Walmart vs. Unions

We have all shopped at Walmart. It's cheap, it's a one stop shop, and it is always there. However, Walmart is not as perfect as it seems. Their workers are paid low wages, they buy goods cheap from China, which does not help support Canadian businesses, and not one of Walmart's stores are unionized. Walmart is most definitely opposed to unions. In 2005, a Walmart in Quebec became unionized. It was shut down, causing many workers to lose their jobs. The big question is if Walmart's lack of unions hurting the success of its commercial activities? Sadly I think it isn't. It still gets about 52% of the population to shop there, because its prices are still some of the cheapest, people love the the one stop shop, and people like how it hires those who normally couldn't get jobs elsewhere.

Most people shop at Walmart because of the low prices. It may not be the best quality, but it's cheap. What they don't realize is why it has cheap prices. Walmart buys it's goods from places like China, for really inexpensive rates. They then sell them for a higher rate, that is still cheaper then other places. Walmart also pays their workers very low wages, because they don't have unions to fight for them. This allows Walmart to keep their prices lower because they don't have to pay their workers as much money.

Walmart has almost everything. From clothes to outdoor equipment, it is the easiest place to go for a one stop shop. There are also super Walmarts, that sell groceries as well as all the the original products and goods. Many people don't want to take the time to go to a clothing store, a grocery store, and any other stores that they need to stop at. If they go to Walmart, they' can get everything at once. They can even get gas as most Walmarts. It seems that Walmart has everything.

People see how Walmart hires the young and the elderly, the crippled and the handicapped. They think how nice it is of Walmart to do this, and they continue to shop there. I am glad that Walmart gives jobs to people who normally couldn't get them elsewhere. However these people are barely paid minimum wage. They are often given inconvenient hours. Walmart does give people jobs, but at what cost?

I think that people shop at Walmart because they don't know about what it does, or they don't care. They don't care that the people are paid low wages because they don't have unions to fight for them. Sadly, people continue to shop at Walmart because of the low prices, it's a one stop shop, and it hires those unable to get other jobs. Many people may not have a choice in the matter. They may be poor and unable to shop elsewhere. I understand that, but still, 52% of the population is shopping at Walmart. This means that other stores are not getting as much because people sacrifice quality over cost. In my opinion, Walmart's lack of unions is not hurting their commercial activities, a fact that I find rather sad.