Registered: Sep 2004
Location: Brookville, PA
Posts: 2461

A new report from the AFL-CIO shows that Wal-Mart’s refusal to pay decent wages and provide affordable health insurance is costing state taxpayers millions to provide health care coverage to Wal-Mart workers.

As employer-based health care declines, many working families have been forced to rely on public health care programs to secure coverage. The result has been exploding Medicaid costs that are breaking state budgets.

Three states have enacted the Health Care Disclosure Act, which requires them to report which employers’ workers are relying on taxpayer-funded health care programs to cover their families. Thanks to public pressure from the AFL-CIO, unions, and allies, 23 states total have issued public reports.

The reports show that Wal-Mart’s workers rely on public funds for health care more than employees from any other company. In at least 19 of the 23 states reporting, Wal-Mart was the No. 1 employer with workers on the public health care rolls.

In Washington state, almost 20 percent of Wal-Mart employees get their health benefits from the state. In Arizona and Maine, 10 percent got state coverage. In New Jersey, Wal-Mart is the eight-largest employer, but it has more workers on the public health rolls than anyone else.

You can learn how Wal-Mart’s refusal to provide adequate health care coverage is costing taxpayers by downloading our new AFL-CIO report:

The Wal-Mart Tax: Shifting Health Care Costs to Taxpayers (PDF)

Wal-Mart is the nation’s largest employer, with 1.39 million workers in 2005. It rakes in profits at a rate of more than $21,000 per minute. Its CEO earned $17.5 million in 2005, and five members of the Walton family are on the list of the 10 wealthiest Americans.

And the company has wrung at least $1 billion in economic development assistance from state and local businesses in the past 20 years.

Yet despite record profits, Wal-Mart still refuses to provide decent health care coverage for its workers. The result is millions and millions of dollars drained from state coffers as taxpayers pay health care costs for many Wal-Mart employees.

Lawmakers in more than 30 states are working to pass the Fair Share Health Care Act, already enacted in Maryland. The legislation would make sure that large, profitable companies like Wal-Mart pay their fair share of covering their own employees’ health care in those states.

Our new AFL-CIO report details the impact of Wal-Mart’s stingy behavior on taxpayers and state budgets. Download the report today:

The Wal-Mart Tax: Shifting Health Care Costs to Taxpayers (PDF)
http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatc...port_031406.pdf

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Lone Pine North

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Union propaganda. Pure and simple.

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 4324

Because Wal Mart (per Purina) purchases 38 loads of Purina (my dealer didn't say how often), Wal Mart sells Dog Chow for $15.73 + tax for a 50 lb. bag here. My Purina dealer was told by Purina (he said he gets, in comparison, 2 loads) that the only way Purina can deliver Dog Chow to him would be for a charge of $18.93 per 50 lb bag. I didn't mind paying a couple of dollars more per bag at the feed store because they load my feed & I buy other items at that store. Our Purina store is owned & operated by a super nice couple with 2 daughters who participate in livestock events in our county & they have a great store. This is just another incident of "The giant stomping on the smaller guys." The feed dealer says he'll just have to sell varieties not sold by Wal Mart because he certainly can't compete with Wal Mart's HUGE purchasing power that gives them a definite competitive edge over privately owned businesses.

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SKY
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Author of the novel "Follow Jennifer"

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Registered: Jan 2005
Location: OKLAHOMA
Posts: 1031

And when the state forces Wal-Mart to pay health insurance who will pay?.......................The consumer..............Because I guarantee the state isn't lowering tax rates because Wal-mart is paying health benefits............A cost past on to the consumer through higher prices.............That yellow smiley face that is slashing prices will be in the unemployment line..........How about the government do something about the cost of healthcare.......which in turn might do something abot the cost of health insurance..............My boss pays more than half of mine for me & my family...........I think he pays $8000.00 plus and I pay $4000+ a year........It is expensive........I could enter alot more hunts with that money......LOL

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Kevin Duck
blueduck_ranch@yahoo.com

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 4324

The clinic in our county that helps people with no insurance stated in our County Commissioners Court recently that in addition to indigents, a large portion of their patients were Wal Mart employees because those employees could not afford health insurance. The clinic personnel were not slamming Wal Mart but used that employment situation as an example while making a presentation to request financial help from our county so they could continue to be of service to people who need it. The clinic charges patients based on what they can afford to pay. Several physicians and surgeons donate their services to the clinic. We have a lot of poverty here but it's not related to Wal Mart.

