Sears Closes Stores as Its Chairman Purchases Mansion

In the final three months of 2011, Sears lost $2.4 billion and announced in December that it would eliminate 100-120 stores.  That will surely bring layoffs of thousands of people.  Its chairman, Edward Lampert is about to purchase a $40-million home in Indian Creek Island, north of Miami.  Meanwhile, Florida is taking the biggest hit of Sears' layoffs.   Lampert also runs ESL Investments, a hedge fund.  Most informed and educated Americans are outraged at this sight of hedge fund managers and billionaires who layoff workers and then use their many millions to splurge on themselves.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/eddie-lampert-home_n_1324122.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/sears-earnings-4q-2011_n_1296451.html

Walmart Suppliers Cheat Warehouse Workers Out of Pay

Warehouse workers are suing three companies in Los Angeles for class-action damages.   These companies are Walmart suppliers that are accused of cheating these workers out of pay by reporting fewer hours than they actually worked.  Big-box retailers like Walmart have kept their pay low by outsourcing the jobs of these workers to staffing firms. Even under honest pay practices, temporary warehouse workers have a wage rate of $3 per hour lower than permanent ones.  Companies in California have threatened these workers with layoffs after speaking out against dishonest pay practices.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/warehouse-workers-walmart_n_1321518.html

Blue-Collar Workers: Now Temporary in Permanent Poverty (for 12/20/11)

Today's blue-collar workers get temporary work and face permanent poverty. They get paid low wages from firms that staff temporary workers for big-box retailers. High unemployment means little job security for these workers as replacements are immediately available to start in place of unproductive workers. They also do not receive medical benefits for doing hard, tiring, back-breaking work. In one example, Asian and European student workers walked out in mass on a Hershey's plant to protest working conditions, including lifting heavy items and deportation threats. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/20/new-blue-collar-temp-warehouses_n_1158490.html