Wal-Mart: The Retail Giant…Racist AND Sexist?
Posted by Michelle Moquin on February 26th, 2009
Are you a fan of Wal-Mart? I never have been. Maybe, I have been in the store twice out of desperation because I was in an area where the only store to shop at was Wal-Mart. I have been told that there some good things about Wal-Mart…fill me in because I am not privy to them. Actually no, I lied. I do know that they sell organic produce and that they are either going ‘green’ in their stores or they already are. I’m not sure. Maybe you my readers can fill me in. I have heard that they have a reputation of beating up on their suppliers.
But what about their employees? They do employ many people which is a good thing yes? One would think. But does the good out weigh the bad? Recently I have read about two lawsuits involving Wal-Mart. And since we have been on the subject of racism and sexism I thought I would share with you some of what I discovered about the retail giant.
For one, Wal-Mart has recently been accused of discriminating against blacks in recruitment and hiring of truck drivers for its private fleet. Wal-Mart of course has denied that it engaged in any policy or pattern or practice of unlawful discrimination. Well of course they have denied it - I mean, can you imagine if they did own up to it?
So they settled and Wal-Mart has agreed to pay $17.5 million. The company also agreed to priority job placements for 23 of the plaintiffs who submit approved claim forms, provide direct notice of all future job opportunities to all interested members of the class-action suit, establish benchmark hiring goals so future hires are proportionate by race to the composition of applicants, select a diversity recruiter, and improve its recruitment efforts and advertising aimed at African-Americans.
Hmm..My first thought is, ‘They agreed to priority job placement for 23 of the plaintiffs. I don’t know how many plaintiffs there were but why not all of them?’ And my second thought is…’Let’s just see if they actually do all of this, and racial discrimination isn’t an issue any more.’ I think they got off cheaply but then they have a bigger fish to fry. Read on….
So in speaking of discrimination…Did I mention that Wal-Mart has two lawsuits they are dealing with? The first one was a race issue and guess what the second one is about? If you guessed sexism, you guessed correctly. And this is a biggie. And I say this because it is the nation’s largest civil rights suit. And to no one’s surprise it involves women. You know women, the sex that is considered second class….unequal to the men on this planet.
This class action suit involves 2 million (!) past and present female employees who accused Wal-Mart of discriminating in pay and promotions. This case started in 2001 and finally got class action status in 2004. And now, just the other day, our Federal appeals court gave Wal-Mart another chance to derail the suit. But of course, a class action ruling would force Wal-Mart to defend it’s practices in a single jury trial – we’re talking billions of dollars here. Of course they want a reversal. No surprise there.
Wal-Mart says that they ‘believe the experiences alleged by the six individuals who brought this suit are not representative of the experiences of our female associates’. Wha’at?! They have 2 million women involved in this case. What does it take for the women on this planet to have a voice and be respected for that voice? It is amazing that this is even happening. But then again just what sex do you think these judges are? All I can say is that, if this was a class action lawsuit involving 2 million men, this would never be happening. Oh…but let me first ask…would there ever be a class action lawsuit involving 2 million men? You get my point.
Racism….sexism….will it ever end?
I would love to hear from any of my readers if you are employees of Wal-Mart and even better if you are a plaintiff in this case. Care to share? Blog me.
********
Oh…before I go I wanted to address Roger and Mark from the other day. When I write my daily, I reserve my time and comments to those who address me first, and if I have more time to address or make a comment to those that comment to other commentators, I will. Yesterday I didn’t, but today I do.
Roger: Although you were addressing anon2, I want to say that I appreciate the words that you said to him and I ask myself the same question. There was so much hatred in his words. And I’m with ya…if anyone knew the identity of this man, I would certainly question their friendship with him. His venom was clearly felt when I read his words. It gave me the heebie jeebies.
Mark: That being said above, Anon2 is just a creep…a creep with issues…really a sociopath in my mind.
And in regards to your question: Just when did this (OTW’s) become what the non-whites want to be called? It is just easier to put anyone other than white into a category instead of naming a huge list of other than whites every time we refer to anyone other than white. It is not meant to offend nor to say that there is not a difference between one other than white and another other than white. But what it does is allow is for us to make a point when we need to separate whites from those that aren’t white.