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SKY
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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: ALABAMA
Posts: 5183

quote:

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Originally posted by skyblu
Because Wal Mart (per Purina) purchases 38 loads of Purina (my dealer didn't say how often), Wal Mart sells Dog Chow for $15.73 + tax for a 50 lb. bag here. My Purina dealer was told by Purina (he said he gets, in comparison, 2 loads) that the only way Purina can deliver Dog Chow to him would be for a charge of $18.93 per 50 lb bag. I didn't mind paying a couple of dollars more per bag at the feed store because they load my feed & I buy other items at that store. Our Purina store is owned & operated by a super nice couple with 2 daughters who participate in livestock events in our county & they have a great store. This is just another incident of "The giant stomping on the smaller guys." The feed dealer says he'll just have to sell varieties not sold by Wal Mart because he certainly can't compete with Wal Mart's HUGE purchasing power that gives them a definite competitive edge over privately owned businesses.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 705

I agree with Jim. Wal-mart employs a lot of folks, at low wage jobs; most of them are stock folks, and cashiers, historically not high paying positions. It only makes sense that a lot of these folks can't afford to pay for health care. Most companies now days are going away from providing complete health care plans for their employees, and just offer an opportunity to purchase it throught the company who can get a group discount. I know my health benefits have gone backwards for the last few years. If I am lucky my yearly cost of living raise will offset the increase in my health benefits.

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Tony Hughey

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Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Stanford, KY
Posts: 132

I agree with Jim.

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location:
Posts: 385

health care is vital to the well being of the nation... this is the only industrialized nation, and the far and away richest, that has no form of national health care for its people... no health care, but massive tax returns for the top 1% of wage earners..., time to elect people who place the needs of the people ahead of big vested $$$$, makes no difference which party, time has come to do what needs to be done and not sacrifice the needs of the public for profit of a few...

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Rockmart Ga.
Posts: 8685

quote:

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Originally posted by JiM
Union propaganda. Pure and simple.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: East OH
Posts: 938

quote:

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Originally posted by JiM
Union propaganda. Pure and simple.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Washington, NC
Posts: 3315

I was listneing to a talk show 3 weeks ago about Wal- Mart. It was said that by raising the price of each item sold by $0.01 that Wal-Mark could double the wage earning of every employee. Their sales volume is that great. Raise it another $0.01 and they could probably provide health insurance. That's not a large increase in cost but it sure would help their employees a great deal.

I have to shop Wal-Mart because they have bankrupted almost all the other buisness in our town. They sell just enough of things like hardware to kill the hardware stores, ect. They are also the driving force behind most textile jobs going overseas in an effort to "cut costs".

Wal-Mart tried to force Snapper Mowers overseas and cut quality to lower cost. The CEO of Snapper told them no and pulled their product from Wal-Mart.

No, I'm not pro union, I happen to be anti union. But I get mad every time I hear how great Wal-Mart is.

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Bill Harper
Washington, NC
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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: SHOW ME STATE - SEDALIA, MISSOURI
Posts: 627

I have a friend who says her mom has to work for a year before she can get insurance. I couldn't believe it. She has to go to a low cost clinic for health care. Most company's provide insurance after 3 months I thought.

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: SOUTHEAST OHIO
Posts: 808

I believe the same people own Walmart, Lowes and Sams Club, if so that is puchasing power for 3 major chains. No wonder the small business man has a hard time competeing.

