New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Global Workers Sue Wal-Mart

2005-09-25T15:55:00.000-04:00

Apparel workers from factories in Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Nicaragua and Swaziland that produce clothes for Wal-Mart filed a class-action suit against Wal-Mart in a California state court last week.
The unique suit brought by the International Labor Rights Fund charges that Wal-Mart not only violated its own much ballyhooed code of contract for its contractors but also deliberately misled the American public about its efforts to protect the workers who make goods overseas for the retail giant.
The suit alleges Wal-Mart’s code created a contractual obligation between the company and the thousands of workers employed by the contractors that are required to comply with the code.
The workers charge they were paid less than minimum wage, denied time-and-a-half for overtime and were beaten and locked in the factories. For information, visit Laborrights.org or WalMartCostsYou.com.

No School Supplies From Wal-Mart

2005-07-19T09:49:00.000-04:00

Working families can send a message to Wal-Mart and start their children on the road to activism at the same time by joining other families in a campaign to buy back-to-school supplies somewhere other than a Wal-Mart store. Parents can visit Wake Up Wal-Mart to pledge to shop for school supplies elsewhere.
Parents also are helping their children write letters to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, telling him why their families won't buy school supplies from Wal-Mart this year. Wal-Mart has been fined in three states for violations of child labor laws this year alone. The company that raked in $10 billion in profits last year pays
poverty-level wages and fails to provide affordable health insurance to its workers.
More information about Wal-Mart's anti-worker practices is available at WalMartCostsYou.com . Parents are asked to send their children's letters by Aug. 1 to Lee Scott, c/o Wal-Mart Campaign, 815 16th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20006. The Wal-Mart campaign will make sure Scott gets the messages.

Congratulations

2005-06-17T12:02:00.000-04:00

Congratulations are due to the people of the Brighton Bay neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Florida, on successfully blocking a Wal-Mart Supercenter from being built on wetlands. Wal-Mart can appeal the ruling to the city council, but they will face just as intense a fight there as they experienced with the Environmental Developement Commision.
Read all about it

Best of Luck!

2005-06-17T10:55:00.000-04:00

From the Greeley Tribune:
Fifteen employees at the west Greeley Wal-Mart hope to break the track record of failed union attempts at Wal-Mart.

The group is inviting the 300-plus employees who work at the store at 920 47th Ave. to join them and organize under the United Food and Commercial Workers Local No. 7, the union of choice for many Front Range grocery workers.

"This is a big fight, and that's why I'm doing it," said Jared West, 21, a senior at the University of Northern Colorado who has worked at Greeley's newest Wal-Mart for two years. "I'm not the kind of person who can just sit there and allow (the company) to keep pushing people around. ... It scares me, but I'm not willing to back down. I don't know if I'm going to be able to change it around here, but I'm going to try."

Read the rest of the article

Wal-Mart does it again

2005-06-10T11:31:00.000-04:00

In California, "A state civil rights agency says Wal-Mart must pay at least $188,000 for refusing to reinstate a manager at its Antioch store after pregnancy leave."
Wal-Mart's crime? Firing a pregnant woman for attempting to exercise her legal right to disability leave. This must be part of their self-hyped diversity drive. Krista Jane Carver was a manager at Wal-Mart, and had worked there from 1996-2002.

"She applied for a month's disability leave in May 2002 after coming down with pregnancy-related diabetes. But when she tried to return the next month, she was told by George Allen, a regional manager, that she had used up all her leave time, had no right to reinstatement and had already been replaced."

No wonder Wal-Mart hates unions! They want to maintain their open door policy: the freedom to show pregnant women the open exit door (unless they're currently locked in the store). Regardless of the law.

Does all this sound familiar? It should: "In 1997, a jury found that Wal-Mart intentionally refused to rehire Ms. Stern because she was pregnant." That time, Wal-Mart was forced to cough up $220,000. If they got caught twice, one can imagine how many times this has actually occured.

Someone should do something about all these pesky laws that keep getting in the way of Wal-Mart's style of business. Or maybe it's time for the government to stop slapping Wal-Mart on the wrist and actually hold them accountable.

Shareholders Call On Wal-Mart To Form Committee To Review Controls And Compliance

2005-06-07T10:51:00.000-04:00

NYC Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. press release:

View shareholder letter

Expressing serious concerns about recent reports of legal and regulatory non-compliance, a group of Wal-Mart shareholders called on the Audit Committee of the company's Board of Directors to establish a special committee of independent directors to conduct a comprehensive review of Wal-Mart's legal and regulatory controls, as well as its internal system for ensuring compliance with its own policies and standards.

The shareholders, in a letter to Roland A. Hernandez, Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, urged the Board to issue a report on the Committee's findings and recommendations by December 2005.

The group is comprised of: New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr., who is the investment adviser to the $85 billion New York City Pension Funds; Edward M. Smith, Chairman of the $10.8 billion Illinois State Board of Investment; Karina Litvack, Head of Governance &Socially Responsible Investing of F&C Asset Management, with $250 billion under management; and, Jason Fletcher, Americas Equity Manager of the $36 billion UK University Superannuation Scheme. They collectively represent holdings of 11,455,206 shares of Wal-Mart common stock, with an estimated market value of $545,840,565.

“As long-term investors and shareholders of Wal-Mart, we are deeply concerned that the frequency of reports exposing legal and regulatory non-compliance at the company could be indicative of inadequate internal controls and a lack of board oversight and accountability,” Thompson said. “These negative reports and headlines have damaged Wal-Mart's global reputation. The Board of Directors could help to bolster the company's image and shareholder confidence by enabling a committee of independent directors to take the action we have requested.”

Among the concerns cited by shareholders were the raids by U.S. federal agents of 60 Wal-Mart stores in 21 states, resulting in the arrest of 250 illegal immigrant workers, the related $11 million settlement of charges that Wal-Mart exploited illegal immigrants, and Wal-Mart's 2005 settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor of 24 violations of child labor laws in three states.

“It used to be that we had to go to a third world country to find this kind of exploitation,” said Ed Smith, Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Investment. “Now, I am appalled and embarrassed to find these practices at Wal-Mart, one of our holdings. The company has a duty to mount the independent investigation we are seeking – primarily because it's the right thing to do, but also because such practices could expose the company to legal liability. The ramifications for shareholders could be disastrous.”

In addition, the shareholders pointed to a federal court certification of a national class action sex discrimination lawsuit on behalf of 1.5 million current and former female employees.

“As active and responsible long-term shareholders, USS's policy seeks to ensure that formal, effective and transparent internal control principles and systems are in place and implemented in companies in which it invests. Where the company has clearly run into problems which could have been prevented by better enterprise risk management and where we see no evidence that adequate corrective action has been taken, USS will engage with that company to encourage the board to better manage the risks that it clearly faces,” said Jason Fletcher, Americas Equities Manager of the UK University Superannuation Scheme Ltd.

The letter also raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the recent resignation of Wal-Mart Vice Chairman Thomas Coughlin, who allegedly abused his expense account with up to $500,000 in questionable transactions over a five-year period, and Coughlin's admission that he filed false invoices to obtain reimbursements for anti-union activities.

Wal-Mart's firing of the whistleblower who reported Mr. Coughlin's questionable transactions also was raised.

“Employees who fear for their jobs won't report wrongdoing,” said Karina Litvack, Head of Governance &SRI for global asset manager F&C, which manages $230 billion. “By firing a key Coughlin whistleblower, Wal-Mart may have struck a deathblow to its own compliance system, further weakening its internal controls at a time when it should be aggressively fortifying them. Independent directors need to demonstrate to shareholders that Wal-Mart hasn't built an ostrich culture – where employees are better off sticking their heads in the sand than speaking up.”

NYTimes Article: Taking On a Giant (Whistleblowers Welcome)

2005-06-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

The producer and director of "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism" has a new target: Wal-Mart.
------------------------------
Taking On a Giant (Whistleblowers Welcome)
By DAVID M. HALBFINGER

LOS ANGELES, May 31 - He's taken on the Bush administration, the war in Iraq and the Fox News Channel. He's forged alliances with grass-roots liberal groups like MoveOn.org, liberal research groups, even liberal churches.

Yet Robert Greenwald, the producer and director of "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism," thinks his next documentary-cum-indictment will appeal to gun-toting Bush voters in the Bible belt as much as to the latte-drinking lefties who made his last movie a hit at house parties on both coasts.

His new project? "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price."

The diminutive Mr. Greenwald, 61, is leading this assault on the retailing behemoth of Bentonville, Ark., from a converted hot-sheets motel in Culver City, Calif. There, where MGM executives once conducted their trysts, he and a dozen or so young producers and editors are compiling digital video from interviewing teams across the country, while spreading the word through advocacy groups and labor unions to invite whistleblowers to come forward.

Their plan is to depict what they and a growing number of critics perceive to be Wal-Mart's sins against society: unfair competition and erosion of the fabric of communities; exploitation of its American workers, and of the government welfare programs many rely on to supplement their wages and benefits; union busting; reliance on suppliers with sweatshops overseas; and environmental negligence - among others.

They also intend to show how the retailer exerts its outsized influence on American culture through the so-called "Wal-Mart effect," by limiting the choices of products like clothing, music - and movies - that are available to consumers.

"Nobody else has a million and a half workers, nobody has 3,500 stores and one opening every day," Mr. Greenwald said. "You may say: I don't care, I don't shop at Wal-Mart, why should it affect me? Well it will, because it'll affect wages, it'll affect health care, it'll affect where your tax dollars go. There are so many impacts it has on all of us as citizens."

A Wal-Mart spokeswoman, Sarah Clark, whose responsibilities include "reputation management," said she was unaware of Mr. Greenwald or his movie until she was contacted for this article. She noted later that a campaign against Wal-Mart affiliated with the grocery workers' union, which has tried for years to organize Wal-Mart workers, was promoting Mr. Greenwald's film project on the Web.

"It would be difficult to comment on a film we haven't seen, but we'd question the fairness of a documentary that is being tied to the Wake-Up Wal-Mart campaign," she said. "Some of our critics are open-minded people who are genuinely concerned about issues and want to make the world a better place. We listen, learn and try to work with them toward common goals. Other groups simply pull publicity stunts to further their own narrow self-interest."

