Wal-Mart

America’s 10 most ‘hated’ companies

by


Money02-bw-crop-sm72-300x217by Pamela Powers Hannley

January is a month for "best" and "worst" lists. Media moguls gather at a trendy Manhattan watering holes, and, over dirty martinis, cook up lists to boost their sales. 

Last week, the website 24/7 Wall Street released its list of the 10 most hated companies in the US.

With their high levels of corporate stinginess, you'd think the Papa John's, Hostess, Applebee's, Denny's, or Wal-Mart would be on it– but no.  

With nearly universal hatred of their private prison system, maybe Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) would be on the list– no.

How about Koch Industries? Is it the most hate company in the US? Incredibly, no. TD Ameritrade– whose CEO also tried to buy the 2012 elections? NO.

Who is the most hated company in the US according to 24/7 Wall Street? J.C. Penney. WTF?

To find out why Penney's is hated and who else is on the list, continue after the jump.

Wal-Mart Black Friday protests statewide in Arizona (video)

by


Huelga209-sm72by Pamela Powers Hannley

Wal-Mart workers, unionists, and supporters protested Wal-Mart's unfair labor practices and low wages in Arizona and across the country on Black Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. In dueling press releases on Saturday, representatives from the United Food and Commercial Workers reported 1000 protests nationwide at Wal-Mart stores, while the retail giant said they had the largest Black Friday ever and that the protests didn't hurt their business.

In Tempe, protesters nearly blocked the flow of traffic in and out of a Wal-Mart parking lot. Representatives from the Unitarian Universalist Church– dressed in their Standing on the Side of Love t-shirts– tried to peacefully deliver a letter a letter to the store manager but were quickly stopped by Wal-Mart security, who called in police. (Interestingly, when I was shooting my video on Black Friday in Tucson, store security hopped out of an unmarked beater car in the lot and stopped me from filming by threatening to call the police.)

After the jump, watch Phoenix videographer Dennis Gilman's video of protests in Maricpoa County. Tucson video is here.

Tucson Black Friday Wal-Mart protest draws 50 activists, no strikers (video)

by

J-m-p-s-157-sm72by Pamela Powers Hannley

Approximately 50 Tucson activists protested Wal-Mart's labor practices at a southside store on Black Friday.

The usual left-wing groups were represented– Jobs with Justice, Occupy Tucson, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), and college students. Who was absent? Wal-Mart workers and representatives of the United Food and Commercial Workers–the union that played an integral role in organizing the national day of protest. 

Although Wal-Mart is infamous for paying low wages, intimidating workers who want to unionize, discriminating against women in promotion practices, and avoiding offering health care insurance by manipulating employees' hours, the tipping point for yesterday's protest was requiring workers to start Black Friday work schedules on Thanksgiving at 8 p.m.

Video of the Tucson protest and other details after the jump.

‘Black Thursday’ backlash continues against big box stores

by

Turkeyby Pamela Powers Hannley

Retail employees who work for Wal-Mart, Target, Sears, Toys R Us, Kmart, Tanger Outlets, Gap, and Meijer can forget the Norman Rockwell-style Thanksgiving Dinner again this year.

Although Wal-Mart is getting the most heat for requiring employees to work on Thansgiving, they are not alone. Corporate greed runs deep in the US. Fortunately, so does Internet-based activism. According to CNBC, a "Black Thursday" backlash is building against retailers who are hawking Thanksgiving Day sales. Read more after the jump.

Walmart, Papa Johns, & Hostess: Can capitalists afford to pay workers more? (video)

by

Working-011-sm72by Pamela Powers Hannley

Except for a few bumps in the road– like the crash of worldwide financial markets and the colapse of the housing industry– capitalists have had a great run in the past decade.

Profits are at record levels. Wages are down– except for CEO pay, which averaged $9.6 million/year in 2011. The Supreme Court says corporations are people with the right of free speech and the right to buy elections. Humans are desperate for work worldwide.

And thanks to multinational expansion, the demise of manufacturing, and a barrage of attacks on unions, major US corporations can pick and choose workers from a worldwide buffet of skills and salaries.

So, if the capitalists are doing so well, why are they being so stingy with their workers? Find out after the jump.