What Would Walmart Do?

Some New Yorkers think allowing Walmart to open in the city will create more jobs in Manhattan. Others believe opening its doors would open a Pandora’s Box of labor woes.



Critics voice concern that unlike their competitors in the city, Walmart is non-union. Claims have been made that the mega-retailer has denied workers of affordable health care and competitive wages. It has also been asserted that they have discriminated against women in the company. Walmart denies the claims but the Supreme Court will be the judge of whether Walmart is guilty of discrimination in a class-action lawsuit hearing later this year.

Despite the friction from locals, Walmart is still trying to tap into one of the largest markets in America. Approaching the situation the same way it did when wanting to move into Chicago, Walmart is wooing the construction unions with whom they have reached "agreement in principal." If Wal-Mart does in fact open locations in any of the five boroughs, the five-year principal agreement with the construction unions "will guarantee that union workers will construct or renovate any stores that the retailer opens, including both owned and leased property,” according to Walmart’s director of community affairs, Steven Restivo.

The city council isn’t convinced that the store will create new jobs instead of stealing others from small businesses in the area. Public Advocate Bill de Blasio worries that the agreement with the construction union is a Trojan horse in this situation. He stated, "Wal-Mart's record of driving small businesses out of town and paying below-poverty-line wages to its employees will only exacerbate the current decline of New York City's middle class.”

Restivo sees it differently, that Walmart will bring jobs and affordable food to areas in need. Ultimately though he feels the decision should be up to the city’s consumers. "If we open a store, and no one comes, or we open a hiring center and no one applies for a job, we'll have learned a really important lesson about New York City," he said. "We just don't think that's going to happen." According to research polls, New Yorkers spent more than $195 million at Walmarts outside the city and a tracker on one of Walmart’s websites shows 70+% of New Yorkers are in favor of having the chain in town instead of having to travel to New Jersey to find Rollback prices.

Right now Walmert officials say the project is still hypothetical. NYC city council and residents are skeptical though as the company is eyeing potential locations. There may be little anyone can do to stop them though if the acquire a spot like the one they've found in Brooklyn that is already zoned for big box stores. Using this location would mean instead of seeking permission from city council, Walmart would just need the go ahead from the property developer.

What do you think about Walmart coming to town? Post your opinions in the comment box below.

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By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for ManhattanJobsBlog.com, she is co-founder of design and promotion company, Creative Kazoo with fellow Nexxt blogger, Staci Dennis. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.