Twelve years of explosive growth in Pennsylvania have made Wal-Mart Stores Inc., with 114 discount outlets, the largest private employer in the state.
…”I don’t go on a crusade about saving the mom-and-pop stores,” said Floyd Warner, president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry in Harrisburg. “They weren’t always open. Their prices were higher. They have to learn how to survive.”
…Wal-Mart’s growth in the 1990s came as Scott Paper, USX Corp., Bell Atlantic, Westinghouse, Bethlehem Steel Corp., Conrail, and other traditional Pennsylvania companies laid off thousands of workers and severely curtailed their operations. They were replaced by smaller manufacturers, food processors, service companies and technology firms.
Read the rest in this eye opening Philadelphia Inquirer article. Ah the wonders of the “new economy”.
The hard questions not answered… Did Wal-Mart displace other jobs? If so, were they low paying or high paying? If not, did Wal-Mart simply fill a gap?
Ah, the old Wal-Mart story. Did they displace jobs? Sure. Most were the proprietors who ran their own small shops. Of course, they closed shop at 5pm. Having seen Wal-Mart in a small rural area (Kilgore, TX), I say who cares about the job loss — it’s cheap prices the rural poor can afford and you can buy something after 5pm!
Are you serious?
See:
the Wal-Mart Employment Practices Class Action Lawsuit.
http://www.lieffcabraser.com/walmart%20lawsuit.htm
-Peace
Dave
Thanks for the link Dave.