Honestly, I think this doesn't apply to Target. (the part about the cause of this being the economy/market) Target was working on cutting pay, benefits, and hours long before most people even knew what the word "recession" meant. This is nothing new. They were doing it 10 years ago.
I also think that the articles insinuation - that most retail workers would work full time if given the option - is totally bogus.
When I was a GSTL, I used to have certain TMs complain to me that their hours were too few and that they wanted to be full time. Obviously, they couldn't be full time.... but in response to that, I made sure when I was doing the schedule I gave them more hours.
What happened you ask? Nearly all of them started calling out, and some of the same ones who told me they wanted more hours actually went to the ETL-HR and complained about me! What did they tell her? I was "making them work too much". I even had one complain that her welfare benefits got cut because of me, because she was making too much money. I was freaking floored. Keep in mind, these were all people who complained to me they weren't getting enough hours - so I thought I was doing them a favor.
One of those NY Times writers should get a TL/ETL job and see what happens when TMs who *say* they want more hours actually get them....
Not saying this applies to all TMs, but it applies to a good number of them.