Mr. Greenwald is hardly the first to look for a dark side to the company that has become known to millions as a cheap source of staples and minor luxuries. Last November PBS's "Frontline" series showed "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?," a 60-minute program produced by Rick Young and Hedrick Smith, a former correspondent for The New York Times. And last year The Los Angeles Times won a Pulitzer Prize for a series that investigated the retailer's practices and policies.

Yet Mr. Greenwald, like his fellow muckraking documentarians Michael Moore and Morgan Spurlock, promises to up the ante by putting the quest for impact squarely ahead of journalistic convention. He said he chose to discuss his project - which has until now operated in secret - on the eve of the company's annual shareholders meeting this Friday, for instance, in hopes of kicking up as much dust there as possible.

Asked whether his documentary would strive for fairness, Mr. Greenwald said he would offer top Wal-Mart executives the chance to be interviewed but did not see a reason to give them equal screen time. "I don't feel an obligation, because they are spending $2 million a day now telling their side of the story," he said, asserting that Wal-Mart spent that much on public relations.

Mr. Greenwald, who kept "Outfoxed" secret from the Fox network until just before its release, said he had kept his Wal-Mart project under wraps until now, and would not reveal details about his project until it is finished in a few months, lest Wal-Mart try to interfere through litigation or by intimidating workers from cooperating.

Ms. Clark, the Wal-Mart representative, said the project's secrecy was a reason to doubt its credibility. "We'd question anyone who was writing a book who would not come to us and ask us for our own facts," she said. "And I'd certainly question the accuracy or the fairness of a documentary that didn't even contact us."

Mr. Greenwald said that some 15 current Wal-Mart workers who agreed to help had backed out for fear of retaliation by the company, ignoring his promises of anonymity in exchange for interviews or incriminating documents, videotape or e-mail messages.

He added that he had lost two investors in the project, both of them Hollywood figures who Mr. Greenwald said backed out rather than risk Wal-Mart's rejection of their other films, as the company is the world's largest DVD retailer. But he refused to name them or any other investors, saying only that he had so far raised $700,000 out of a budget of about $1.6 million. He said he would raise the rest by the same means he hopes to distribute his finished movie: through a series of partnerships with like-minded organizations and by marketing over the Web.

Mr. Greenwald did this successfully with his documentary "Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War," for which the Center for American Progress, a Democratic research group, held press screenings in Washington, and which MoveOn.org advertised on its Web site for $29.95. This time, he has aligned with church groups, including the United Church of Christ, which is concentrated in the Northeast, Midwest and West; with the Petroleum Marketers Association of America, a trade group of gas station and convenience store operators; and with the National Education Association. Each for its own reasons had already set its sights on Wal-Mart, but now they are planning to screen Mr. Greenwald's movie in church sanctuaries, at school teach-ins and in the living rooms of small-business owners.

Mr. Greenwald, who has another, more profit-oriented life as a maker of television movies like "The Burning Bed" and theatrical films like "Steal This Movie," acknowledges that he has mainly preached to a partisan choir in his earlier documentaries, "Uncovered" and "Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election," which he directed, and "Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties," which he produced.

But he said he chose Wal-Mart as his next subject because he saw it as a mainly red-state company. And in thinking about how to appeal to a red-state audience, he said in an interview, he realized this could be a way to make common cause with the socially conservative base of the Republican Party.

"The social values people - I think the economic issues that we're talking about absolutely are in sync with them," he said. "To me, it's an anomaly or a contradiction that some of these folks are voting against their economic self-interest. But in the Wal-Mart fight, we're seeing that whether you voted for Bush or have an N.R.A. hat, or are all your life Republican, when Wal-Mart comes to town, they build or drive you out of business, or your neighbor, or they put a road where it used to be your front yard - that's an equalizer."

Anti Wal-Mart T-Shirt Design Contest

2005-06-02T10:07:00.000-04:00

Melissa Ebertz of the Parsons School of Design (NY) is hosting an anti Wal-Mart T-shirt design contest. Visitors to the site can vote on their favourite design or create their own. The three most popular designs will be available for purchase, with proceeds going to Wal-Mart Watch.

Democracy For America

2005-05-19T13:45:00.000-04:00

Democracy For America, "a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government—from school board to the presidency." has a web poll up which asks "Is it time to hold Wal-Mart accountable?" ie, should Democracy For America make Wal-Mart a priority issue. Vote here.

via Liza Featherstone's new article

Letters

2005-05-18T10:31:00.000-04:00

Two letters came in recently showing support for the Wal-Mart free NYC Coalition: one from Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York; and one from Congressman Charles Rangel.

April 25, 2005
Dear Ted:

Thank you for keeping me informed on the progress of your campaign
with Wal-Mart.

I am pleased that you are concerned to improve working conditions of
retail workers. It seems to me that oftem times these workers are among
the lowest paid with the most difficult work schedules. I suspect that many
times they work without benefits.

While respecting the needs of all workers is important, the situatiot of
lower paid workers must be of particular concern.

Allow me to thank you for all your efforts on behalf of working men and
women in New York.

Very truly yours in Christ,
Edward Cardinal Egan
Archbishop of New York

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May 10, 2005

Dear Mr. Jacobsen:

I am writing this letter to thank you for your recent correspondence to me in which
you included information about the Wal-Mart Free NYC Coalition.

I want to thank you for your continued efforts to protect workers and their rights.
As you well know, I have for a long time supported the right of workers to organize and
work in an environment that gives them the respect and dignity they deserve. We must
continue to ensure that every person in the American workforce is humanly treated and
given the benefits he or she deserve. I salute your continued fight for this cause.

Please accept my best wishes in your future endeavors.

Sincererly,
Charles B. Rangel
Members of Congress

CBR/djb

Wal-Mart's Latest PR Blunder

2005-05-16T10:02:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't heard, Wal-Mart recently was under fire for "approving a recent newspaper advertisement that equated a proposed Arizona zoning ordinance with Nazi book-burning." After offending everyone and their mothers, they've since apologized, but really, what were they thinking??? Visit Wake Up Wal-Mart to see the ad, and if you're curious, read about the actual book burning here.

Anyways, even if you could somehow ignore the incredibly offensive imagery, the caption is ridiculous, "Should we let government tell us what we can read?" No! Of course not! So why would you want to welcome a store that censors what you can read, listen to, or be prescribed?

Wal-Mart Plays Loose With the Facts

2005-05-11T17:25:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time, walmartfacts.com listed the percent of its employees that take advantage of their health insurance as 46%. Then, overnight, the Wal-Mart spin machine changed that number to 56% of the 86% of employees with health insurance (from all sources). Confused? You're not alone. Many newspapers reported (and continue to report) that 56% of Wal-Mart workers receive insurance through the company.
Now, it's "more than 500,000 associates, including many family members." With their 1.2 million employees (from WalMartfacts.com: "Fact: More than 1.2 million Associates work at Wal-Mart in the U.S.") in the US, that brings the percent who take advantage of their plan at just under 42%. Using their numbers, 56% of 86% is 48%, and with that 48% equaling 500,000 they are saying they have 1,040,000 employees, not 1.2 million. It goes to show that even they can't get their PR statistics straight!
Then there's their '75% of our employees work full-time claim,' which in its current form has become a "majority" of our workers work full-time. Why not just say they all work full time, everyone gets $30 an hour, and full medical and dental?

Personally, I think that this kind of spin hurts Wal-Mart. Such transparent attempts to obfucate their own numbers just shows the public that WM has something to hide.
If you're going to make up fake statistics, at least be consistent.

Edited for correctness May 12. Originally I had thought that Wal-Mart was claiming that 56% of their workers were covered by the company plan, then I re-read their factsheet.

New York Sun - "The Hypocrisy of Wal-Mart Bashers"

2005-05-10T10:31:00.000-04:00

This editorial really confused me. It started with a description of the Mother's Day event (with Carolyn Sapp and the big card), then quickly degenerated into Ms. Colon railing about how racist her "acquaintances" are.

Until last Saturday, I had never been to a Wal-Mart, and the comments I had heard from those who had been to the stores in New Jersey were quite disturbing. I'd never realized how bigoted those acquaintances of mine were until I heard them saying things like "It's a ghetto store full of ghetto people" or "It's for the project people because it's cheap, but we don't need any more stores like that on Staten Island."

I don't know who Ms. Colon hangs out with, but apparently they are the "Wal-Mart Bashers" that she's speaking of. I guess "The Hypocrisy of Some People that I Just Made up in my Head" didn't sound as good.

Somewhere in the middle of the column, Colon demonstrates her ignorance further:

At the City Hall rally, a giant Mother's Day card was displayed with the message
"Wal-Mart should stop discriminating against women." The council speaker, Gifford Miller, Democrat of Manhattan, was among the signers of the card, which was to be sent to Wal-Mart's CEO, Lee Scott.
Balderdash! Of Wal-Mart's job force, 60% are women. At the Linden store, that percentage seemed much higher.

Memo to Ms. Colon: That's what the lawsuit is about. Wal-Mart low wage employees are mostly women. As you look up the hierarchy, you'll see that the higher paid a position is, the more the scales are weighted in favor of men. 2/3 of the low paid employees are female, and only 1/3 of management. It didn't get that way by accident. I'm not familiar enough with the case to start rattling off numbers, but check out WalMartClass.com. They have all the facts.

"What the former Miss America, some City Council members, and union leaders are really telling us is "We want you to continue to pay higher prices so that we can keep the local Mom and Pop stores open and our union members happy."
And perhaps keep the "ghetto people" in the ghetto?"

There's the bombshell. Wal-Mart critics are all racists! This from the person who wrote True Test Of Courage Must Come From Islamic Community which contains such gems as:
While I am continually impressed by the dignity of President Bush, Mayor Giuliani and Governor Pataki for their pleas for restraint in targeting the Muslim community, I can understand why so many non-Muslims will lump the innocent with those guilty of the recent atrocities. There is a deep suspicion by those of different faiths that the Muslim community shares Osama Bin Laden’s hatred of the United States and would welcome a jihad against non-Islamics.

i.e. She's not saying that she thinks all Muslims, American and otherwise, are terrorists, but she understands why someone else would. Those racist acquaintances of hers sure get around.

