Learn more: walmartwatch.org | Get involved: makingchangeatwalmart.org | Sign up: forrespect.org See the design documentation for this presentation at: http://jackieflynt.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/standalonedesigndoc.pdf This stand-alone presentation was created for the graduate course, Creative Designs for Instructional Materials, in the Information and Learning Technologies M.A. program at University of Colorado Denver.

1. Impacts of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
on American Workers,
Families and Communities


2. 


3. A living wage is “a wage sufficient to provide
the necessities and comforts essential
Reference: Living wage, n.d.

4. A living wage is “a wage sufficient to provide
the necessities and comforts essential
to an acceptable standard of living.”
Reference: Living wage, n.d.

5. A living wage is “a wage sufficient to provide
the necessities and comforts essential
to an acceptable standard of living.”

Reference: Living wage, n.d.

6. In 2008, I took a job at a busy Walmart store
in the U.S. Rocky Mountain region,
where I was hired at $9.50 per hour.



7. Neither my college degree
nor my professional experience was relevant.
The “level 3” wage of $9.50 was generous.



8. I moved into a below-market-rent apartment,
but I barely earned enough to afford
the smallest available “low-rent” unit in town.



9. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
is the largest corporation in the United States
and the third largest employer on the planet.
Reference and image: The Economist online, 2010 Number of employees in millions

10. In its size as an employer,
Wal-Mart follows only two military forces:
Those of the U.S. and China.
3.5 Largest Employers
3 (in millions)
US Department of
2.5 Defence
Chinese People's
2
Liberation Army*
1.5 Walmart
1 McDonald's**
0.5 China National
Petroleum Corporation
0
Reference: The Economist online, 2010

11. Wal-Mart has made
four of the 11 wealthiest Americans
more than $20 billion each.
Reference and image:
The Forbes 400: The
richest people in
America, 2011

12. Combined,
the net worth of these four Waltons
amounts to $87 billion.
Richest Americans
Gates
Buffet
Ellison
Koch
Koch
Walton
Soros
Adelson
Walton
Walton
Walton
Reference: The Forbes 400: The richest people in America, 2011

13. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
profited nearly $16.4 billion in 2010,
despite the recession.
Reference and image: Fortune 500: Our annual
ranking of America’s largest corporations, 2011

14. Wal-Mart’s $16.4 billion profit
ranked third for the world’s corporations,
following Exxon Mobil and Chevron.
30
25
Profits (in billions)
Exxon Mobil
20 Chevron
Wal-Mart Stores
15
Berkshire Hathaway
10 General Electric
ConocoPhillips
5
General Motors
0
Reference: Fortune 500: Our annual ranking of America’s largest corporations, 2011

15. The Wal-Mart corporation
employs “almost 1.4 million
in the United States.”
Reference: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2011

16. Wal-Mart’s 1.4 million U.S. employees
amount to the population of Phoenix, Arizona,
the sixth most populous U.S. city.
Image: Phoenix, Arizona, n.d.
Reference: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010

17. “
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer,
sets industry standards for wages, benefits
and corporate responsibilities
that impact millions of retail workers,
their families and communities.
Reference: United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, 2011a

18. To date Walmart has used
its dominant position in the market place
“
only to lower standards for American retail workers,
offering what amounts to poverty jobs
for most of its Associates.
Reference: United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, 2011a

19. “
Walmart workers earn
an estimated 12.4 percent less
than retail workers as a whole,
and 14.5 percent less
than workers in large retail in general.1
Large retail in general Percentage
of wages
Retail as a whole Wal-Mart
Retail as a whole
Large retail in general
Wal-Mart
Reference: Jacobs, Graham-
Squire, and Luce, 2011 75 80 85 90 95 100

20. A Walmart Associate
working full-time,
“
earning the average Walmart hourly wage,
earns less than the federal poverty level
for a family of four.
2011 Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines
Persons in 48 Contiguous
Alaska Hawaii
Family States and D.C.
1 $10,890 $13,600 $12,540
2 $14,710 $18,380 $16,930

3 $18,530 $23,160 $21,320
4 $22,350 $27,940 $25,710
Reference: Kusumoto, S.L., 2011

21. These poverty jobs do more harm than good,
lowering the bar and hurting other employers,
“
including small businesses
in the communities
where Walmart stores exist.
Reference: United Food and Commercial
Workers International Union, 2011b

22. “
You could move into a department head position
and supervise several people, … but you’re still not
in a managerial, career-track position.
Department heads only make a few dollars
more per hour than brand new associates.
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

23. “
As a result of lower compensation,
Walmart workers make greater use
of public health and welfare programs
compared to retail workers as a whole,
transferring costs to taxpayers.3
”
Reference: Jacobs, Graham-Squire, and Luce, 2011

24. Earning Wal-Mart’s level-three $9.50 per hour,
I qualified for my state’s medical program
and a locally sponsored dental program.
I wasn’t eligible for Walmart’s benefits
for six months, not even discounted purchases.



