The company had a years-long wage freeze and cut benefits, so while the raise schedule is somewhat decent, as long as management can convince the union, nobody gets raises. Further, if you are recently hired there you're not going to make much more than minimum wage for quite a long time. Even for people who have been there for many years, the pay scale for retail employees is about thirteen dollars, so be prepared to get a second job if you want to subsist, because along with the low pay, you'll have a tough time getting hours.
Part of the contract says that they have to give a fifteen minute break for every three hours. To counteract this, you will often find yourself getting scheduled for shifts exactly five hours and fourty-five minutes long. These are the kinds of games management plays.
And as far as advancing in the company -- You can forget it. You'll stay in your original role (perhaps moving from one department to another or one store to another, but with no increase in pay) until you either quit, get laid off, or retire.