So why is Ms. Colon such an ardent supporter of Wal-Mart? Could it be because her interests as a pro-lifer coincide with Wal-Mart's policy of refusing to stock the morning after pill? No, that's too cynical to be true. It must be because Colon is such a huge civil rights activist, and is appalled by the hypocricy of her imaginary "acquaintances."

Costco vs. Wal-Mart

2005-04-19T12:20:00.000-04:00

Every day Wal-Mart's stock seems to dip lower and lower. At around $47.60, it's the lowest it's been in over two years. The past year, Costco's stock has appreciated about 20%. During the same period, Wal-Mart's stock has depreciated about 20%. (Link: Costco v. Wal-Mart graph) Just something to think about the next time you hear that remaining union free is the only way for a mega-retailer to be succesful.

Re: Wal-Mart's "Consumer Survey" of New Yorkers

2005-04-12T12:25:00.000-04:00

STATEMENT FROM BRIAN M. MCLAUGHLIN, PRESIDENT OF THE
NEW YORK CITY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL/AFL-CIO
RE: WAL-MART'S "CONSUMER SURVEY" OF NEW YORKERS

As usual, Wal-Mart proves once again they know nothing about New Yorkers and the issues that are most important to us. It is the questions Wal-Mart did not ask in their limited "survey" that sums up what is most propelling our citywide education campaign and growing our broad coalition of those opposed to the company opening one of their megastores here. Most New Yorkers do not know that Wal-Mart encourages their employees to apply for government subsidies to provide health insurance for their families, pay wages that perpetuate poverty, lock illegal immigrants in their stores at night, discriminate heavily against women, and make their profits by outsourcing American jobs to the cheapest corners of the world. These are the serious questions New Yorkers must demand answers on from Wal-Mart, and those we intend to continue raising as our fight continues.

New AFL-CIO Wal-Mart Report

2005-04-06T15:40:00.000-04:00

A New AFL-CIO report titled "The Wal-Mart Tax: A Review of Studies Examining Employers' Health Care Cost-Shifting" came out last week. To understand why so many of their workers rely on public assistance, read "Wal-Mart: An Example of Why Workers Remain Uninsured and Underinsured."
It's kind of hard to afford spending $130 a month (the cheapest possible plan) plus 20% of your medical expenses when you're making $7.50 an hour. Want to take your child to the doctor for a checkup? Sorry, that's not covered by Wal-Mart's plan.

RE: Wal-Mart Meet and Greet

2005-04-05T14:53:00.000-04:00

With the 'meet and greet' event going on today and tomorrow at Wal-Mart headquarters, Lee Scott can introduce some of his “associates” which help keep the business running. Here's some "associates" I'd like to meet.

First lets hear from someone from the team of “Labor Relations Managers,” who’s job description is to:

Provide education and communication that supports Operations in
remaining union free; on notification of union activity, work closely
with the Legal Department to support management team and develop
campaign material; coordinate efforts across Divisions to accomplish
team goals.

They can maybe clue us in a little bit as to what they do, then we can dim the lights and see some examples of their "education and communication": anti-union videos that they show workers who want to organize.

After that, we could hear a manager at a local Wal-Mart explain the intimate details of the company’s health insurance (not Wal-Mart's other health insurance Medicaid).

Maybe then, we can hear from a couple of the lawyers that keep Wal-Mart’s operations running smoothly. How about one of the ones that argued that an employee recovering from kidney failure is not protected by the Americans With Disabilities Act (The one that claimed that “the inability to cleanse one’s own blood and eliminate body waste does not amount to the limitation of a major life activity...")?

Maybe we’ll even have the opportunity to hear from Wal-Mart executives (one of the ones not fired for embezzlement), and find out who thought it was good idea to take out 'dead peasant' life insurance policies on their beloved "associates" with Wal-Mart as the beneficiaries. They killed two birds with one stone on that stunt, managing to exploit their employees and cheat the IRS at the same time!

Wal-Mart Relies on Public Health Care

2005-03-30T17:36:00.000-05:00

Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas, Connecticut, Iowa, Alabama, Massachusetts, California, Wisconsin, and West Virginia have all found Wal-Mart to be the employer with the most workers on State health care; no surprise from a company that assists its workers in applying for taxpayer funded Medicaid.

Wal-Mart's Corporate Welfare

2005-03-23T16:52:00.000-05:00

Several articles came out recently which illustrate one of Wal-Mart’s major advantages over small retailers: corporate welfare. Over the years, Wal-Mart has received billions of dollars in tax breaks and subsidies, which gives it an edge over competitors. Why should the largest corporation in the world get our tax dollars, you ask? Perhaps it has something to do with the millions of dollars it spends on campaign contributions.

In Gas City, Indiana, the state house just passed a bill to extend “…the deadline for a tax abatement on new logistical and information technology equipment that was used to attract a Wal-Mart distribution center to Gas City.”

Meanwhile, in Evergreen Park, a suburb of Chicago, Wal-Mart was offered $5.25 million in sales tax incentives to complete construction of their store before the holiday season.

In Colorado, Wal-Mart “announced last week it would not be building a distribution center in Pueblo West after all.” The reason? “the company said county commissioners were taking too long to sign a tax abatement agreement.”

re: Wal-Mart Settling Ilegal Immigrant Case

2005-03-21T13:35:00.000-05:00

March 18, 2005

STATEMENT BY BRIAN M. MCLAUGHLIN
PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CITY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL/AFL-CIO
Re: WAL-MART SETTLING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CASE

NEW YORK -- Today’s $11 million settlement by Wal-Mart to settle long-running allegations that the retailer giant shamefully exploited illegal immigrants to clean their stores is yet another example of why New York City is better off without them. New York is a city of immigrants, and we know that exploiting ANY group of workers is an attack on the living standards of all workers. Wal-Mart preys on those who are working to make a better life for themselves and their families. Today, millions of immigrants in New York City are playing by the rules, fighting for good jobs, access to health care and rights on the job. We owe it to them to keep predator employers like Wal-Mart out of our immigrant-built city.

2005-03-20T19:38:00.000-05:00

Statement by Brian Mclaughlin
President of the New York City Central Labor Council/AFL-CIO

RE: Wal-Mart/RegoPark

The message to Wal-Mart today is simple: New York is one tough customer, and if you want to do business with us, you must clean up your act. Wal-Mart is a staunchly anti-union employer which has deployed ruthless intimidation tactics to suppress workers' rights to organize a union, while driving down wages and benefits in the retail industry and beyond. The Wal-Mart struggle in Rego Park was just the beginning of a very long battle towards an outcome everyone can afford.

Join the Coalition

2005-02-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

Sign up to receive updates on the fight to keep New York City Wal-Mart free. If you have a Yahoo account, you can subscribe by going to the Wal-Mart Free NYC Yahoo Group page and clicking on the "Join This Group!" button. If you do not have a Yahoo account, you can subscribe by sending a blank email to
WalMartFreeNYC-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Alternately, you can go here and complete the form to subscribe.

News and Articles

2005-02-10T14:11:00.000-05:00

As of June 21st, 2005, I have stopped posting these clippings because Wal-Mart Watch.com has started posting them as well, and duplicating their work would be wasted effort. So for all your Wal-Mart news, check out Wal-Mart Watch's Press Clippings page. You can also subscribe to their mailing list and they will email you the clippings daily.

June 2005
Whoa there, Wal-Mart
"Two new Wal-Mart stores in Arlington -- and two decidedly different reactions from the public.
There's been virtually no opposition to a new Wal-Mart under construction in north Arlington near Ameriquest Field. But a proposed superstore off Little Road in southwest Arlington has generated vitriolic resistance and a protest petition now containing more than 4,000 signatures. "No Wal-Mart" signs dot the neighborhood."
Star Telegram (June 21, 2005)

We will not close the Washington depot, Asda Wal-Mart says to UNI Commerce - but 315 workers may still have to go
"ASDA - the British subsidiary of Wal-Mart - say to UNI Commerce that they do not intend to close their depot in Washington. But over 300 workers may still lose their jobs, the company contends.
GMB, the union that represent the distribution centre workers says on its website that "there is a separate dispute at ASDA Washington (ADC) regarding the closure of a depot and the possible redundancy of over 300 jobs". "
UNI Commerce (June 21, 2005)

Wal-Mart tightens distribution to increase stock
"When it comes to increasing profits, the world’s biggest retailer is dwarfed by one big obstacle it can’t control: the economy. Wal-Mart finds itself in an environment where the price of doing business is rising, while the price of goods on its shelves is sinking."
Arkansas Democrat Gazette (June 21, 2005)

Wal-Mart.com hires eBay marketing chief
"Wal-Mart has appointed eBay chief marketing officer Carter Cast as president of its Wal-Mart.com online business. He will take up the role on July 5 and replaces John Fleming, who was promoted in April to executive vice-president and chief marketing officer."
Retail Week (June 20, 2005)

Wal-Mart workers in the UK take strike action on pay and conditions
"The workers in some of Wal-Mart's British distribution centres will go on strike over long running disputes on pay and employment conditions, and on the threatened closure of a depot that now employs 300 people. The first action is scheduled for 24 June, as a one day strike."
UNI Commerce (June 20, 2005)

Court to hear Wal-Mart's discrimination case in August
"A federal appeals court said Monday that it would hear an appeal Aug. 8 by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of a San Francisco judge's order approving class-action status for a sex-discrimination lawsuit representing as many as 1.6 million current and former women employees."
Mercury News (June 20, 2005)

Editorial: Wal-Mart's reach/Who pays for fringe benefits?
"In the waning days of the 2005 Legislature, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has declared war on Sen. Becky Lourey over a bill that would require public disclosure of big companies whose employees rely on state subsidized health insurance. We hope legislators find time in the special session to pass Lourey's bill, for Wal-Mart has taken the wrong position based on faulty premises."
The Star Tribune (Minnesota) (June 19, 2005)

