WAL * MART – the high cost of low price is a well crafted advocacy documentary released in 2005 that may be a reoccurring nightmare for Wal-Mart every time it’s screened at a community gathering where neighbors are fighting against a new store proposed to be built or when it’s shown to Wal-Mart “associates” looking for better working conditions. Watching this documentary, thinking about how it appears Wal-Mart operates, reminds you of some of the recent (2011) moves by certain states to bust unions and cut wages of state employees. It makes you wonder if the USA is evolving into the United States of Wal-Mart! Since Wal-Mart has stores internationally it may be World of Wal-Mart!
The documentary looks at a number of issues. Including the impact on local stores when a Wal-Mart is built in the town or surrounding area; state and local subsidies in the millions given to Wal-Mart when they build a facility in a community; Wal-Mart treatment of it’s workers (associates), who, in the final analysis are paid less than minimum wage and who pay high premiums for such meager health benefits that they must register for Medicaid and are encouraged to do so by Wal-Mart; Wal-Mart practices in third world countries where they manufacture products sold in their stores; the local communities that fight to stop Wal-Mart from building stores in their communities and the crime that goes on in Wal-Mart parking lots.
The documentary does seem to have had some impact over the last six years but apparently has not changed the Corporate Culture at Wal-Mart headquarters in Arkansas. The company started by Sam Walton is now owned and operated by his wife and children who are one of the richest families in the US, worth many billions of dollars.
Wal-Mart’s advertising and stated objectives are not what they actually practice according to the documentary. For example few woman and minorities are promoted to managerial positions despite corporate propaganda according to the film. Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart is often seen making speeches that insinuate how wonderful Wal-Mart is, when the reality is much different. Many employees of Wal-Mart are interviewed about what they have experienced, including some Chinese workers in a factory in China. Workers who are paid three dollars per hour to produce toys worth about .18 cents that sell at Wal-Mart for $15.00. While Wal-Mart prohibits unions in the United States, the workers in German are unionized.
The film directed and produced by Robert Greenwald is well paced, edited and shot. It begins with interviews and visits to Midwest towns and store owners who have been run out of business by subsidized Wal-Mart stores built in their area. It is interesting to see these conservative Americans suddenly start to understand that they probably voted against their own self interest politically, supporting politicians who allow major corporations to destroy small businesses.
Wal * Mart the high cost of low price makes a strong, documented case against this corporate giant that grossed $240 billion in sales the year the documentary was made and advised it’s employees to go on welfare and get food stamps. There is a blog that appears to be active with news of the ongoing issues concerning Wal-Mart: http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/?cat=9
J R Martin
TRAILER
Tags: associates, business, Documentary, Documentary Film Review, environment, union busting, Wal-Mart, workers
