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August 24, 2008
While Younstown Mayor Jay Williams is to be commended for protecting the interests of his residents, he should take a step back and ask himself this question: Why doesn't Wal-Mart want to commit to a 25 percent hiring standard for city residents in its new Liberty Township superstore?
Given that the standard was established 20 years ago by then Mayor Patrick J. Ungaro for Wal-Mart's Austintown store in return for city supplying drinking water, it is necessary to delve into the issue further. The fact of the matter is that Wal-Mart does have a large number of Youngstowners working in its stores in the Mahoning Valley, so why the reluctance to agree to Mayor Williams' demands?
Company officials say they want the flexibility to hire individuals who meet their criteria and that any job guarantees would go against their policies.
Rather than lock horns with the company, the mayor should ask Wal-Mart whether the work ethic of Youngstown residents who seek such jobs is acceptable. Indeed, Williams should ask the company to compare its employees from the city with those from other communities.
Why? Because if the individuals who are being hired are below par, then Youngstown city government should sponsor training programs that prepare residents, especially those out of high school, for the work place.
It's pointless demanding a 25 percent hiring standard when meeting it becomes a major challenge for the company.
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Interesting points, there, Bertram. Obviously, WalMart doesn't want to be forced into hiring someone simply because of what address they put on their application, and they shouldn't be forced to do so. Truth be told, WalMart would likely end up with 'Phar Mor' (sorry) than 25% of their work force being from Youngstown, given the location and everything. I'll bet more than 25% of the workers at the Boardman store are from Youngstown. Did anybody check?
And if there does happen to be a deficit in the performance level of Youngstown residents, that needs to be corrected at once, because let's face it, if you can't even perform a WalMart job adequately, how are you going to work in the technology market that is purported to be coming our way?
If you live in Youngstown and can't qualify for a Walmart job, that's pretty sad. That says a lot about why Youngstown is dying. People there are no preferred hirings anymore especially if you can't do basic reading, writing, and arithmetic like so many Youngstowners can't do. I know because I hire people for my business, and so many Youngstowners aren't qualified literate. You have to show you are the best candidate for the job bar none. It doesn't take that much to show Walmart your the best candidate by the way.
I hope Mayor Jay gives up on his 25% Walmart hire so we can get on with the new store in liberty. If not, it all falls squarely on his shoulders and once again the Mahoning Valley gets kicked in the rear end because of Youngstown's failures.
WalMart could easily meet the demand- they just know Youngstown folks might be less likely to expect a decent wage, fair treatment on the job, etc. So why agree to hire 25% Liberty employees when you could pay Youngstown residents less and treat them like crap?
Hey as long as we get our "everyday low prices"!!!!!!!!
I don't think Liberty is asking too much- a WalMart uses tons of resources- water, parking, traffic, LOW paying jobs which cannot sustain a family without government assistance, etc. WalMart is notorious for being a bad neighbor. WalMart could do this, they just want cheap labor. As far as I'm concerned, WalMart can go put their store at the bottom of Lake Erie.
Keep wondering why the region is dead.
OhioPerson - 350 jobs lost to the bottom of Lake Erie? It's a small wonder Youngstown is dying with attitudes like yours and Mayor Jay's.
OhioPerson, are you not paying attention at all?? The 25% figure is for YOUNGSTOWN residents, not Liberty residents!
Sheesh!
At this point, I think WalMart might decline just because of our apparent local obsession with them. We're starting to sound a little crazy here folks. I'm just saying. Remember Saturn? How many WalMart threads are there now? Isn't there any other local news to be covered?
George posted "Isn't there any other local news to be covered?"
Well, other than the complete collapse of the Youngstown schools, a staggering murder rate, rampant personal and property crime that the city is now export to the suburbs, suggestions that politicians not respond to the media until they have their stories straight and attempts by Youngstown politicians to extort “tribute” from surrounding areas, no.
So negative all the time, Bull. I don't envy your life or your world view.
Sorry NoBS, the way the article is worded, it is confusing. Here's my edit:
"WalMart could easily meet the demand- they just know Youngstown folks might be less likely to expect a decent wage, fair treatment on the job, etc. So why agree to hire 75% Liberty employees when you could pay Youngstown residents less and treat them like crap?
Hey as long as we get our "everyday low prices"!!!!!!!!
I don't think Liberty is asking too much- a WalMart uses tons of resources- water, parking, traffic, LOW paying jobs which cannot sustain a family without government assistance, etc. WalMart is notorious for being a bad neighbor. WalMart could do this, they just want cheap labor. As far as I'm concerned, WalMart can go put their store at the bottom of Lake Erie."
George,
Interesting that you just insult me and don’t disagree with any of the facts presented.
By the way, I am a very optimistic person, while else would I point out areas where major changes are required in order for the valley to grow?
Ohio Person, thanks, that's better. But I don't think Liberty is the one demanding the hiring quota - that's Youngstown's gig. The other 75% could come from Girard, Niles, Austintown, Boardman, Poland, or Timbuktu.
Having a Wallie-World in Liberty will give the township's property tax revenues a li'l shot in the arm - that's how townships are funded, by law: property tax only. But will it be enough to compensate for the "mom-and-pop" businesses it bankrupts?
Wallie-World used to require their employees to "donate" some of their free time, and work off the clock. Finally someone hauled them into court and made them stop that practice. The Fair Labor Standards Act has some language about employees not being allowed to "volunteer" at their place of employment, because of the potential for abuse. But they still don't pay for squat, and offer no benefits. Still, as long as people will work in those conditions, nothing will change.
Forget about Wal-Mart.
What Mayor Jay Williams is doing is blackmailing surrounding townships using water as his weapon of choice. Liberty already agreed to a JEDD with the city on all UNDEVELOPED land within the township or so I have heard, perhaps wrongly.
This is going against the agreement that has been in place for Youngstown to provide water to the Township for 50 years. The issue isn't about running pipe lines. Those are in place and have been for years!
Perhaps what we need to do over here is have a JEDD between Liberty, Girard, Niles etc. and replace the damn at Girard Lake making it our water supply and tell JEDD-EYE JAY to jump in his lake!
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