Shawn, Zen Lill, Doug, Lenny (whoa – have you got the hots for ZL or Wha’at!:) Tekke: Good to hear from all of you. I don’t have anything to add here so….I am off to do my day.
Everyone, enjoy it!
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
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February 26th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Hi Mischa, oh what I wish I didn’t know about Walmart. I told someone several months ago that I’d never been in one and that got me going on a blog entry idea, which I then researched…found what you wrote and more, they beat up their vendors with a very large ‘by the way’ involved, Walmart is the 8th largest ECONOMY for Chinese exports, yes, like as in its own country. They beat up there and here. I forget the name of the town in the mid-West that WM practically owns due to their strict vendor codes here in the US. You want your product carried by Walmart, they have you sign legalese that practically requires turning over your first born, that and you hold ALL responsibility. Methinks Sam Walton would be rolling in his grave at the greed at the helm of his company now. I never wrote the blog piece, too disgusted.
Oh wow, um Lenny…I am very flattered. Thank you for the compliments. Very interesting that you’d throw in that enticing part about skiing the Austrian Alps, I am so Jonesing for a ski right now it’s not even funny : ( not to me. I’m glad you are a better listener, better late than never : ) you’re ex had your best interests at heart when she sent you this link.
Misch, I must say that I was a titch disappointed by the lack of real men responses – but boo hoo, just as I suspected, we’re on our own. I’m OK with that IF and WHEN women will be for other women also, I won’t refer too much to that day when many were ready to throw you under the bus re: a man (OK, it was Anonz so you know I care), the point is: we are in it together. We have much to learn, so let’s start learning it and living it.
Just for the record, which often gets misconstrued here, I’m not against men, at all, just men with hang up’s like Melvin, I have no problem with religions of the world per se but I do blame religious ‘doctrine’ and patriarchal/societal mores for some of that screwy behavior…
Tekke, when I read your comment, I thought of a moment in Asia, where to my perception boy children are revered (over girls to be sure) and are rarely disciplined how they should be, mom is in fear of hubby or mother in law who will set her straight about who’s serving who. One day, I’d walked by a car with a Japanese mother who was now pleading with her son to get in the car, as I approached I looked at the kid who had to be 9-10 and said ‘that’s the third time she’s asked you, now be a respectful son and get in the car, sweetheart’ he took one look at me, I was smiling but firm in my request and he jumped in put on his seat belt. I said, ‘that’s right, next time do as she asks just like that, ok?’ he nodded furiously, mom gave me a breathy ‘thank you.’ He knew better, he also knew what he could get away with.
My point to you is: do not let your sons run roughshod over you or any woman, now or ever, and call them out on it when they do, oh while you’re at it, teach them how to cook and use a washing machine, too. It’s good to love them, kids deserve that unconditionally as we all do, I personally just think it’s better to turn them into self-respecting individuals who respect themselves and all others equally.
Where are our aliens? I thought Azza would’ve stopped by here by now…
Back to work : ) Zen Lill
February 26th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
This is a very interesting blog. I have been trying to get in on some of the topics, but it seems that they are reserved for a few. It would be nice if you let some different voices in.
Kenny
February 26th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GENETIC CANCER SCREENING
It is now widely recognized that women who have breast cancer at an early age (under 50 years) or who’ve had close relatives (a mother, sister or grandmother) with the disease may have alterations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes that make them more susceptible. Now new research suggests recommending gene tests in women with less clear cut risks. Here’s why:
“You can’t have a family history if you don’t have family,” explains Jeffrey N. Weitzel, MD, lead author of the study and director of the City of Hope’s Department of Clinical Cancer Genetics and Cancer Screening and Prevention Program in Duarte, California. He believes a critical step in fighting breast cancer is to expand current genetic testing guidelines to include more women potentially at risk. His research identified a flaw in most guidelines and models to predict the likelihood of a BRCA mutation. Women with breast cancer whose fathers have no sisters, women with few older female relatives, adopted women and women who don’t know their family history are statistically more likely to have a BRCA mutation. Additionally, if a man in the family has breast cancer, it may indicate a BRCA mutation — though most men with a mutation do not get breast cancer, they can pass the trait on to their daughters.