25. “
A significant number of Walmart associates
are on the Medicaid rolls.
In 2009, Walmart had the greatest number
of employees and dependents on Ohio’s plan,
and 41 percent of the company’s workforce
in Massachusetts
used publicly-subsidized healthcare.19
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

26. 

Inadequate benefits are just the beginning
of the stresses endured by Wal-Mart associates.
Work schedules are subject to change
without input from employees,
as are daily workloads and assigned areas.

27. ‘
The stores follow a computerized scheduling system,
which has generated,
in the words of a personnel manager,
“grief and heartbreak for people” who must manage
unpredictable, fluctuating hours.15
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

28. Associates we interviewed
noted the excessive workload
‘
at the stores where they worked.21 …
One associate is currently responsible
for completing the tasks previously performed
by multiple associates. …
“Every day it is getting worse.”23
’
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

29. My department was combined with another
that had been sorely neglected for years.
We were assigned to repair its inventory ruin,
gaining only two part-time associates.
Several weeks later one of my coworkers
survived a heart attack on the job.
Eventually, another suffered a mental breakdown.



30. “
Walmart’s vision for the future
of the American workforce
is one where the employer has all the power.
No company matches Walmart’s longstanding
opposition to allowing its workers a voice.
Reference: United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, 2011b

31. Every week, 133 million shoppers
make purchases
at U.S. Walmart stores.
Reference: Jacobs, Graham-Squire, and Luce, 2011

32. In other words, 36% of the U.S. population
makes purchases at Walmart stores
every week.
Weekly
Walmart
shoppers
U.S.
Population
References: Jacobs, Graham-Squire, and Luce, 2011; U.S. Census Bureau, 2011

33. “
Shopping has become
the most important thing we do
to keep America’s $14 trillion economy afloat.
”
Reference: Lichtenstein and
Johansson, 2011

34. The $14 trillion market value of U.S. products
is more than double that of China,
while our population is less than a quarter.
Gross Domestic Product Population
United States United States
China China
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Russia Russia
Canada Canada
India India
Mexico Mexico
References: Badkar, M., 2011; Central Intelligence Agency, 2011

35. It is the retailers, Walmart first among them,
who have become the key players
“
in today’s worldwide marketplace.
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

36. “
Some Americans are resigned to the idea
that the dominance of dead-end jobs
is an inevitable fact of our economy.
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

37.  We believe it’s important
to take a brief look back
“
at the decline of the hourly career. …
The bright spots in our past and recent history…
offer hope for a turnaround in job standards.
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

38. “
It is time to begin a dialogue

about what is possible for Walmart jobs
and for our economy as a whole.
As history informs us, there is nothing inevitable
about our current situation.
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

39. Walmart associates “
 could address these problems
at the company
if they had a collective voice and venue
to demand better job standards.
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

40. “
It will take community leaders and consumers
to support Walmart associates
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

41. “
It will take community leaders and consumers
to support Walmart associates
and demand change.
”
Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

42. “
It will take community leaders and consumers
to support Walmart associates
and demand change.
”

Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

43. As American citizens and consumers,
we’re each obligated to seek out and disseminate
truthful information about Walmart’s impacts
on millions of retail workers,
their families and our communities.


44. “WALMART WATCH exists to challenge Walmart to
more fully embrace its corporate responsibilities
and live up to its position
as the largest corporation in the United States.”
Learn more at walmartwatch.org.
Reference and image: United Food and
Commercial Workers International Union,
2011a

45. As American citizens and community leaders,
we’re each obligated to support Walmart workers
in their demands for living wages and fair benefits
—and those for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
to meet its corporate responsibilities.


46. MAKING CHANGE AT WALMART’s
“vision for American workers—in grocery, retail,
and in our communities—is respect and dignity
at jobs that pay fairly and guarantee workers a voice.”
Get involved at makingchangeatwalmart.org.
Reference and image: United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, 2011c

47. 
As American citizens and retail workers,
we’re each obligated to stand up
for our legal rights,
in order to support each other,
our families and America’s communities.

