agman
Well-known member
I apoligize for the length of this artilce but it is necessary to dispell the many myths that permeate the countryside. I am certain most readers will appreciate the FACTS that follow. agman
Wal-Mart supports communities financially and provides hundreds of jobs. Our property taxes, sales tax revenue and community giving help fund basic services like police and fire departments and schools, and support for invaluable charities. The typical Supercenter raises or gives $30,000 to $50,000 a year to local charitable needs ranging from youth programs to literacy councils. In fact, Wal-Mart is the largest corporate cash contributor in America. In fiscal year ending 2005, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation contributed more than $170 million to support communities and local non-profit organizations. More than 90 percent of cash donations from Wal-Mart Stores and the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation target local communities. That's $18,000 an hour or $5 a second. Last year, Wal-Mart collected $10.2 billion in state and local sales taxes and paid millions in property taxes.
A UBS Warburg study found that Wal-Mart grocery prices are 17 to 20 percent lower than other supermarkets, which has the greatest benefit for a community's low-income families. According to a study done by the Los Angeles Economic Development Council, Wal-Mart potentially saves individual families more than $500 a year. This is money that can be used to buy food, gas or any other priorities for that family.
Studies show that new businesses spring up near Wal-Marts and existing stores flourish as they take advantage of the increased customer flow to and from our stores. Drive by any Wal-Mart store and count the number of businesses operating nearby, many are independent local businesses or locally owned franchises. The most definitive look at this issue, by Dr. Emek Basker at the University of Missouri, showed average increases of 50 retail jobs in communities five years after the entry of Wal-Mart.
Employment:
More than 1.2 million Associates work at Wal-Mart in the U.S. Seventy-four percent of Wal-Mart's hourly store associates in the U.S. work full-time. That's well above the 20 - 40 percent typically found in the retail industry. We are a leading employer of Hispanic Americans, with more than 128,000 Hispanic associates. Wal-Mart is one of the leading employers of African Americans, with more than 206,000 African-American associates. More than 220,000 of our associates are 55 or older. We project we will create positions for more than 100,000 new jobs in 2005.
Our health care plan insures full-time and part-time associates once eligible. Last year, this was more than 500,000 associates, including many family members. Currently, 86 percent of Wal-Mart hourly store associates surveyed have medical insurance - 56 percent of those with coverage received health care insurance from Wal-Mart and the remainder receive health care through another source such as another employer, a family member, the military or Medicare. Unlike many plans, after the first year, the Wal-Mart medical plan has no lifetime maximum for most expenses, protecting our associates against catastrophic loss and financial ruin.
Associates enrolled in the Associates' Medical Plan also have access to world class health care at the Mayo Clinic, Stanford University Hospital, Johns Hopkins University Hospital and many other health care facilities, all without insurance
Wages:
Currently, 74 percent of Wal-Mart's hourly store associates in the United States work full-time. That is well above the 20 - 40 percent typically found in the retail industry. Our average hourly wage for regular full-time associates in the U.S. is $9.68 an hour, almost double the federal minimum wage. Wal-Mart's average full-time wage in urban areas is slightly higher than the national average. For example: Chicago, $10.69; Austin, TX, $10.69; Washington D.C./Baltimore, $10.08; Atlanta, $10.80; and in Los Angeles, $9.99.
China Imports:
Wal-Mart estimates that we purchased about $18 billion from China last year -- about $9 billion imported from direct sources and about $9 billion from indirect sources -- compared to $137.5 billion spent last year with all kinds of suppliers in the U.S.
Wal-Mart buys merchandise and services from more than 68,000 U.S suppliers and supports over 3.5 million supplier jobs in the United States. In fiscal year ending 2004, Wal-Mart spent over $137.5 billon with suppliers in the U.S. We buy billions of dollars worth of goods in the United States, from large suppliers and from "mom and pops," including small farmers, and minority and women-owned businesses. Many Wal-Mart Stores participate in our "Store of the Community," which showcases local products from local producers. We buy apples in Washington, pumpkins in Illinois, bacon in Minnesota, barbecue in Missouri, and many other products from every corner of the country.
As Wal-Mart's U.S. customer base continues to grow in diversity and as we expand our retail stores internationally, we must offer a mix of products to these customers around the world. We source from the global market to offer our customers who live paycheck to paycheck the greatest value for their money on many essential products. To do this, we buy, in addition to the U.S., from many regions, such as Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Nebraska only:
In Nebraska, the total number of Wal-Mart associates is 9,659 (as of 10/15/04)..
The average wage for regular full-time hourly associates in Nebraska is $9.73 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
During the past year, Wal-Mart spent $235,251,442 for merchandise and services with 697 suppliers in the state of Nebraska. As a result of Wal-Mart's relationship with these suppliers, Wal-Mart supports 36,665 supplier jobs in the state of Nebraska.
Supplier figures provided by Dun & Bradstreet
Taxes and Fees
Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of Nebraska more than $66.1 million in sales taxes last year.
Wal-Mart paid more than $5.9 million in state and local taxes in the state of Nebraska last year.
Community Involvement
During the past year, Wal-Mart Stores and SAM'S CLUBS contributed $1,176,279 to local causes and organizations in the communities they serve in the state of Nebraska, and raised an additional $420,311, for a grand total of $1,596,590.
BTW Sandhsuker you never did tell me how many beans were in the can?!!! I expect your information regarding that issuse is about as inaccurate as your many other views. As far as the trade deficit I will do a new post. Have a grat day.
