[Vision2020] Data about WalMart VS Gritman

Mon Nov 28 09:41:30 PST 2005

    BJ Swanson, 

      You  have no doubt reached the height of your hypocrisy with your latest  email. As Chair of the Gritman Board of Directors you are no doubt  aware that Gritman pays less than $10.50 an hour plus benefits for many  of its employees, “The  “living wage” in Moscow is around $10.50 an hour plus benefits.   $10.50 an hour is the level where workers are able to “maintain.”, as  your own words claim.

      Gritman  purposely creates licensed staff positions for 19.5 hours or less a  week at less than $20 an hour so it does not have to pay full-time  benefits to its employees.   Gritman pays  its nurses almost 50% less, $20 an hour, than the average entry level  nurse, $30 an hour. It also uses and abuses the practice of Licensed  Practical Nurses, or LPNs, instead of Registered Nurses, or RNs,  because they can get away with paying them 20-40% less even though they  can do about 85% of the work an RN can. LPNs were originally created  during WWII because of the lack of RNs and Doctors. They should not be  used in place of RNs to save Gritman money.

      As anyone can read for themselves, at http://www.gritman.org/careers/careers.asp  most of the jobs listed are “(0  - 39 hours per 2 week pay period)”. That is less than 19.5 hours a  week. At a MAXIMUM start rate of $20 an hour, that is less than $10  hour for a full time worker. And at less than 20 hours a week they are  not getting benefits. 

      Gritman  also employs certified nurses assistants, cafeteria workers,  phlebotomists, house keepers, gift shop workers, and other medical  assistants and staff that make far less than nurses with the same  maximum of 19.5 hours a week. 

      In  addition to your hypocrisy about nonlivable wages by large corporations  in this town, you have also neglected to research your own company,  AmericanWest Bank and the practices by the board of Directors. 

      The Board of Directors for AmericanWest Bank is full of  minions just like Wal-Mart. For example Craig D. Eerkes,  President of Sun Pacific Energy, Inc. A company that has the worst  environmental record in the northwest, working with favorites of Green  Peace like Exxon Mobile.

      And let us also not forget board member Donald H.  Livingstone, who has close ties to Sodexho-Marriot, the company with the worst human  rights record in the world.

                      BJ,  I suggest when you show up to protest the senseless slaughter of  animals for clothing that you not be wearing a fur coat and alligator  purse.

  Take Care,

      Donovan J Arnold

"B. J. Swanson" <bjswan at moscow.com> wrote:              v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}              st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }                    Jeff.

    I assume you’re joking when you say  “I suspect  their stats are probably reliable, as the consequences of being wrong would  bring swift retribution.”   I doubt that Wal-Mart has any fear of retribution as evidenced by the  more than 5,000 lawsuits currently pending against them dealing with a  wide variety of unethical practices including discrimination against  women, hiring undocumented aliens and paying them less than $3/hour,  wide-spread inflated scanner settings, forcing associates to work “off  the time clock,” etc.  Obviously a few slanted facts are not a big  deal to them.  The Wal-Mart website also contains profound  statements like “Wal-Mart  does not encourage our associates to apply for public assistance.”  

    Perhaps  researching a little further into the numbers would reveal that the  $9.20 an hour average wage includes truck drivers.  Apparently  Wal-Mart has been unable to monopolize the trucking industry,  YET.  If truck drivers are removed from the average wages the  remaining workers, including management, average around $8.20 an hour  and less than one-third qualify or can afford health insurance.   The “living wage” in Moscow  is around $10.50 an hour plus benefits.  $10.50 an hour is the  level where workers are able to “maintain.”  More than that  usually indicates workers are able to contribute to the  community.  Less than that and the worker needs assistance to  survive.  The relative size of Wal-Mart and its projected impact  on Moscow as the second largest employer paying  less than living wage jobs is a big concern.

    Regarding  buying from Idaho  vendors, a further look will reveal Wal-Mart’s usual predatory  practices.  I personally know a small Northern Idaho  business who was delighted to get a contract from Wal-Mart.  But  the contract included not paying for goods for 120 days.  That  means four months without payment or interest, while having to pay  workers and inventory costs on much shorter terms.  Then, Wal-Mart  wanted more and more goods until Wal-Mart was buying 90% of the small  businesses goods and still demanding more.  Then, Wal-Mart started  ratcheting down the price, and still on 120 day terms.  The small  business nearly went broke before they realized Wal-Mart was  controlling them and breaking them.  Idaho is a very honest, trusting  culture.  Sometimes to our detriment.