Wal-Mart spent triple its Prop. 100 foes
" Wal-Mart contributed a total of $385,700 to the campaign to overturn a Flagstaff big-box limitation ordinance -- and $82,500 in the last few weeks before the election's end -- opening the door for the nation's largest retailer to locate one of its supercenters here."
Arizona Daily Sun (June 19, 2005)

Employees Begin Effort To Unionize Greeley Wal-Mart
"In an effort that has largely been unsuccessful at other Wal-Mart stores across the nation, a college student is helping lead an effort to unionize the west Greeley store.
Jared West, 21, and 14 other employees this week began collecting signatures to force a vote on whether to be represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local No. 7, which unsuccessfully tried to unionize a department at a Wal-Mart at nearby Loveland."
The Denver Channel (June 18, 2005)

Former Wal-Mart Worker Files Suit Over Firing
"A former Wal-Mart employee is suing the Bentonville company, claiming he was fired for reporting poor working conditions at the retailer's offices in Guatemala and Honduras.
James W. Lynn, of Searcy, filed the suit Friday in Benton County Circuit Court. Lynn worked as the retailer's global services manager in Costa Rica from 1993 until he was fired in 2002."
The Hometown Channel (June 18, 2005)

Connecticut Finds More Labor-Law Violations at Wal-Mart
"A state investigation found 11 violations of child labor laws at three Wal-Mart stores in Connecticut, including instances of teenagers illegally operating heavy machinery and working late into the evening, state officials said on Friday."
NY Times (June 18, 2005)

Wal-Mart workers want vote on union
"Fifteen employees at the west Greeley Wal-Mart hope to break the track record of failed union attempts at Wal-Mart.
The group is inviting the 300-plus employees who work at the store at 920 47th Ave. to join them and organize under the United Food and Commercial Workers Local No. 7, the union of choice for many Front Range grocery workers."
Greeley Tribune [Colorado (June 17, 2005)

Shopper alleges Wal-Mart racism
"Gayle Bryant expected to be relaxing inside her new home by midnight.
Instead, sobbing with humiliation and rage, she sat outside the Wal-Mart in Eagan. As police and onlookers lingered, Bryant made up her mind that nothing like this would happen again."
Pioneer Press (June 17, 2005)

The capitalist case against Wal-Mart
"Even disregarding traditionalist objections to Wal-Mart's role in eroding small business and Buchananite grousing about hiring illegal immigrants and contributing to the offshoring of manufacturing, libertarians can find reasons to suspect Wal-Mart does more harm than good.
Wal-Mart, it turns out, is no paragon of free-market virtue. The retailer benefits from eminent domain takings, special tax breaks, corporate welfare and all manner of subsidies - driving up taxes and eroding liberty."
Washington Examiner (June 16, 2005)

Labor launches newest campaign against Wal-Mart
"Attention all Wal-Mart shoppers.
The labor movement has launched a grassroots campaign targeting the nation’s giant retailer that is being conducted more like a political campaign.
“Make Wal-Mart Care About Health Care” is the name of the campaign, and June 23, June 25 and July 2 are the dates of the next big battle, when organizers hope to lay the ground work for the creation of strong local community coalitions in neighborhoods around Wal-Mart stores and proposed sites for stores."
Amsterdam News (June 16, 2005)

[German] Court Rules Against Parts of Wal-Mart Code
"FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - A labor court has ruled that parts of Wal-Mart's ethics code, including a ban on relationships between employees, violate German law, a court spokesman said Thursday."
MSN Money (June 16, 2005)

For Wal-Mart, it's 39 and counting in New Jersey
"ROCKAWAY - Wal-Mart opened its 39th New Jersey store Wednesday, and executives said the state, particularly the northern half, remains a prime growth target.

"There's so much potential here," said Margaret Daniel, regional vice president for the retail giant, adding that the nation's most densely populated state can support stores in relatively close proximity, as shoppers look to avoid traffic."
North Jersey News (June 16, 2005)

Wal-Mart loses in first round
"For a few seconds after the final vote was announced, the residents of Brighton Bay sat in stunned silence.
Then the chamber at City Hall erupted into cheers.
"I don't believe it!" shouted one man.
"Oh my God!" a woman yelled.
"Power to the people!" a man screamed.
After more than nine hours of debate, the unthinkable had happened.
What was supposed to be a routine site review for a new Wal-Mart supercenter at 10490 Gandy Blvd. turned into a major defeat for the retail giant when the Environmental Development Commission rejected its plan 5-2."
St. Petersburg Times (June 16, 2005)

Wal-Mart workers want class action
"Lawyers representing hourly employees at Wal-Mart stores in Kentucky have asked a judge to grant class-action status to their lawsuit alleging that the retail giant didn't allow them break periods and didn't pay them for work they performed while off the clock."
Cincinatti Enquirer (June 14, 2005)

Westly presses Wal-Mart
"State Controller Steve Westly on Monday urged Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to create a committee of independent directors to review legal and regulatory controls at the world's largest retailer."
Sacramento Bee (June 14, 2005)

Wal-Mart workers on state health plans
"I have stayed out of the Wal-Mart wars, but my blinders were ripped off when I happened upon a story developing in Minnesota, where state lawmakers are trying to find out just who among the working poor are turning to Medicaid and other state health programs for insurance.
Wal-Mart, it turns out, doesn't want the people's representatives to find out what the people are paying for.
Miami Herald (June 11, 2005)

Wal-Mart Rescinds Exec's Retirement Deal
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. disclosed late Friday that it was rescinding the retirement agreement for its former vice chairman, Tom Coughlin, who resigned from the board in March amid allegations of improper spending. The move will cause him to forfeit millions of dollars in benefits."
Newsday (June 11, 2005)

Analyst points to good, bad of ‘big-box retail’ in the Valley
""Big-box" retail is, "symbolic of all that people think is wrong with America," a local industry expert said Thursday."
East Valley Tribune (June 10, 2005)

Wal-Mart: We Did What?
"It wasn't more than a week ago that fellow Fool Stephen Simpson pondered whether Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) deserved to be hated. I'll admit that I never had a strong opinion on the subject till this morning. That's when I learned that a company PR manager authorized an ad comparing those standing in the way of the retailer's expansion in suburban Arizona to -- wait for it -- the oppressive censorship of the Nazi regime."
Motley Fool (June 10, 2005)

Wal-Mart PR manager out after Nazi ad
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday its public relations manager for Arizona and Southern California had resigned. The resignation came two weeks after the retailer was forced to apologize for an Arizona newspaper advertisement showing a photograph of a Nazi book-burning."
CNN Money (June 10, 2005)

Wal-Mart ordered to pay $188,000 in job dispute
"A state civil rights agency says Wal-Mart must pay at least $188,000 for refusing to reinstate a manager at its Antioch store after pregnancy leave."
San Francisco Gate (June 10, 2005)

Wake up, Wal-Mart!
"As part of the nationwide Wake Up Wal-Mart campaign, the United Food and Commercial Workers, along with the Texas AFL-CIO, the Austin Central Labor Council, Interfaith Worker Justice, and the Congregational Church of Austin held a state Capitol press conference last Wednesday addressing the big-box retailer's poor record of providing affordable health care to its employees."
Austin Chronicle (June 10, 2005)

Wal-Mart's Ariz. PR Executive Resigns
"The Wal-Mart community affairs director for Arizona and Southern California, whose office approved an advertisement that appeared to equate a local zoning proposal with Nazi book-burning, has resigned, the giant retailer said."
Washington Post (June 9, 2005)

Attorney says Bowen is no whistle-blower
"Wal-Mart executives met Wednesday with Eugene Scalia, the attorney who will defend the company in a legal battle against self-proclaimed whistle-blower Jared Bowen, a former vice president the company fired in April."
Arkansas Democrat Gazette (June 9, 2005)

Avoid Wal-Mart in back-to-school shopping
NYSUT is showing solidarity by urging members to avoid Wal-Mart in shopping for back-to-school items in August.
"If teachers partnered with us and didn't buy their back-to-school supplies at Wal-Mart, the impact could be huge," said Paul Blank, director of the Wake-Up Wal-Mart campaign, organized by United Food and Commercial Workers International. "Teachers are great deliverers of this message."
NY State United Teachers (June 9, 2005)

Wal-Mart hires lobbyist to lead DC office
"Looking to expand its federal presence, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., has hired the chief lobbyist for the National Restaurant Association to lead its growing lobbying team in the nation's capital.
The Bentonville-based retail giant has tapped Lee Culpepper, a 12-year veteran of promoting restaurant industry interests among Washington leaders."
Arkansas news Bureau (June 8, 2005)

Wal-Mart CEO says 5-year plan simple: Grow more
"During a recent speech in Chicago, the chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. painted a mind-boggling picture of the long-term growth potential of his $285 billion company.
Wal-Mart, Scott noted, has U.S. market share of only about 10 percent; in contrast, European retailer Tesco, he said, has 30 percent of the United Kingdom's food market alone."
Chicago Tribune (June 7, 2005)

Wal-Mart Stingy on Health Benefits, Say Activists
"Wal-Mart is getting mad, and maybe a little paranoid.
In a desperate effort to revamp its image as the big corporate monopoly that pays low wages, few benefits, discriminates against its women employees, forces small businesses to close, and contributes to urban and suburban sprawl, the retail giant has gone on a public relations blitz."
Political Affairs Magazine (June 6, 2005)

Sierra Club making stand vs. Wal-Mart
"The Sierra Club says Monroe residents should be afraid of Wal-Mart and should fight a proposed supercenter here."
Monroe Times (June 6, 2005)

Wal-Mart boss: 'We have problems'
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Chief Executive Lee Scott said the world's largest retailer needs to lure more higher-income consumers with products like organic food and 400 thread-count sheets to improve sales."
Chicago Tribune (June 4, 2005)

Holders Hear Wal-Mart Defy Critics
"(AP) - Wal-Mart Stores used its annual shareholders' meeting Friday to try to convince two divergent groups - the company's social critics and Wall Street - that it was on the right path."
NYTimes (June 4, 2005)