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BOB KETTLEWELL
JERUSALEM,OHIO

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Registered: Jul 2004
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1839

If I was Sam Walton I'd close every Wal-Mart and listen to everyone cry about it. What do you want.........a stockboy to make 20 dollars an hour? I bet the prices would go up. Way up. People should get some sort of trade. Walmart is a starting job not a career to run a household on.

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Al Tarantella

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Rockmart Ga.
Posts: 8685

No But there employees should have descent healthcare benefits.

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In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."
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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Morrison TN
Posts: 4927

Sheep, do you not understand the meaning of an entry level job?

Those do not come with healthcare benifits because what they do is not worth the cost of providing them. I didn't get healthcare benifits when I worked at McDonalds either. Nor when I hauled hay or cut tobacco, or all the other entry level jobs I had.

Entry level jobs are where you go to learn how to be a good employee and use your track record there as a stepping stone to a better job.

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Let's go huntin

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Registered: Mar 2006
Location: chilhowee missouri
Posts: 1

my mom works at walmart. you have to pay 40 bucks every 2 weeks. for a whole year. before you can start to get any type of insurance. and before that you have to be working there for at least 6 months. and also after the 6 months. you only have a short window.. so if the boss puts the application in your box on yoru day off and you dont get it til you go back to work.. it ends up being too late and you have to wait another 6 months.. ( happened to my mother) put that on top of a super high premium. my mother.. is on publick healt help right now. because she doesnot make enouhg to live on otherwise.
the fact they barely pay minumum wage.if someone has something against you personally and they are higher up? they try and get you to quit. so they dont have to pay unimployment.
even hint or talk about bringing in union. and your out the door . sam walton is dead. it is his family who now run it. and they destroyed the store that sam walton built. sam insisted on american made. at his stores. after he died. that all went to hell in a handbasket.they dont give a rats arse about the worker. they only pray to the al mighty dollar.. and the more they can put in the pockets the better

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: East OH
Posts: 938

quote:

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Originally posted by Rip
Sheep, do you not understand the meaning of an entry level job?

Those do not come with healthcare benifits because what they do is not worth the cost of providing them. I didn't get healthcare benifits when I worked at McDonalds either. Nor when I hauled hay or cut tobacco, or all the other entry level jobs I had.

Entry level jobs are where you go to learn how to be a good employee and use your track record there as a stepping stone to a better job.

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Rockmart Ga.
Posts: 8685

quote:

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Originally posted by Albert Fulton
Every person in this country is" worth" healthcare.No matter what job he has!!!!!! Evan you!

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In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."
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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Morrison TN
Posts: 4927

quote:

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Originally posted by Albert Fulton
Every person in this country is" worth" healthcare.No matter what job he has!!!!!! Evan you!

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Let's go huntin

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Rockmart Ga.
Posts: 8685

I dont think hauling hay for a farmer is the same thing as working at the biggest store in the world. WAL MART.

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In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."
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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Morrison TN
Posts: 4927

What you don't understand is YES IT IS.

Somebody owns that store and forcing them to pay health insurance for jobs that do not add enough value to the company is the same thing. They will either do away with that job or the whole company will go under because the cost of the insurance to the company is more than the job is worth making them go "in the hole".

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Rockmart Ga.
Posts: 8685

RIP, read what your saying. Read what the guy said about 1 cent. Walmart is MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE THAN capable of treating there employees better and you know it.

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In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."
-- Mark Twain

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Rockmart Ga.
Posts: 8685

quote:

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Originally posted by Rip
What you don't understand is YES IT IS.

Somebody owns that store and forcing them to pay health insurance for jobs that do not add enough value to the company is the same thing. They will either do away with that job or the whole company will go under because the cost of the insurance to the company is more than the job is worth making them go "in the hole".

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In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."
-- Mark Twain

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