    There  are currently around 70 jobs in Alturas   Technology Park  paying an average of $24.00 an hour plus benefits.  You will find these  people on many contributor lists throughout Moscow,  including Latah Trail, Kenworthy, IRP, Prichard,  etc.  Rezoning the land on the eastern boundary of Alturas for Wal-Mart  will severely restrict the ability to expand Alturas Technology   Park and continue to attract  businesses that actually contribute to the community instead of sucking it dry.

    B. J.  Swanson 

---------------------------------

    From:  vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Harkins
  Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2005  6:11 PM
  To: vision2020 at moscow.com
  Subject: [Vision2020] Data about  WalMart Impact in Idaho and Idaho Wages

    Here  is an excerpt from the WalMart website.  I suspect their stats are  probably reliable, as the consequences of being wrong would bring swift  retribution.

 Of particular note is the average wage of $ 9.20  and the fact that WalMart employs 6,774 people in the state.  At a  wage rate of $9.20 and an assumed work year of 2080 hours the average  annual wage is $19,136.  

  Here is a link to the data for wages for all occupational groups in North Idaho.   The stats are as of May, 2005.  The stats are quite robust and  should provide you with hours of fun as you compare your current wage  with the state average.  Here is the link to the data: http://lmi.idaho.gov/admin/uploadedPublications/3753_north_idaho.pdf  .  If you want info about education jobs, you will need to go to  Appendix C of the report.  If you have trouble finding that link,  please advise and I will provide it.
  You can download the data.

  Other points of interest include spending almost $185 million with Idaho suppliers -  supporting 15,934 supplier jobs.

  Idaho  Community Impact

      Real  Estate     Wal-Mart's presence in Idaho  includes: 
    Stores,  Clubs, Distribution Centers and other facilities (as of October2005)    Supercenters: 14
  Discount Stores: 3
  Neighborhood markets: 0
  SAM'S CLUBS: 1
  Distribution Centers: 0
  Average store size (national average)   
  Supercenter: 186,077 sq. ft. with  approx. 116,000 items  
  Discount Store: 98,079 sq. ft.  with approx. 62,500 items  
  Neighborhood Market: 42,286 sq.  ft. with approx. 38,845 items  
  SAM'S CLUB: 127,776 sq. ft. with  approx. 6,000 items  

      People

      Employment  Facts       
   In Idaho,       the total number of Wal-Mart associates is 6,774 (as of October 2005).    
   The average wage for regular full-time hourly       associates in Idaho  is $9.20 per hour (Wal-Mart Discount Stores, Supercenters and  Neighborhood Markets). Additionally, associates are eligible for  performance-based bonuses.    
   In  recent years, Wal-Mart has contributed four percent of an associate's  eligible pay to their combined Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan.   

    Suppliers       
   In 2004, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. spent $184,548,727       for merchandise and services with 335 suppliers in the state of Idaho.  As a result of Wal-Mart's relationship with these suppliers, Wal-Mart  supports 15,934 supplier jobs in the state of Idaho.          
   Supplier figures provided by Dun       & Bradstreet   

    Taxes  and Fees       
   Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of Idaho more than       $68.3 million in sales taxes in 2004    
   Wal-Mart paid more than $9.8 million in state and       local taxes in the state of Idaho       in 2004.   

    Community  Involvement       
   In  2004, Wal-Mart Stores and SAM'S CLUB gave $753,242 to local causes and  organizations in the communities they serve in the state of Idaho.   In addition, many charities and organizations received in-kind  donations and additional funds raised through stores and CLUBS in the  amount of $219,492, for a grand total of $972,734 contributed through  Wal-Mart's presence across the state.    
   Examples of some of the efforts in Idaho that our       company made in 2004 to reach out to the community include:        
      Safe Neighborhood Heroes Grants: $39,250     
      Literacy Grants: $30,250     
      Community Scholarships: $33,000     
      Teacher of the Year Grants: $27,000    

   Idaho's 2004 Teacher of the Year is Conrad       Garner from Bonners Ferry        High School in       Bonners Ferry.   

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