FEW WOMEN IN THEIR FAMILIES
In the study, Dr. Weitzel and his colleagues examined data on 1,543 breast cancer patients who were enrolled in a cancer registry between 1997 and 2007, taking into account details about their family histories. They looked specifically at 306 women — all of whom reported no known first- or second-degree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer, yet were diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50. At present, such women are not routinely tested for the BRCA breast cancer gene mutation, potentially leaving them more susceptible to future cancers down the road.
When researchers asked these women for further details about their family histories, it turned out that 153 (exactly 50%) had fewer than two first- or second-degree female relatives 45 or older on at least one side of their family. Genetic testing of this group revealed BRCA gene mutations in 13.7%, compared with only 5.2% in those with several living female relatives. It’s a strong indication that women with fewer older female relatives — on either side of the family — are at a greater risk of being carriers of a silent BRCA gene mutation, Dr. Weitzel notes.
Genetic mutations are responsible for only 5% of all breast cancers, but women who have BRCA1 or BRCA2 face a higher risk of developing breast cancer (50% to 85%) and ovarian cancer (16% to 50%). So breast cancer patients need to know if they are BRCA carriers and therefore at a higher risk of additional breast or of ovarian cancer.
MORE TESTING = MORE LIVES SAVED
Now that we have effective risk reduction interventions and treatment for breast cancer, especially when discovered in its early stages, genetic testing can save lives — but only if the tests are done. Dr. Weitzel hopes this study will broaden testing criteria to include women with breast cancer who have few older female relatives or an otherwise unclear family history.
There’s also another barrier to testing… money. The genetic tests cost $3,000 or more, and Dr. Weitzel is working as an advocate to expand insurance coverage. He suggests in the meantime that women whose family history is small or uncertain might use this research to make a case for testing coverage.
Source(s): ??Jeffrey N. Weitzel, MD, director of the Department of Clinical Cancer Genetics and the Cancer Screening and Prevention Program, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California.
February 27th, 2009 at 4:37 am
It Looks like President Obama is going to have to bring those 49 white senators kicking and screaming into the world of the environment first, people second(middle class before rich) and the government last but as the first protector of the people’s lives as the regulators of the peoples corporations.
Roberts
February 27th, 2009 at 6:36 am
I am so tired of fighting my own people while I am trying to get this task done. This is not really the work of George W. Bush. He is just an imbecilic toady. This order to kill me at any cost is by the old head of the CIA, George H. Bush.
The guy became head of the CIA to get control of all the information on ALL investments made in the world markets. He used the information to enable insider trading on the highest level ever imaginable. It made multi-billionaires over night.
We were making so much money that when he informed us that he could do much more for us as President, we went for it big time. So we put together the fastest money pot any Presidential candidate ever had. Then we set out to insure his election.
It was then we learned that money and power was not enough to own America. We had to have control over a significant numbers of mindless minions to get out there and bring us the votes. Of course this was before the technology was available to enable us to steal elections.
GH Bush was never a leader of our group. He was just a very ambitious soldier. He like Dole wanted to be one of us. We despised these lackeys, but we had to admit they were willing to do anything to become seated members of our little group. So we played on them to gain absolute control of all money transactions going through the USA.
There are many stories that can be told about the getting there, but for now I just wish to say we settled on GH Bush to give us that via the Presidency and Dole through the Senate.
GH had his own greedy aims. As soon as he became President he made bigger overtures to the Saudi royal family to secure billions for his family and personal friends. We were very upset at our cut of this action. Between us we knew that if we let him remain in office for a second term, he would try to oust us. His fate was sealed. He never forgave us for kicking him out.
GH came to us with a brilliant idea. He knew through his CIA connections that Saddam coveted the wealth of Kuwait. That’s the lie he told us. We later found that his CIA operatives had been putting the bug in Saddam’s ear about all the riches he could have by taking control of Kuwait. The CIA had many operatives in Saddam’s inner circle. They were instructed to entice Saddam into invading Kuwait.
