[Vision2020] MORE Data about WalMart VS Gritman
Donovan Arnold
donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com
Tue Nov 29 02:42:26 PST 2005
BJ Swanson,
you sound more and more just like a big Wal-Mart executive.
"Many prefer to work part-time. I believe the salaries are very fair and Gritman (Wal-Mart) contributes a great deal back to the community both in the better than living wage salaries and benefits paid and in charity care. "-BJ Swanson
But Wal Mart workers, always prefer full time work right? So it fair to attack them for paying part time wages for part time work? Either way, 17 of your 20 job postings are part-time, or 0-19.5 hours a week. You cannot tell me that 17 out 20 people looking for work only want to work 0-19.5 hours a week, or could live on that wage.
"Gritman has about 400 employees that equates to 282 full time equivalents."
This means that almost 1/3 of your workforce is making less then the minimum needed to survive in Moscow, according to your own words.
"The AVERAGE hourly wage is $20.77 per hour plus benefits."
Yes, but if you exclude doctors, what does that wage go down to, BJ? If you exclude the truck drivers that work for Wal-Mart, it is only fair that we get to exclude the doctors that make about $70-$150 an hour from that average of $20.77. Anyone knows, that 10-20% at the top making $100 an hour can skew that statistical average.
"I think the majority of Gritman employees will tell you it is a great place to work."
Why, do you think this BJ? Simply because you have not had the misfortune of a nurse that was so stupid as to tell the chair of a board that they do not like working for you? Honestly, you cannot believe someone is that stupid? Why do nurses tell me that nursing is a bad labor market on the Palouse because they cannot find full time work?
Another Wal-Mart Statement:
"If the nurses were paid 50% less than other hospitals, as you say, we would likely have no nurses."
Gritman is the only major place for a nurse to work in this area. Of the 2.2 million RNs covered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage was $52,810..... You pay an average of $20 an hour. By simple calculation, the average nurse works 36 hours a week (3 12 hour shifts), that is $30.34 an hour, you pay $20.77, that is 50% less than the market rate for a nurse.
You will find that many nurses move here because of their spouse's work. With Gritman being one of the few places they can work, they are required to take 20 hours or less positions, or nothing.
"Gritman’s salaries are comparable to other hospitals in this area."
Oh please BJ, how many hospitals do you think we have in Latah?
"The part-time employees who are not eligible for benefits receive an additional 15% higher salary than the full time employees who have benefits."
WRONG, part time employees get a 15% increase because of odd hours. Further, even if your savvy business spin was true, a 15% increase in pay does not even come close to covering the costs of medical bills or the matching benefits that most hospitals offer in retirement plans.
“Gritman is not hiring Licensed Practical Nurses and hasn’t for many years. Gritman currently has only two LPN’s who are long time employees.”
The general direction of the country is to eliminate the LPNs. However, I know that Gritman employs LPNs because I have spoken to several of them, however, Gritman does not call them LPNs, in other words, they changed the name.
“I don’t know about the environmental record of Sun Pacific Energy.”
Well, if you do not know about the destruction of the environment that your company engages in, it certainly is justifiable that you continue to fund it.
“ since you accuse Donald H. Livingstone of having “close ties to Sodexho-Marriot” just because he is a professor in the Marriott School of Business at BYU. Do you presume that all those who teach in the J. A. Albertson building at the U-I have ‘close ties to Albertson’s?’”
Professor Livingstone is not just a professor at the Marriot School of Business. But even if there was “no political connection”, do you think a man of moral conscious would have trouble working in a building with the name of company slapped on the side that has the worst international human rights record in the world?
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) } /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Tahoma; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:"Times \!\000D\000A New\000D\000A Roman"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Tim\!\000D\000A es New\000D\000A Roman"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} h1 {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; font-size:24.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:bold;} h3 {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
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mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Symbol;} @list l3:level2 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:o; mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> Donovan,
You seem to have reached the height of false information and total confusion. In another post today you mentioned, “This all depends on what is considered acceptable data collection
” So, where are you collecting your data because it is not correct.
Gritman hires a number of part-time and on-call employees, just like the U-I, WSU, Wal-Mart, etc. Many prefer to work part-time. I believe the salaries are very fair and Gritman contributes a great deal back to the community both in the better than living wage salaries and benefits paid and in charity care. Gritman has about 400 employees that equates to 282 full time equivalents. The AVERAGE hourly wage is $20.77 per hour plus benefits. The part-time employees who are not eligible for benefits receive an additional 15% higher salary than the full time employees who have benefits. Gritman’s salaries are comparable to other hospitals in this area. If the nurses were paid 50% less than other hospitals, as you say, we would likely have no nurses. Gritman is not hiring Licensed Practical Nurses and hasn’t for many years. Gritman currently has only two LPN’s who are long time employees. The salaries and benefits Gritman pays are among the best in the are!
a. I
think the majority of Gritman employees will tell you it is a great place to work. You seem to accuse Gritman of being cheap, but it wasn’t too long ago you were complaining about the high cost of healthcare and medical insurance. If you would like to pay more, then Gritman could pay more too.
I don’t know about the environmental record of Sun Pacific Energy. I’m a little suspicious of your judgment on that since you accuse Donald H. Livingstone of having “close ties to Sodexho-Marriot” just because he is a professor in the Marriott School of Business at BYU. Do you presume that all those who teach in the J. A. Albertson building at the U-I have “close ties to Albertson’s?”
B. J. Swanson
---------------------------------
From: Donovan Arnold [mailto:donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 9:42 AM
To: bjswan at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Data about WalMart VS Gritman
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, tha! n 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 Mobil.
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:
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 mor! e 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.&! nbsp; 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 g! et 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 bus! inesses 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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