Wal-Mart's New Realm: Reality TV
"Wal-Mart, seeking additional ways to burnish its tarnished image, is turning to a new realm: reality TV. For the first time, Wal-Mart Stores is becoming a major sponsor of a reality television show, by signing a branded-entertainment agreement with ABC for "The Scholar," a summer series that begins a six-week run on Monday night."
NYTimes (June 3, 2005)

Wal-Mart annual meeting rejects shareholder initiatives
"- A feminist leader drew rounds of applause from Wal-Mart shareholders Friday as she chided company managers for having only two women on its 14-member board. In the end, though, the shareholders rejected the initiatives she backed."
Canada.com (June 3, 2005)

Tense annual meeting awaits Wal-Mart
"Tampa Bay area squabbles over Wal-Marts trying to spring up on St. Petersburg's Gandy Boulevard, in Tarpon Springs or in Tampa's Ybor City may seem distant and petty today in Arkansas."
St. Petersburg Times (June 3, 2005)

Wal-Mart urged to 'clean up act'
"Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has been urged by some of its own shareholders to clean up its act.
It follows a series of embarrassing incidents such as its recent fine for employing illegal immigrants and a class action sex discrimination suit."
BBC News (June 3, 2005)

Phone campaign strikes nerve with Wal-Mart
"Walmart-Watch.com and its parent nonprofit organization, the Center for Community and Corporate Ethics, struck a nerve within Wal-Mart when the group launched an automated phone message campaign in the backyard of the Bentonville-based company on Monday."
Benton County Daily Record (June 3, 2005)

Wal-Mart Opponents To Express Criticism During Annual Shareholders' Meeting
"Wal-Mart's shareholders' meeting will place Friday and will be used by its opponents to criticize the company's policies on health benefits and wages. On Wednesday, opposition group Wakeup Wal-mart asked states to adopt legislation requiring the retailer to provide more affordable healthcare to its employees."
All Headline News (June 2, 2005)

Wal-Mart, opponents still in war of words
"The war of words between Wal-Mart and the company’s opponents reached a high-pitched crescendo Wednesday."
Benton County Daily Record (June 2, 2005)

Anti-Wal-Mart Campaigns Heat Up
"While Wal-Mart people join in the company cheer that starts "Give me a W, give me an A," at Friday's shareholders meeting in Fayetteville, outside groups who chant "Give us a different Wal-Mart" are stepping up their campaigns to change the way the Bentonville-based company does business."
Springdale Morning News (June 2, 2005)

Turning Up the Heat on Wal-Mart
"With its stock gone flat and bad publicity in virtually every news cycle Wal-Mart is feeling pretty defensive these days. Among recent company missteps are fines and monetary settlements for hiring illegal immigrants and allowing underage employees to operate heavy machinery."
Alternet (June 2, 2005)

'Rev. Billy' visits Wal-Mart to conduct colorful protest
" Traveling New York City performance artists who demonstrate against large corporations swooped down on Vallejo's Wal-Mart on Wednesday to bolster local efforts to keep the company from growing in Solano County."
Times Herald Online (June 2, 2005)

Wal-Mart fights union health 'smear'
"The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) is backing a campaign called 'Wake Up Wal-Mart'. At a series of press conferences in US states, speakers raised concerns about Wal-Mart's health care plan. The issue of health insurance is an emotive one in the US, where access to even basic health care can depend on ability to pay."
Retail Bulletin (June 2, 2005)

Wal-Mart Fighting MN Health Care Bill
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is fighting legislation that would let Minnesotans know how many of its workers are on public health care assistance in this state."
CBS 4 Minneapolis (June 2, 2005)

Wal-Mart Health Care Protests Draw Headlines Across the Nation:
Critics say Wal-Mart stingy on health care (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Union protests at Arkansas Capitol seek better Wal-Mart benefits (AP)
Wal-Mart Rally (NBC15, WI)
Critics Push Wal-Mart On Health Coverage (Tampa Tribune)
Wal-Mart critics attack retailer's health care coverage (Phoenix Business Journal)

May 2005

Lee Scott's Shiny Green Lexus
"Suppose you run one of the most environmentally offensive companies on the planet. Would you then expect people to be impressed that you drive an eco-friendly car?"
The Nation Online (May 31, 2005)

Union says Dominick's arbitrarily ending day-to-day contract
Warehouse workers and drivers at Safeway-owned Dominick's were told this week the grocer will end the day-to-day Teamsters union contract extension they've operated under, according to a union source.
Chicago Sun Times(May 27, 2005)

Acquiring the Wal-Mart: A Mission Impossible
"Recently some Chinese experts have put forward an idea that Chinese enterprises could become Wal-Mart's shareholder by strategically purchasing its stocks and by this way setting up a most facilitative channel for Chinese commodity". This suggestion immediately incurred strong oppositions."
China Economic Net (May 27, 2005)

Is Wal-Mart what the doctor prescribes?
"THAT the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, met Mr John Menzer, President of Wal-Mart, once again created a frenzy in the pink papers and in the business pages of national dailies. Not since Mr Kenneth Lay and Ms Rebecca Mark came calling to sell Enron's plans to lead India out of darkness have we seen such excitement."
The Hindu Business Line (India) (May 27, 2005)

U.S. threat to get tough with China could imperil retail bargains
"Lou Ann Holderness shops at Wal-Mart for the low prices. Like millions of Americans, she's indifferent to accusations that China manipulates its currency to make Chinese-made goods sold by U.S. retailers artificially cheap."
Kansas City Star (May 26, 2005)

Wal-Mart shareholders meeting to draw protesters
"For a meeting of shareholders, Wal-Mart’s annual gathering of stockholders is anything but staid. The festive event becomes even more colorful when the announcements of protest are made with a week left before the meeting. "
Benton County Daily Record (May 26, 2005)

Worker wins injury appeal against Wal-Mart
"The widow of a Batesville Wal-Mart stock worker won an appeal of his workers' compensation claim on Wednesday."
Arkansas News Bureau (May 26, 2005)

Wal-Mart to cooperate with Labor Department
"Wal-Mart today stood by its claim that a former executive was fired over an alleged scheme to defraud the company."
KLTV(May 26, 2005)

State should stop subsidizing Wal-Mart
"Big box stores like Wal-Mart cost us all in lots of ways: more traffic, water pollution, flooding and fewer family-supporting jobs. But one thing really hits in the checkbook - higher taxes to subsidize their health insurance."
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (May 25, 2005)

Wal-Mart and wage bills: Great Depression revisited
"For all its waste and corruption, the big government that some deplore is still the greatest safeguard between most Americans and another Great Depression."
Baltimore Messenger(May 25, 2005)

Fired Wal-Mart VP Files Complaint Against Company
"A former Wal-Mart executive filed a complaint against the giant retailer with the U.S. Labor Department on Tuesday, accusing the company of violating federal whistleblower laws when it fired him in March."
The Hometown Channel (May 25, 2005)

BadgerCare Covers Employees At State's Biggest Companies
"The biggest employer of those receiving BadgerCare is Wal-Mart. It has more than 1,200 employees and dependents enrolled in the program."
The Milwaukee Channel (May 24, 2005)

Former Wal-Mart exec files complaint
"Jared Bowen, a former vice president for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., provided information about a scheme allegedly hatched by one of the company's executives, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Wal-Mart asked Chairman Thomas Coughlin to step down after investigating him for defrauding the company of as much as $500,000 through expense-account abuses and false invoices, said the Journal."
CNN Money (May 24, 2005)

Religious investors ask Wal-Mart to review social, economic policies
"A group of religious orders and other investors is asking the retail giant Wal-Mart to assess the company's policies and practices in light of their "social, environmental and economic sustainability."
Catholic News Service (May 24, 2005)

Wal-Mart Goes To Washington To Win Friends On Capitol Hill
"There are no Wal-Marts (WMT) in Washington, D.C. But that doesn't mean Wal-Mart employees aren't hard at work there.
The world's No. 1 retailer is expanding its Capitol Hill lobbying operation. Once all but invisible in Washington, Wal-Mart is slowly emerging as a D.C. player."
Investors Business Daily (May 24, 2005)

Developer pulls out of Wal-Mart project to avoid conflict of interest
The husband of the Staten Island Advance's publisher has withdrawn from a partnership negotiating to bring a Wal-Mart store to an industrial brownfield in Richmond Valley.
Staten Island Advance (May 20, 2005)

Maryland Governor Vetoes Wal-Mart Bill
Gov. Robert Ehrlich vetoed a bill aimed at making Wal-Mart pay higher health care benefits or contribute more to Medicaid and said the measure threatened the economic health of the community.
LA Times (May 20, 2005)

Wal-Mart struggles with deeper problems
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is facing a new reality: Its customers want more than just the lowest price."
MSNBC (AP) (May 19, 2005)

Group seeks scrutiny of 'big box' stores
"A group opposed to a planned Wal-Mart supercenter in southeast Gresham is proposing an ordinance that the city could use to scrutinize future "big box" retailers."
Oregonian (May 18, 2005)

Wal-Mart Gets One Right... Maybe
"Wal-Mart's biggest problem these days is bad PR: alleged immigrations violations with its cleaning crews, the perception of low wages, and, of course, the old "putting Mom and Pop out of business" bugaboo."
Motley Fool (May 18, 2005)

Poker T-shirt maker fights Wal-Mart
"John Carlton, proprietor of Kansas City's Ace Kicker Tees, said Wednesday that he will not allow Wal-Mart Stores to offer its poker-themed shirts, citing the retailer's history of censorship for his decision."
CNN Money (May 18, 2005)

Time To Hold Wal-Mart Accountable
"Poor Wal-Mart! On May 12, the retailer announced disappointing quarterly earnings, admitting that next quarter would probably fall below analysts' expectations as well. As a result, Wal-Mart's stock took yet another hit."
The Nation (May 18, 2005)

Editorial | A good example of a bad system
"With fewer Americans covered by health care at their workplace, the legions of Wal-Mart workers in their blue, "How May I Help You?" vests are on the cutting edge of an unsettling trend."
Philadelphia Inquirer (May 18, 2005)

Anti-Wal-Mart coalition gains support from local group
"A citywide organization whose ultimate goal is to stop retail giant Wal-Mart from gaining a foothold in New York City found sympathetic ears on Staten Island last night."
Staten Island Advance (May 18, 2005)

