Jason Rantz: Walmart to do a lot of good for Monroe, why are activists still upset?

Good news for Monroe where there’s a 9 percent poverty rate: The city is about to get a brand new business that will employ about 200 full and part-time workers.

But unions, and some residents, aren’t so psyched.

On Wednesday, Walmart’s eighth location in Snohomish County is set to open. It’s massive at about 156,000 square feet; it will sell groceries, have a pharmacy, and a gas station – and it will be open 24/7. It will also employ a lot of people. It’s great news for many who may be out of work or looking for some part-time work to help make ends meet.

But of course, because it’s Walmart, some people aren’t happy. The big box store has traditionally been seen as the “bad guy” – the evil corporation that exploits workers. So, it’s not surprising that according to the Herald Business Journal, some activists are upset.

It writes, “The retail giant is controversial in part due to its anti-union stance. On Friday, labor supporters demonstrated at Walmarts around the country, including 64 stores in Washington. The protests were supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.”

In comments on the Herald Business Journal story, you’ll find: “We need Walmart here like we need a locust plague,” and “Nothing like a bunch of new low wage jobs in Monroe to keep it as hick as possible.”

That labor unions are upset with companies like Walmart always baffles me. Walmart is creating jobs that didn’t exist before. It’s helping people earn a living (about 200 people!). The company is teaching people skills that they can use to take better care of themselves in the long run.

I understand that people are upset because the retailer doesn’t pay “enough” – whatever that actually means. But there’s a lot of people who feel like they don’t get paid enough.

Unions demand that Walmart and stores like it pay more to their workers – and I get that on two levels: 1. More money that goes to the union and 2. More money that goes to the worker.

But you also have to understand that a huge portion of the workforce that Walmart employs aren’t necessary. Sorry, but that greeter is superfluous to the operations of Walmart. Not to mention the checkout operators, who can be replaced by a computer, saving Walmart hundreds of millions in labor costs.

The jobs they do offer don’t require much skill. Greeting? You need a smile. Check stand operators? You scan and use a calculator.

It doesn’t mean these folks don’t work hard – they do.

They deal with snooty customers, they work long hours that can be extremely boring, and they mostly do it with a smile. They spend hours stocking and taking inventory – which is labor intensive and dull. They work hard, but not enough to justify paying them what activists want them to make.

Some folks will point to Walmart’s millions of dollars in profit. First of all, it’s not your decision how a business should use their profits, and if you’re uncomfortable with the decisions they make, stop shopping there. The customers have all the power here. You choose to shop at Walmart, whether it’s in Monroe, Lynnwood, Renton or wherever else.

Second, what a lot of people tend to miss, is that with those profits, the company invests. It invests in opening new businesses which hire hundreds more people. They invest in marketing, which brings customers in the door. The company invests in new services, which employs people to come up with those new services, test, build, and market the services. That costs millions.

Third, those evil corporations like Walmart also invest in communities – even if it’s just a PR move.

According to the Herald Business Journal, Walmart already has begun helping nonprofit organizations with donations of time and money for the Monroe Arts Council and upgrades of Wagner Auditorium.

Walmart plans to announce $7,500 in grants at the grand opening Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. Grant recipients include the Gold Bar Elementary PTA, Maltby Food Bank, Monroe Public Schools Foundation, Monroe-Sky Valley YMCA, Sky Valley Food Bank and the Monroe Arts Council.