A Shameful Day for Chicago
Submitted by lorinpda on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 08:25
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The United Nations defines the right for workers to join unions as a basic human right. Wal-Mart openly and actively violates basic human rights. Yet, on June 30 2010, the Chicago city council voted unamiously to let a known human right's violator in to Chicago.
"On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights"
Chicago needs to pass a Living Wage ordinance immediatley. Make the law broad and require all organzations doing business in Chicago to compensate workers (hourly, salaried, contracted, subcontracted, compensated in anyway) well above the basic cost of living.
Editors note: You can now discuss Labor rights and fair compensation in our new online forum here.
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#1 Chicago has a real problem with Human Rights
Submitted by Brenda Staley (not verified) on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 09:09.
Prosecutor Richard Daley (now Mayor) prosecuted folks tortured in to giving false confessions. Last week, a key Police torturer was convicted. The mayor remains silent. Ironically, days later, the Chicago city council votes authorization of an open violator of basic human rights Walmart? Just outrageous.
See the torture story on Democracy now here:
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/29/jury_convicts_chicago_police_comma...
#2 Investigate Daley -- We need a new mayor
Submitted by Citizen at Large (not verified) on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:15.
I wonder if Fitzpatrick can expand the investigation and prosecution in the Jon Burge case and go after Daley.
I agree, there is a tie here. Daley doesn't have a problem with confessions forced thru torture. No wonder he doesn't care about the rights of working people. Let alone, what is going to happen to all the struggling small businesses in Chicago.
Is this Daley's answer to closing hospitals on Cook county? Go to a Walmart clinic. I a parking lot at Walmart is only place you park in Chicago without the Mayor's brother's parking machines.
Yikes --- We need a new Mayor -- Now
#3 We get wallmart instead of windmills?
Submitted by Green Jean (not verified) on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 11:39.
Chicago used to be a "tech center". We also used to be considered one of the most "green" cities in the country. Why couldn't the city council seed some small businesses (green technology). That's rhetorical, the city could of but didn't.
Why not have the city start a year-round farmer's market on the South Side. Help organic farmers sell their goods. How about the city hire organic farmers to teach home gardening. Just a few ideas
#4 Police Fear -- Wallmart brings Gheap Guns and Ammunition
Submitted by officer krumke (not verified) on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 12:20.
One of my neighbors is a Chicago policeman. He said, great "the Supreme Court puts more guns in the streets of Chicago and the city councils gives criminals a place to load up real cheap. Why couldn't they put a Jewel in there for fresh food."
Walmart -- all around bad news. Not only shameful, but very dubious timing.
#5 One Stop Shopping and Shooting
Submitted by Homer S (not verified) on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:26.
You can go to Walmart buy a gun. Load it up while you are in the parking lot. If you shoot yourself, you can crawl back to the Walmart health clinic. Hell, if you bought a chicken you could pay the doctor with it. Walmart, yes it has it all, Shoot, Shop and Sh*t.
#6 Yeah a real convenience
Submitted by Dee Dee (not verified) on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 14:29.
How awful. Walmart brings all wages down and drives local businesses to shut down. This is as convenient as those damm parking machine things.
A shop and shoot , how convenient
#7 Just what we need
Submitted by Random Surfer (not verified) on Fri, 07/02/2010 - 08:31.
Says it all -- One Stop -- Shop and Shoot
Can't wait for the next election. Who is running for mayor.
#8 Was there any thought to this at all?
Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:04.
I agree, this is just a moral outrage. Wallmart should be prosecuted for labor law violation.
I did a quick google and WalmartWatch details that in the year 2005 the number of Illinois wallmart employees on public assistance was 1,132 at a cost of 2.5 million dollars. I'll bet those numbers have gone up. See article here:
http://walmartwatch.com/pages/healthcare
Do we have city council roll call. I read this was unanimous, but who actually voted for this? And why?
#9 We need good union jobs.
Submitted by Al Sampson (not verified) on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:30.
We can't get unemployment benefits that we already paid for. And now the only jobs in Chicago are going to be non-union or Walmart. We need labor laws to be strengthened not ignored. We need good union jobs.
#10 Say No To Human Rights Violations
Submitted by Nate Gov (not verified) on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:58.
Pullman is a historic district of Chicago that has a special place in labor history. This is where the Pullman Porters organized. The idea of having a union busting store like Walmart is just horrible. The story makes the key point, the right to form unions is a basic human right. Since Walmart does not recognize basic human rights, Chicago should not let them open up shop.
#11 Jobs is jobs...
Submitted by You are all diseased (not verified) on Tue, 08/03/2010 - 14:05.
Are you people crazy? The people in this neighborhood need the jobs that Walmart can provide. They shouldn't be made to join a union. Walmart's wages are already higher than minimum wage.
#12 Walmart loses more jobs and lowers everyones pay
Submitted by James Freeman (not verified) on Tue, 08/03/2010 - 19:12.
Please read the studies. Walmart closes local business and makes cities lose more jobs than it gains. The jobs that are left all pay lower money.
When a criminal like Walmart openly says it won't recognize US labor laws and basic human rights, the whole city is put under a dark cloud. What is to stop Walmart from announcing it won't let black or brown men shop there if they don't recognize human rights.
We need real jobs, not more Walmart poverty.
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