Walmart raising wages

[Proactive]

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday that it was increasing entry wages for its U.S employees to at least $9 an hour, $1.75 above the federal minimum wage, starting in April.

The company announced a package of changes to the company's hiring, training, compensation and scheduling programs, as well as to store management structure, in the U.S.

One of the immediate changes is a raise in starting pay, with entry wages for current employees increasing to at least $9 an hour this spring. Also, all current associates will be paid at least $10 an hour by February 2016, the company said.

Wal-Mart said it was also launching a program for future associates in which they will be paid $9 or more an hour next year, receive skills-based training for six months and then be guaranteed at least $10 an hour after completion of the program.

Approximately 500,000 full-time and part-time associates at Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs in the U.S. will benefit from the pay raises, the company said.

Chief Executive Doug McMillon said the changes "will give our U.S. associates the opportunity to earn higher pay and advance in their careers."

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has been under intense pressure from organized labor groups to raise its starting hourly wage to $15 and provide workers with more consistent hours. With its new changes, the company's average full-time wage will be $13 an hour, up from $12.85, the Associated Press reported. For part-time workers, the hourly wage will be $10, up from $9.48, the AP said.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-walmart-raises-entry-wages-20150219-story.html

[Barb135]

There ARE jobs at Walmart and/or Mickey's that people can live on.  Everybody here knows I don't lean left, but I don't really think that giving their full time employees a $0.15 raise (from $12.85 to $13/hr for a full time employee) is going to break the company, considering that they had a net income of $15B last year...  Most companies give periodic raises anyway.

I also agree with OH that not everyone can go to college and there are a lot of reasons for that, not just laziness, so some have to rely on lower paying jobs to support their family.  While I don't, by any means, think they should be starting out at (or even working up to) $15/hr, to stock shelves or flip burgers, those that are diligent and do a good job can work into higher paying jobs within these companies.

[Proactive]

And you think raising the burden on US business is going to keep and create more jobs here in the US? Do you even consider the consequences of your
whacko loony left thinking?

[orphanedhawk]

Um, have you paid attention to what's happened in this country ? Do you know what college tuitions are these days ? And as far as our jobs go, well they went overseas thanks to corporate contro.
l America doesn't produce much of diddley squat anymore.

[el_em_en_oh]

An hourly job at Walmart or McDonalds was NEVER meant to be lived on. What happened to going out and LEARNING a skill, then striving to get a better job?

What's the point in going to college, if you can earn a "living wage" by working at Walmart or McDonalds?

Actually, forget it. It's not worth arguing this point... AGAIN.

If you want to earn a wage that you can actually LIVE on, go to college.

[orphanedhawk]

It's about time and sadly, it isn't enough. Workers need living wages. Those wages won't do much for a family here in California but it's better  than before.