48. OURWALMART:
ORGANIZATION UNITED FOR RESPECT AT WALMART
is “an independent, not-for-profit organization
for hourly Associates.”
Sign up at forrespect.org.
Reference and image: Organization United for Respect at Walmart, 2011

49. “
Forming unions and speaking out
isn’t about declaring war on Walmart,
it’s about demonstrating that you are committed
to staying with the company and making it
a better place to shop and a better place to work.
”

Reference: Lichtenstein and Johansson, 2011

50. It’s about living wages, “sufficient to provide
the necessities and comforts essential
Reference: Living wage, n.d.

51. It’s about living wages, “sufficient to provide
the necessities and comforts essential
to an acceptable standard of living.”
Reference: Living wage, n.d.

52. It’s about living wages, “sufficient to provide
the necessities and comforts essential
to an acceptable standard of living.”

Reference: Living wage, n.d.

53. It’s about 1.4 million American workers,
their families and our communities

54. It’s about 1.4 million American workers,
their families and our communities
earning money and living better.

55. It’s about 1.4 million American workers,
their families and our communities
earning money and living better.


56. 


57. walmartwatch.org
makingchangeatwalmart.org
forrespect.org


58. References
Badkar, M. (2011, March 24). The world's 15 biggest economies and the risks they face. Business Insider: Money Game.
Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/the-15-biggest-economies-in-the-world-2011-3##ixzz1enHBAzFv
Central Intelligence Agency. (2011, July). The world factbook. Retrieved from
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html
Fortune 500: Our annual ranking of America’s largest corporations. (2011). CNNMoney: A service of CNN, Fortune &
Money. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/full_list/index.html
Jacobs, K., Graham-Squire, D., & Luce, S. (2011, April). Living wage policies and big box retail: How a higher wage
standard would impact Walmart workers and shoppers. Retrieved from UC Berkeley Labor Center website:
http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/index.shtml
Kusumoto, S.L. (2011, January 20). Federal register: Notices. (Vol. 76, No. 13). Retrieved from U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services website: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/11fedreg.pdf
Lichtenstein, N., & Johansson, E. (2011, January). Creating hourly careers: A new vision for Walmart and the country.
Retrieved from American Rights at Work website:
http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/dmdocuments/ARAWReports/creatinghourlycareers_jan2011.pdf
Living wage. (n.d) Merriam-Webster: m-w.com. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/living%20wage
Organization United for Respect at Walmart. (2011). Welcome! [Website page]. Retrieved from
http://forrespect.org/about-us/
The Economist Online. (2010). Daily chart: Who are the world’s biggest employers? [Weblog post]. Retrieved from
http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/09/employment
The Forbes 400: The richest people in America. (2011, September). Forbes. Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/list/
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. (2011a). About [Website page]. Retrieved from
http://walmartwatch.org/about/
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. (2011b). Learn More: I’m Concerned about Walmart in my
Community. [Website page]. Retrieved from http://makingchangeatwalmart.org/learnmore/community/

59. References, continued
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. (2011c). Making Change at Walmart: Our communities. Our
future. [Website]. Retrieved from http://makingchangeatwalmart.org/
U.S. Census Bureau. (2010). United State Census 2010: Interactive Population Map. [Website page]. Retrieved from
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/
U.S. Census Bureau. (2011, November 26). U.S. POPClock Projection. [Website page]. Retrieved from
http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (2011, August). Corporate and financial facts. Retrieved from
http://walmartstores.com/pressroom/factsheets/
Images
Fortune 500: Our annual ranking of America’s largest corporations. (2011). CNNMoney: A service of CNN, Fortune &
Money. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/full_list/index.html
Microsoft Corporation. (2011). Images and More. Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/?CTT=97
Organization United for Respect at Walmart. (2011). Welcome! [Website page]. Retrieved from
http://forrespect.org/about-us/
Phoenix, Arizona. (n.d.). In Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix,_Arizona
The Economist Online. (2010). Daily chart: Who are the world’s biggest employers? [Weblog post]. Retrieved from
http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/09/employment
The Forbes 400: The richest people in America. (2011, September). Forbes. Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/list/
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. (2011a). About [Website page]. Retrieved from
http://walmartwatch.org/about/
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. (2011c). Making Change at Walmart: Our communities. Our
future. [Website]. Retrieved from http://makingchangeatwalmart.org/