Wages are only a part of the story. Companies are starting to add rather good benefit packages to the mix. They tend to be as good or better than what the unions can offer. It wouldn't be hard for people willing to work in such a manner, especially if it includes no union involvement.
I shouldn't worry about them. ASDA's a pile of crap anyway. And basically, it'll be the same type of people who shop in Walmart as shop in ASDA already - I think you know the 'type' I mean. There is no way on God's earth that (as suggested by another poster) Walmart will take over these shores. Middle England is just too posh for such common establishments. And as such Tesco's and Sainsbury's wil continue to top the tables for the significant future. And besides they haven't got a cat in hell's chance of getting Safeway. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission will see to that. Morrison's will nab it.
Maczebus, you might be surprised at the type of customer who shops at Wal-Mart owned stores. I live in the home of the Mayo Clinic, and also worked at the local Wal-Mart for about 4 years. Sure, there's a lot of trailer trash types and a lot of just plain frightening customers, but there were also quite a few doctors and other upscale customers who shopped there just for the low prices. However, one thing you probably won't see at a Wal-Mart run store is employees who are in a great mood/happy to help. I spent some time as a supervisor and in talks management and district management, I've learned a lot about how they treat employees. In my experience with the company, my co-workers were treated like shit, and the high levels of management didn't seem to care or respond to complaints. The pay was alright, but the mental stress and the daily browbeatings - even when told we were doing a good job - drove me nuts.