Wal-Mart supports communities financially and provides hundreds of jobs. Our property taxes, sales tax revenue and community giving help fund basic services like police and fire departments and schools, and support for invaluable charities. The typical Supercenter raises or gives $30,000 to $50,000 a year to local charitable needs ranging from youth programs to literacy councils. In fact, Wal-Mart is the largest corporate cash contributor in America. In fiscal year ending 2005, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation contributed more than $170 million to support communities and local non-profit organizations. More than 90 percent of cash donations from Wal-Mart Stores and the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation target local communities. That's $18,000 an hour or $5 a second. Last year, Wal-Mart collected $10.2 billion in state and local sales taxes and paid millions in property taxes.
A UBS Warburg study found that Wal-Mart grocery prices are 17 to 20 percent lower than other supermarkets, which has the greatest benefit for a community's low-income families. According to a study done by the Los Angeles Economic Development Council, Wal-Mart potentially saves individual families more than $500 a year. This is money that can be used to buy food, gas or any other priorities for that family.
Studies show that new businesses spring up near Wal-Marts and existing stores flourish as they take advantage of the increased customer flow to and from our stores. Drive by any Wal-Mart store and count the number of businesses operating nearby, many are independent local businesses or locally owned franchises. The most definitive look at this issue, by Dr. Emek Basker at the University of Missouri, showed average increases of 50 retail jobs in communities five years after the entry of Wal-Mart.
Employment:
More than 1.2 million Associates work at Wal-Mart in the U.S. Seventy-four percent of Wal-Mart's hourly store associates in the U.S. work full-time. That's well above the 20 - 40 percent typically found in the retail industry. We are a leading employer of Hispanic Americans, with more than 128,000 Hispanic associates. Wal-Mart is one of the leading employers of African Americans, with more than 206,000 African-American associates. More than 220,000 of our associates are 55 or older. We project we will create positions for more than 100,000 new jobs in 2005.
Our health care plan insures full-time and part-time associates once eligible. Last year, this was more than 500,000 associates, including many family members. Currently, 86 percent of Wal-Mart hourly store associates surveyed have medical insurance - 56 percent of those with coverage received health care insurance from Wal-Mart and the remainder receive health care through another source such as another employer, a family member, the military or Medicare. Unlike many plans, after the first year, the Wal-Mart medical plan has no lifetime maximum for most expenses, protecting our associates against catastrophic loss and financial ruin.
Associates enrolled in the Associates' Medical Plan also have access to world class health care at the Mayo Clinic, Stanford University Hospital, Johns Hopkins University Hospital and many other health care facilities, all without insurance
Wages:
Currently, 74 percent of Wal-Mart's hourly store associates in the United States work full-time. That is well above the 20 - 40 percent typically found in the retail industry. Our average hourly wage for regular full-time associates in the U.S. is $9.68 an hour, almost double the federal minimum wage. Wal-Mart's average full-time wage in urban areas is slightly higher than the national average. For example: Chicago, $10.69; Austin, TX, $10.69; Washington D.C./Baltimore, $10.08; Atlanta, $10.80; and in Los Angeles, $9.99.
China Imports:
Wal-Mart estimates that we purchased about $18 billion from China last year -- about $9 billion imported from direct sources and about $9 billion from indirect sources -- compared to $137.5 billion spent last year with all kinds of suppliers in the U.S.
Wal-Mart buys merchandise and services from more than 68,000 U.S suppliers and supports over 3.5 million supplier jobs in the United States. In fiscal year ending 2004, Wal-Mart spent over $137.5 billon with suppliers in the U.S. We buy billions of dollars worth of goods in the United States, from large suppliers and from "mom and pops," including small farmers, and minority and women-owned businesses. Many Wal-Mart Stores participate in our "Store of the Community," which showcases local products from local producers. We buy apples in Washington, pumpkins in Illinois, bacon in Minnesota, barbecue in Missouri, and many other products from every corner of the country.
As Wal-Mart's U.S. customer base continues to grow in diversity and as we expand our retail stores internationally, we must offer a mix of products to these customers around the world. We source from the global market to offer our customers who live paycheck to paycheck the greatest value for their money on many essential products. To do this, we buy, in addition to the U.S., from many regions, such as Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Nebraska only:
In Nebraska, the total number of Wal-Mart associates is 9,659 (as of 10/15/04)..
The average wage for regular full-time hourly associates in Nebraska is $9.73 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
During the past year, Wal-Mart spent $235,251,442 for merchandise and services with 697 suppliers in the state of Nebraska. As a result of Wal-Mart's relationship with these suppliers, Wal-Mart supports 36,665 supplier jobs in the state of Nebraska.
Supplier figures provided by Dun & Bradstreet
Taxes and Fees
Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of Nebraska more than $66.1 million in sales taxes last year.
Wal-Mart paid more than $5.9 million in state and local taxes in the state of Nebraska last year.
Community Involvement
During the past year, Wal-Mart Stores and SAM'S CLUBS contributed $1,176,279 to local causes and organizations in the communities they serve in the state of Nebraska, and raised an additional $420,311, for a grand total of $1,596,590.
BTW Sandhsuker you never did tell me how many beans were in the can?!!! I expect your information regarding that issuse is about as inaccurate as your many other views. As far as the trade deficit I will do a new post. Have a grat day.