That would give the US an opportunity to invade and kill him. He had to be killed because he was threatening to change the unit of currency for oil trading from US dollars to Euros. The European cabal was attempting to make an end run to stop the control over the world markets that we were rapidly securing. We agreed and the play was on.
What we didn’t count on was that Saddam would offer such a large sum to keep his life and that that greedy bastard GH would take it. He paid GH 87 billion dollars to leave him in control of Iraq. Bush took the money and pulled out of Iraq leaving Saddam and his regime intact. For a few billion more he gave Saddam the names of the Iraqis and kurds that were lined up to take over after the US had killed Saddam.
The Saudis felt betrayed. They vowed to punish the US for their betrayal. So they set about financing any group who wanted to harm the US or their interest worldwide. That too is another story.
We made a shit load of money as our cut of the $87 billion(we still don’t know how much additional money GH pocketed). But we do know that Saddam had made tapes of the transaction and he was threatening to tell. Now we said that he had to go.
GH was desperate to appease the Saudis and he was worried that the world would find out that he tricked Saddam into invading Kuwait and that he had been assured that if he did the US would look the other way. He was also worried it would become known that he had been paid off by Saddam to allow him to invade Kuwait and to keep control of power afterwards.
We agreed to help him get his idiot son elected provided he allowed our man Chaney to control things. The deal was cut. Since technology had caught up with us, we were now in possession of the technology to guarantee the election of anyone we wanted. So we put the idiot in.
It should also be pointed out that the idiot son with the help of some other greedy ambitious bastards decided that he could run things without our influence. So he set out removing Chaney and others we controlled from the center of influence. We were making so much money that we didn’t perceive the disaster this idiot could get our operation into.
Now the push is on to prevent me from telling the world what I know. More than a few of us are worried. Most are probably watching to see what happens to me. Me, I intend to push back.
Anonz
February 27th, 2009 at 7:31 am
SWEAT MORE, WHEEZE LESS
Don’t complain about how much you sweat when you work out — it could actually be one of the reasons you can work out. A recent study shows that people who sweat more are less likely to have exercise-induced asthma, a type of asthma that typically arises suddenly, five to 10 minutes into a workout, or even after the workout is over. One moment you are playing tennis or basketball or running… the next, you’re experiencing symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, coughing, chest pain and/or a shortage of breath. It can even happen in people with no history of asthma.
WHO GETS EXERCISE-INDUCED ASTHMA?
Exercise-induced asthma (or EIA) is brought on by continuous, strenuous aerobic activity, such as running or cross-country skiing. A research study on EIA has provided some insight into who those particularly susceptible individuals might be. At the US Naval Medical Center in San Diego, Warren Lockette, MD, and his team of researchers analyzed the rate of fluid secretion (in sweat, saliva and tears) in young members of the military suspected of having EIA. To identify those with the condition, researchers gave 56 healthy volunteers a drug that produced similar physiological effects as EIA and then measured their airflow. Those who experienced a 20% or more drop in airflow were confirmed to have EIA. Next he measured their sweating rates, along with fluid secretions from the mouth and eyes.
The results (published in September 2008 issue of Chest) showed that people least likely to have EIA produced more sweat and had more saliva and tears than those who are prone to the condition. Those with low airflow also had the lowest rates of fluid secretion in their mouths or eyes and on their skin from sweat. Dr. Lockette told me he was surprised by the magnitude of the correlation between sweating rates and EIA.
SWEAT IS A GOOD THING
How is sweat linked to exercise-induced asthma? Dr. Lockette thinks that external secretions, such as sweat and saliva, reflect how much water is normally secreted within the lung’s airways. The drier the airways, the more likely EIA will occur. If this is true, then “giving attention to hydration and nutrition is the next area to study,” says Dr. Lockette. He is doing just that. More information about the root causes of EIA may lead to solutions — such as better hydration — that are easier and safer than current options, including prescription medications taken orally or with inhalers, which carry their own risks. Stay tuned.
Source(s): ??Warren Lockette, MD, head of clinical research, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California.
February 27th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Anonz
it seems you have been a badder boy than I thought. Looks like some chickens may come home to roost if you can’t start a barbecue. So you know where the skeletons are. And it also seems that you know whose closets they occupy.
“Curious minds want to know.”
Barbara