When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Curry for Governor, Courtney for Congress
I was up at the intersection of Route 6 and The-Road-That-Goes-Into-the-Walmart-Parking-Lot today at a health care rally.
Among the people there were Bill Curry, who's running for Governor against The Republican guy who is trying hard to ruin the state, and Joe Courtney, who's running for congress in my district. Both excellent candidates.
The idea of the demonstration was, Walmart employees mostly don't have health insurance, and should.
Why do I care? because Walmart is sucking the life out of our community... Most of its employees get low wages and no health care. So they are condemned to poverty despite working hard, and can't contribute much economically to our community. That means the tax burden falls on fewer shoulders. Walmart owners, meanwhile, are taking money away from here to put in their banks someplace else. As long as we don't have national health care, employers have to provide it. It's just a cost of doing business for a large corporation.
It's a heavy burden for a small company, and I support Bill Curry's plan to let small business piggy back onto the state employees health plans.
But Walmart is huge. They can afford it. Four of the ten richest people in the country are owners of Walmart.
I meandered over to the Walmart web page this afternoon and under the link to employee benefits found this description of benefits:
HEALTH BENEFITS
Our health plan covers most major medical expenses. The company contributes to the cost of health benefits and we offer affordable Associate plans. There is no limit for most health coverage. 60% of our Associates tell us they joined Wal-Mart because of our benefits. We also offer:
- Dental Coverage
- Company-Paid and/or Dependent & Optional Life Insurance
- Business Travel Accident Insurance
- Long- and Short-Term Disability
- Illness Protection Plan
- "Our health plan covers most major medical expenses." Major medical coverage is the minimum plan you can get, for the least amount of money. It's cheap, especially if you hire mostly young workers who don't need much surgery.
- "The company contributes to the cost of health benefits..." In other words, the workers pay most of it.
- "... we offer affordable associate plans." That would be for the 40% they cover, presumably. Doesn't say who is an associate.
- "Sixty percent of our associates say they joined WalMart because of our benefits." That's 60% of the small percent that gets paid coverage, or about 20 %. It's not that great. Ask employees of the Mashantucket Pequots if they work there because of the benefits -- they'll tell you the benefits are excellent. Ask Connecticut state employees if they work for the state because of the excellent benefits.
- "We also offer.. yadda yadda yadda...." What they also offer, ie you can pay for yourself as an add-on.
So if you're thinking of going to work for Wal-Mart, don't go because of the benefits.
Palema
5:14 PM
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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