (Brings back memories of the elections in Iraq in Hussein's time. The last election he was in he got 100% of the vote.)

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: Ron Davies
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 04:37 PM

They have now reached the point that they have huge economies of scale in the US--in fact suppliers cut their own throats to get Walmart contracts. (This has of course driven scads of jobs overseas to low-wage countries.) (As well as driving out of business lots of smaller stores which couldn't compete on price.)

Also they have huge penetration--Walmarts all across the US. In fact that's one of the problems they had in Germany--they were up against a German discounter, Aldi,--which has huge penetration in Germany. According to Nestle's research (Nestle being the world's biggest food maker), 80% of German consumers are 20 minutes from an Aldi.

And in the UK Tesco is able to keep loyalty by good prices, a loyalty card arrangement--do you know anything about that, by the way?-- and by being very sensitive to consumers' wants--e.g.--when they found out not just that not just Indians liked Indian food they started stocking more of it.

And as you know, even in the US there is opposition to Walmart.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 04:21 PM

How come they do so well in the US then, if they struggle in other countries?
G.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: Ron Davies
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 04:12 PM

Kevin is right. It's a different type of union. Big article about Walmart and unions in China in the Wall St. Journal recently.

However, just today, the Journal had an article on Walmart's decision to pull out of Germany. They can't take the competition, among many other reasons.

They'll take a $1 billion loss as a result. Couldn't happen to a nicer blight on the corporate landscape.

And Tesco is clobbering them in the UK.

So they will try to expand in Latin America and India. And they still have hopes in China.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 02:32 PM

Half a loaf is better than no bread at all Kevin!
G.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 02:31 PM

Of course it all depends what you mean by "trade union".

From that link Ebbie gave: According to China's trade union law, all employees have the right to join the ACFTU, the country's sole trade union organised by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. However, they are outlawed from forming independent unions or organizing collective bargaining activities outside the ACFTU. The government's tight control over trade unions has led to widespread accusations that the ACFTU favours business and plays a greater role in attracting foreign investment into China at the expense of worker rights.

I can see why that kind of union set up would be quite acceptable to an operation such as Walmart. Help keep the workers in line.

Subject: RE: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 02:22 PM

Nice to know that 'associates' in Wal-Mart employ are so content.

"Associates who request the formation of a labour union at Wal-Mart, we will respect their wishes," Xu said, adding that "not a single Wal-Mart associate has ever raised the issue."

Who'd a thunk it?

Subject: BS: WalMart yes to Trade Unions [In China]
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 01:16 PM

I hear that WalMart has recognised trade union membership for it's employees in China, after being forced to do so.
What do you think of them apples Big Mick Lane?
Giok