Governor to veto Wal-Mart health bill
"Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. plans to veto a bill tomorrow that would force Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to pay more for its employees' health care, saying jobs could be at risk if the legislation becomes law."
Baltimore Sun (May 18, 2005)

Analysts Concerned Over Wal-Mart's Woes
"The recent negative publicity about Wal-Mart, its disappointing first-quarter earnings and a warning the second quarter report won't be any better has analysts grumbling."
Springdale Morning News (May 18, 2005)

Good for the 'Hood?
"Having built its base in rural areas in the 1960s and extending to suburban markets in the last two decades, Wal-Mart began approaching poor, urban neighborhoods most noticeably in 2003, when it tried to open a store in Inglewood, a poor city near Los Angeles."
Alternet (May 17, 2005)

Wal-Mart Drops Plan for Side-by-Side Calvert Stores
"Wal-Mart has abandoned plans for a controversial pair of side-by-side stores in Calvert County designed to skirt a local zoning ordinance limiting the size of big-box retail outlets."
Washington Post (May 17, 2005)

Wal-Mart to open 15 stores in China and export 18 bln usd of goods
"BEIJING (AFX) - US retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc said it will grow both its retail and export business in China this year, opening up to 15 stores and exporting 18 bln usd of goods from the country in 2005."
Forbes.com (May 17, 2005)

A City's Heart Misses a Beat
"A big-name billionaire has shelled out a king's ransom for the picture, and New Yorkers may finally realize what they've lost."
..."The buyer was Alice Walton, a Wal-Mart heir and an American art collector, who reportedly paid more than $35 million for "Kindred Spirits""
NYTimes (May 16, 2005)

D.C. Council members target big-box retail ban
"A week before hundreds of Washingtonians head to Las Vegas to tout retail opportunities in the region at the industry's biggest trade show, word of an anti-big box bill is raining on their parade."
i>Washington Business Journal (May 16, 2005)

Pa. to Wal-Mart: Pay up for health care
"Lawmakers introduce a bill to make the retailer cover the costs for more of its employees so the state won't have to foot the bill."
Philadelphia Inquirer (May 16, 2005)

Wal-Mart To Apologize For Ad in Newspaper
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said yesterday that it made a "terrible" mistake in approving a recent newspaper advertisement that equated a proposed Arizona zoning ordinance with Nazi book-burning."
Washington Post (May 14, 2005)

Wal-Mart stock and morale battered, woes pile up
[reuters] "Wal-Mart Stores Inc. shares are in a rut as a confluence of events including a weak profit forecast, a federal investigation into a former top executive and a stream of lawsuits have scared off investors."
Macon Daily (May 14, 2005)

Union members distribute fliers protesting plans for 2 local Wal-Marts
"A Queens resident who helped derail Wal-Mart's attempt to build a store in his borough joined union members and volunteers yesterday in protesting the big-boxer's plans to build on Staten Island."
Staten Island Advance (May 13, 2005)

Always Low Wages. Always.
"Last week Standard and Poor's, a bond rating agency, downgraded both Ford and General Motors bonds to junk status. That is, it sees a significant risk that the companies won't be able to pay their debts."
NYTimes (May 13, 2005)

Former employee files suit against Wal-Mart
"An Aberdeen man has filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart, claiming the retailer cheated him and other employees out of wages."
Aberdeen News (May 13, 2005)

U.S. lawmakers seek Wal-Mart pay data
"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats said on Thursday they have asked Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for its wage data so they can examine claims of pay and promotion discrimination against women by the company."
Reuters (May 12, 2005)

Fight the Big-Boxing of America
"Thanks to Nation reader Matt Lipsky for letting us know that the Neighborhood Retail Alliance, a member of the Wal-Mart Free NYC coalition, now has a website and a blog."
The Nation Blog: ActNow (May 12, 2005)

The Political Costs of Wal-Mart
"Playing towel boy to Wal-Mart may cost Edison, New Jersey, Mayor George Spadoro his job. In a local battle over a proposed Wal-Mart store, the Democratic mayor has alienated many residents by taking the company's side."
The Nation (May 11, 2005)

Wal-Mart and Costco (2 Letters)
letters about "Choosing Sides Over $9.68 an Hour."
NYTimes (May 11, 2005)

Wal-Mart crushes union by closing store
"Starting the first Wal-Mart employees' union in North America seemed a good idea at the time to Sylvie Lavoie. The American retailing giant, with its $10bn £5.3bn) annual profit, had set up shop in Jonquiere, a pretty little Canadian town in northern Quebec."
The Independent (May 11, 2005)

Wal-Mart makes an easy Target
One chain is a fun retailer of discount chic with bouncy theme music. The other is an evil empire, an abuser of workers and an eater of small businesses. New Yorkers have responded to Target and Wal-Mart in starkly different ways.
Crain's (May 09, 2005)

Teaching Wal-Mart New Tricks
"WAL-MART'S chief financial officer, Thomas Schoewe, had just returned from a trip to Wall Street, and was still shaking his head about a question analysts there had directed at him. "They kept asking me if Lee Scott didn't know what Tom Coughlin was up to," he said."
NYTimes (May 08, 2005)

Down and out at Wal-Mart
"The floor tile in the bakery had recently been pulled up and the gap left under the door had caused ice to form outside the freezer. Baca managed to catch herself with her arms, but she "tweaked" her back in the process.
Pregnancy is the reason your back hurts, not the fall, Baca said she was told by Wal-Mart officials when she reported the injury for Workers Compensation."
Arizona Daily Sun (May 08, 2005)

States and Employers Duel Over Health Care
"The relentless rise in health care costs is causing states and businesses to fight over whose job it is to insure workers. And nearly two dozen states, struggling with the growing burden of providing public assistance to people with jobs but no insurance, are looking to shift more of the financial burden onto the workers' employers."
NYTimes (May 06, 2005)

Is Union-busting Bad for Business?
"Last Friday Wal-Mart shuttered its first unionized North American store, in Jonquière, Quebec."
The Nation (May 5, 2005)

Wal-Mart paying visit to India
"The international president of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, is scheduled to visit India next week amid signs the government may soon lift a ban on foreign investment in the retail industry."
CNN Money (May 05, 2005)

Activists say not to buy mom's gift at Wal-Mart
"Wal-Mart Store shoppers are likely to see protesters with placards saying "Love mom, not Wal-Mart" in front of a supercenter in Ohio this week."
Houston Chronicle (May 04, 2005)

Wal-Mart Donation to Ehrlich Targeted
"A group formed to monitor Wal-Mart's business practices is calling on Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to return a $4,000 political donation from the retailing giant as well as proceeds from a $1,000-per-person fundraiser the company held for Ehrlich in December."
Washington Post (May 04, 2005)

Wal-Mart’s Domain Name Battles
"A recent decision by the WIPO Arbitration Center took the domain name walmartfacts.biz away from Jeff Milchen, a self-described Wal-Mart critic."
Between the Lines (ZDNet Blog) (May 4, 2005)

Unions Target Wal-Mart
"People shopping at the Kenaston Wal-Mart store this weekend will be greeted by union supporters passing out information about the chain's "anti-union business practices."
Winnipeg Sun (May 04, 2005)

Quebec labour relations commission begins hearing Wal-Mart complaint
Canadian Press (May 04, 2005)

Teachers helped union, Wal-Mart charges
"Wal-Mart Canada has filed complaints with the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner and the B.C. College of Teachers, alleging that union organizers received from teachers the names of students working at the company's Terrace store."
Globe and Mail (May 04, 2005)

Can't Wal-Mart, a Retail Behemoth, Pay More?
"With most of Wal-Mart's workers earning less than $19,000 a year, a number of community groups and lawmakers have recently teamed up with labor unions in mounting an intensive campaign aimed at prodding Wal-Mart into paying its 1.3 million employees higher wages."
NYTImes (May 04, 2005)

Wal-Mart CEO to visit India on retail FDI buzz
"NEW DELHI: The recent buzz over the opening up of retail to foreign direct investment has drawn Wal-Mart International president and CEO John B Menzer to India."
India Times (May 03, 2005)

Massive Strike at Chinese Walmart Factory
"Over 10,000 workers of the Japanese-invested Uniden Electronics factory in Fuyong Town, Shenzhen, have been staging a massive strike action since 17 April 2005 in an effort to win the right to set up their own trade union in the factory. To China Labour Bulletin's knowledge, this is the first time Chinese workers have ever staged a strike specifically in order to form a trade union."
NoSweat (May 03, 2005)

Residents muster up to fight Wal-Mart
"As they ready their slingshots to fight the nation's largest retail giant, the residents of Brighton Bay are a bit hush hush about their strategy."
St. Petersburg Times (May 03, 2005)

April 2005

Wal-Mart Denies Bowen's Whistle-Blowing Claim
"In a classic case of he said-she said, Wal-Mart said Friday that Jared Bowen is not the employee who informed on former Vice Chairman Tom Coughlin, and the woman who did is still working for the company."
THe Morning News (April 30, 2005)

Wal-Mart Supercenters offers low prices -at what cost
"As Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has grown into the nation's biggest grocer, St. Louis is one place where its Supercenters have been curiously scarce. Now, Wal-Mart says the area needs more of its grocery megastores."
St. Louis Today (April 30, 2005)

Wal-Mart Store Closing Chills Union Drive in 25 Canada Outlets
" Wal-Mart's closing of its first unionized store in North America and the firing almost 200 workers has set back the United Food and Commercial Workers union drive in Canada. Many workers in the at least 25 other stores which the union is trying to organize fear they too will lose their jobs if they support the UFCW."
Bloomberg (April 29, 2005)

Wal-Mart Jobs Come With a Big Price Tag
When Wal-Mart comes to town, everybody pays – and not just the Wal-Mart shopper. Every taxpaying citizen of the community pays in one way or another.

Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (April 29, 2005)

Bowen Asks For Government's Help
"The attorney for Jared Bowen, who says he was fired by Wal-Mart for blowing the whistle on former Vice Chairman Tom Coughlin, said Wednesday he is asking the U.S. attorney's office to determine whether Wal-Mart violated a government mandate to protect whistleblowers."
Morning News (April 28, 2005)

New Wal-Mart Exec Says Turnover Won't Affect Operations
Springdale Morning News (April 20, 2005)

Wal-Mart, developer outspent cap supporter by 10-to-1 margin
Rutland Herald (April 20, 2005)

Wal-Mart: the $288 billion welfare queen
"Wal-Mart is the sort of company for which superlatives were invented. Just named the number-one corporation on the Fortune 500 list for the fourth year in a row, the country's largest private employer pulled down roughly $288 billion in revenue last year - and over $10 billion in pure profit."
Tallahassee Democrat (April 19, 2005)

Wal-Mart is a Success For All the Right Reasons
Kansas City Star (April 19, 2005)

Wal-Mart's Pay Gap
"CEO Compensation 871 times as high as U.S. Wal-Mart Workers, 50,000 times as much as Chinese Workers"
Political Affairs Magazine (April 19, 2005)

Anti-Wal-Mart billboard at ferry rejected
An anti-Wal-Mart billboard intended to be displayed near the St. George Ferry Terminal may has been shelved, at least temporarily, because the media company that owns the advertising space finds the image and message inflammatory.
Staten Island Advance (April 19, 2005)

Deal shifts burden of policing work force
Silicon Valley Biz Journal (April 18, 2005)

A Wal-Mart discount for investors?
"Its stock is stagnant, its public image tarnished by legal and union woes. What's exciting analysts?"
CNN/Money (April 18, 2005)

Maryland making headlines for 'anti-business' legislation
MSNBC (April 17, 2005)

More Villain Than Victim
USA Today (April 17, 2005)

Goliath Fell, So Expect Wal-Mart to Teeter at Least
Boston Globe (April 17, 2005)

Reports Blast 'Double-Dipping' by Wal-Mart
MSNBC (April 17, 2005)

Medicaid providing health care for kids of working familes
Alabama's Mobile Register (April 17, 2005)

Opinion: Corporate Welfare
Florida's St. Petersburg Times (April 17, 2005)

Sweet Victory: Maryland Stands Up To Wal-Mart
The Nation (April 15, 2005)

Howard Dean should visit a Wal-Mart
I'll let this nonsensical editorial attack on the Democratic Party speak for itself.
"The Maryland fiasco is the latest by the party and its interest groups -- unions, feminists, blacks and environmentalists, etc. --to demonize the giant firm."
Orlando Sentinel (April 15, 2005)

Maryland becomes test site for Wal-Mart strategy
"The groundbreaking legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly this month requiring Wal-Mart to pay more of its workers' health care costs is the first victory in a nationwide effort by the Service Employees International Union to change the retail giant's labor practices."
Baltimore Sun (April 14, 2005)

Union Files Complaint Against Wal-Mart
The UFCW "...has filed a complaint against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , asking the National Labor Relations Board to investigate whether the retailer "bribed" employees to block union activities."
Reuters (April 13, 2005)

Corporate Welfare Scandal Hits Wal-Mart
An analysis of the federal highway bill which allocates $37 million to expand the road to Wal-Mart's HQ in Bentonville.
The Progress Report (April 12, 2005)

Union, lawyers seek evidence from Wal-Mart
The UFCW and Thomas Coughlin's lawyers are both seeking documents from Wal-Mart that would prove that Coughlin used the disputed funds to pay for anti-union activities.
Arkansas Democrat Gazette (April 12, 2005)

Wal-Mart Handled Investigation of Former Executive by the Book
LATimes (April 11, 2005)

Assembly Passes Bill Affecting Only Wal-Mart
Washington Post (April 10)

Wal-Mart Doesn't Belong in a Place Like Staten Island
Staten Island Advance (April 10, 2005)

Right Problem, Wrong Solution
Editorial The Washington Post doesn't believe Wal-Mart is to blame for their unaffordable health insurance, it's the uninsured Americans themselves who are at fault.
Washington Post (April 10, 2005)

Good Wal-Mart, bad Wal-Mart: Retail giant hopes to combat rash of negative publicity
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (April 10, 2005)

Wal-Mart should aim higher on employee pay, benefits
"Wal-Mart ought to raise its expectations a bit.
Last week, its top executive told reporters that Wal-Mart couldn't be a trendsetter on pay and benefits, that it couldn't be like General Motors was after World War II, helping to usher in the great American middle class. What a cop-out."
Star-Telegram (April 10, 2005)

Behind Closed Doors at the Wal-Mart Media Conference
An analysis from an attendee Democratic Undeground (April 9, 2005)

Union Seeks Wal-Mart Files About Payment
NYTimes (April 9, 2005)

Coughlin Says Cash Helped Wal-Mart
Washington Post (April 9, 2005)

Wal-Mart's 'meet-and-greet:'
"Don't hide behind all this malarkey!" -Lee Scott
CNN Money
NYTimes (April 6, 2005)

Wal-Mart employee fired late last week
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. fired another employee late last week in connection with the internal investigation that has accused former Vice Chairman Thomas Coughlin of misspending as much as $500,000 in company money." Arkansas Democrat Gazette (April 5, 2005)

Labor slaps Wal-Mart ahead of media fest
"Critics slam pay, benefits and business practices as No. 1 retailer gears up for press event." CNN Money (April 5, 2005)
Related: Wal-Mart's Critics Weigh in as Retailer Welcomes Media Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (April 5, 2005)

A makeover for Wal-Mart?
"the world's largest retailer is holding its first-ever meet-and-greet with the media at its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark." CNN Money (April 4, 2005)

How Wal-Mart was told 'no sale'
"Someday there will be a Wal-Mart in one of the five boroughs. It's inevitable. But there won't be one in Rego Park where Queens Boulevard meets the Long Island Expressway. At least not now. And there likely won't be one in a nearby district that is under the watch of state Assemb. Brian McLaughlin." While I would dispute the inevitability of a Wal-Mart in New York City, this is otherwise a fine article. Newsday (April 3, 2005)

Opponents of Wal-Mart to Coordinate Efforts
NYTimes article detailing the growing coalition that opposes Wal-Mart. (April 3, 2005)

March 2005
Wal-Mart's business practices are at heart of opposition
Diane Savino explains to the Staten Island Advance why she opposes a Staten Island Wal-Mart. (March 30, 2005)

Support Fair Wages, Oppose Wal-Mart
Letters to the editor at the Staten Island Advance explaining why the retail leviathan should be kept out of Staten Island. (March 30, 2005)

Wal-Mart closes store in Germany ignoring workers' protests
UNI Commerce (March 30, 2005)

Wal-Mart hit by 21 House Democrats over ABC TV news sponsorship
"An ABC morning news segment called "Only in America" should be sponsored by anyone but Wal-Mart, according to 21 Democrats in Congress who complained Tuesday about the company's relationship with it."
Newday (March 30, 2005)

200 university intellectuals join campaign against Wal-Mart
"Noam Chomsky, Roy Adams, Elaine Bernard among professors speaking out by signing international petition."
National Union of Public and General Employees (March 30, 2005)

Pulling Punches
"CEO Lee Scott went on the record to fight Wal-Mart's bad rep. But his PR effort hit the mat."
Fast Company Magazine (April 2005)

Lower prices, higher taxes
Washington County, PA. This article describes how the opening of a local Wal-Mart has led to a huge strain on the police force, which the Wal-Mart's management have been calling about once a day since the day the store opened.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (March 27, 2005)

Wal-Mart welfare
"Wal-Mart has more workers enrolled in the state Medicaid program - a medical insurance program for people living in and near poverty - than any employer in Florida. That's in addition to the millions of dollars in financial incentives Wal-Mart receives from state and local governments for creating jobs in the state."
St. Petersburg Times (March 27, 2005)

Wal-Mart Board Member Resigns After Investigation
(March 26, 2005)

Bill allots $37M for Wal-Mart HQ street
"The U.S. House has approved a federal highway bill that includes $37 million for widening and extending the Bentonville street that provides the main access to the headquarters of Wal-Mart Stores Inc." (March 25, 2005)

Latinas on frontlines of America’s low wages
Linda Chávez-Thompson, Executive Vice-President, AFL-CIO, writes about how Latinas get the short end of the Wal-Mart stick. Denver, Colorado's El Semanario (March 23, 2005)

Wal-Mart tax aid passes House Deadline for equipment tax breaks extended (Indiana)
More corporate welfare for Wal-Mart. Chronicle Tribune (March 23, 2005)

As Wal-Mart expands in Mexico, opposition grows
The Union-Tribune (March 22, 2005)

Retailer pays $11M for using illegals
Wal-Mart settles case with US Government. Newsday (March 21, 2005)

Wal-Mart Heads State Agency's List Of Employees On Welfare
Arkansas, Wal-Mart's home state, joins the ranks of Tennesee, Iowa, Alabama, Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Georgia, in finding Wal-Mart to be the employer with the most employees receiving public assistance.
The Morning News (March 17, 2005)

Sizing up Wal-Mart for impact on public
"More and more states want to know: What is Wal-Mart costing taxpayers?"
The Plain Dealer (March 17, 2005)

Labor board orders Wal-Mart hearing
"The National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday ordered a hearing into complaints that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. intimidated and bullied workers at a Colorado store into voting against union representation last month."
Kansas City Star (March 16, 2005)

Race to the Bottom
By Liza Featherstone
Ms. Featherstone discusses Wal-Mart's PR tactics, including their infiltration of community organizations and purchasing community support.
The Nation (March 16, 2005)

Mayoral hopeful Fields: Wal-Mart will have to sell itself
"Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields last night said she is open to the possibility of Wal-Mart's building stores in New York City, including on Staten Island, as long as the big-box retailer puts to rest concerns about its labor practices." Staten Island Advance (March 16, 2005)

Federal Appeals Court rules Wal-Mart broke labor laws
The Boston Globe reports on the latest NLRB violation by the retail giant. (March 15, 2005)
Read other NLRB decisions against Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Ethics Code Angers Germans
Deutche-Welle (March 15, 2005)

Would-be Wal-Mart Union Organizer Fasts to Protest Firing
News Standard (March 14, 2005)

Council speaker joins battle against Wal-Mart
Union that spearheaded effort to keep retailer out of Queens now battling Island plans. Staten Island Advance (March 12, 2005)

A nice place in New York still Wal-Mart's dream
Wal-Mart looking at other city sites... Houston Chronicle (March 12, 2005)

Governor passes the buck on Wal-Mart
"Pataki, on visit to St. George, says Island leaders should have main say in big-box brouhaha" Staten Island Advance (March 11, 2005)

For Labor, a Wal-Mart Store Closing in Canada Is a Call to Arms
NY Times (March 10, 2005)

Wal-Mart failed in its attempts to create a sweatshop on wheels
Uni-Commerce article on Wal-Mart's failed attempt to legalize a 16 hour workday for truckers. (March 10, 2005)

Officials in S.I. want Wal-Mart to set up shop
NY Daily News (March 8, 2005)

Connecticut and Iowa join the growing list of states to document Wal-Mart's position as the employer with the most employees on state health care.
845 Wal-Mart employees on Medicaid in Iowa
Muscatine Journal (March 7, 2005)
Report Slams Benefit Policies
Hartford Courant (March 4, 2005)

Store wages vary at entry level, survey finds
" The discussion over worker salaries was triggered this week with the news that Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, is looking to open stores on Staten Island after being shut out of Queens by intense political and labor opposition." Staten Island Advance (March 4, 2005)

Wal-Mart and Island, a Perfect Fit?
The Staten Island Advance explores the ins and outs of the retail giant coming to Staten Island. (March 4, 2005)

Canadian Wal-Mart in 2nd Union Effort
"Workers at a Wal-Mart store in Windsor, Ontario, will try to form a union for a second time, union officials said Wednesday."
This would be the third unionized Wal-Mart in Canada, "but applications to certify 12 others are pending." NYTimes (March 3, 2005)
Related:
Wal-Mart union tussle (Edmonton Sun)
Canadian union plots third Wal-Mart bid (Channel News Asia)

Wal-Mart has a target on its back
Edwardsville Intelligencer (March 2, 2005)

Wal-Mart eyeing 2 Island sites
After losing the battle for Queens, Wal-Mart looks towards Staten Island. Staten Island Advance (March 2, 2005)

February 2005
At a Small Shop in Colorado, Wal-Mart Beats a Union Once More
This article by the NYTimes details the methods used by Wal-Mart to disrupt the attempt to unionize one of their stores. (February 26, 2005)

Wal-Mart Told to End Intimidation in Canada
"Wal-Mart Canada was ordered by Quebec's labor relations board on Friday to stop intimidating workers at a store in the midst of an organizing drive." NYTimes (February 26, 2005)

Developer Drops Plan for City's First Wal-Mart

"Whatever eventually rises on this site in Rego Park, Queens, the city's first Wal-Mart will not be part of it."NYTimes (February 24, 2005)
Related:
Wal-Mart gets boot in Queens (NY Daily News)
Wal-Mart's a No-Go in Rego (NY Post)
Wal-Mart Halts Its Plan To Enter New York City (NY Sun)
No Wal-Mart in store (Newsday)
Talks break down for Queens Wal-mart (NY Newsday)
Developer Nixes Wal-Mart Plan For Queens (1010 WINS)
Wal-Mart can't shake its little town blues; NYC plan foiled(USA Today)

Wal-Mart's next battle: in the Big Apple
Christian Science Monitor (February 24, 2005)

Wal-Mart Loses $7.5 Million Discrimination Suit
Reuters (February 24, 2005)

Wal-Mart No. 1 in employee Medicaid
Alabama's Decatur Daily excerpt:
"Retail giant Wal-Mart tops the list of companies in Alabama whose employees have children on Medicaid, the Advertiser reported, citing state records. Wal-Mart workers' children account for 3,864 children on the Medicaid rolls at a cost between $5.8 million and $8.2 million." (February 23, 2005)

Wal-Mart invites the media home
CNN/Money article announcing a Wal-Mart media event scheduled for April 5th and 6th. (February 23, 2005)

Big Challenge For a Big Box
NYTimes Opinion piece detailing the fight Wal-Mart has on its hands if it wants to enter New York City. (February 20, 2005)

Academic community in the United States and Canada renounces Wal-Mart's violation of workers' rights
An open letter to Wal-Mart, signed by academics in the US, Canada, and the UK. February 18, 2005)

Labor has no friend in Wal-Mart
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution opinion piece. (February 18, 2005)

Wal-Mart threatens German trade unionists: Accept longer hours with less workers, or we close your store.
A UNI-Commerce article. (February 18, 2005)

Wal-Mart's Sweetheart Deal
TomPaine.Com reports on the special treatment Wal-Mart got in its settlement with the Department of Labor. (February 16, 2005)
Similiar articles:
Wal-Mart Settlement Under Fire (Hartford Courant)
Probing Child Labor at Wal-Mart (LA Times)
Blumenthal slams Wal-Mart settlement over child labor allegations (Newsday)

Suit filed against Wal-Mart for defective bicycles
Miami Herald (February 15, 2005)

Wal-Mart Seeks to Seal Documents in Lawsuit
Los Angeles Times (February 15, 2005)

Price Differences Vast At Different Wal-Marts
A Colorado CBS report details some of Wal-Mart's predatory pricing practices. (February 14, 2005)

Others eyeing Wal-Mart site in Rego Park
A Newsday article. (February 14, 2005)

Not Ready For Wal-Mart
A Gotham Gazette article on the many reasons New York doesn't want or need a Wal-Mart. (February 2005)

Keep Wal-Mart Out of the Neighborhood
A Newsday opinion piece. (February 14, 2005)

Asda and GMB clash over collective bargaining
Britain: Wal-Mart owned Asda wants the union to give up collective bargaining rights. The Guardian (February 12, 2005)

Wal-Mart Agrees to Pay Fine in Child Labor Cases
New York Times (February 12, 2005)

Council KOs Bronx big box (NY Daily News)
Council Committee Opposes a BJ's Store in the Bronx (NY Times)
Two articles on the council's decision about the proposed BJ's in the Bronx. (February 11, 2005)

Council looks to keep Wal-Mart out
An article in Newsday discussing the hearing on February 10th. (February 11, 2005)

Foes Dig In as Wal-Mart Aims for City
A NYTimes article on the fight to keep Wal-Mart out. (February 10, 2005)

Canadian Wal-Mart Seeking Union to Close
(Associated Press) Wal-Mart continues its union-busting campaign. (February 9, 2005)

Brian McLaughlin, NYS Assemblyman, and President NYC Central Labor Council speaks about the proposal to open a Wal-Mart in New York City on Workers Independent News (WIN). Go to "Browse Headline Archives" and click on the "February 7th" link to listen to this story. (February 7, 2005)

False Conciousness: Wal-Mart's New Offensive
An article in BrandWeek debunking Wal-Mart's latest PR offensive. (February 7, 2005)

January 2005
Wal-Mart's Cost Too High for Workers, Merchants
NY Daily News opinion piece By Bill Danio and Sung Soo Kim (January 25, 2005)

New Yorkers mobilize against Wal-Mart
An article in the People's Weekly World newspaper on the growing "Wal-Mart Free NYC Coalition." (January 22, 2005)

Superstores Come With Too High a Price
Mary Campbell Gallagher writes in Newsday about the negative impact of big-box retailers on New York. (January 6, 2005)

Building Bridges: Fighting Wal-Mart in N.Y.C. and Quebec
A downloadable radio program (WBAI 99.5) with guests Michael J. Fraser, Ntl. Dir. of UFCW Canada & Brian McLaughlin, NYS Assemblyman, & Pres. NYC Central Labor Council (January 5, 2005)

2004
Inside the Leviathan
An article in the New York Review of Books which discusses mainly the gender discrimination class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart. (December 16, 2004)

Wal-Mart: The Anatomy of a Bad Neighbor
Congressman Anthony Weiner's report on Wal-Mart's darker side. (December 16, 2004)

Down and Out in Discount America
An article from The Nation Detailing Wal-Mart's corporate crimes. (December 16, 2004)

New Jersey Considers Regional Impact Studies for Big-Box Stores
"Lawmakers in New Jersey have proposed legislation that would require communities to weigh the regional economic impact of proposed big-box stores before granting approval." (December 8, 2004)

The Multinational Monitor named Wal-Mart one of the top ten worst corporations of 2004. link (December 2004)

Wal-Mart to Pay $14.5 Million for California Gun Law Violations
A ConsumerAffair.Com article.
abstract:
"Wal-Mart will pay more than $14 million to settle charges that it committed thousands of violations of California state gun safety laws between 2000 and 2003, including selling ammunition to minors and selling firearms to convicted felons." (June 5, 2004)

Shopping For Subsidies: How Wal-Mart Uses Taxpayer Money to Finance Its Never-Ending Growth
A report by Good Jobs First. (May 2004)

Everyday Low Wages: The Hidden Price We All Pay For Wal-Mart
An extremely detailed report from Representative George Miller (D-CA). (February 16, 2004)

2003
The Wal-Mart You Don't Know
An article by Fast Company Magazine which explains how Wal-Mart causes manufacturers to search for ever-cheaper labor overseas. (December, 2003)

The Wal-Mart Effect
A series of articles by the LA Times. (November, 2003)

Wal-Mart: An Example of Why Workers Remain Uninsured and Underinsured
An AFL-CIO report. (October 2003)

Wal-Mart: Portrait of a Criminal

2005-02-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

Suit filed against Wal-Mart for defective bicycles
"I have nine individual plaintiffs from all over the country - who got these bicycles for birthdays or Christmas - who went over a bump and the wheel came off," Mark Webb, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "In each case, they reported it to Wal-Mart, and Wal-Mart continues to sell the product. These bikes are out there still being used by kids who don't know what they are riding."
Miami Herald (February 15, 2005)

Wal-Mart Seeks to Seal Documents in Lawsuit
"Lawyers for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, asked a judge in Oakland to expand the number of documents it can classify as trade secrets in a lawsuit over whether employees were denied meal and rest breaks."
Los Angeles Times (February 15, 2005)

Wal-Mart Agrees to Pay Fine in Child Labor Cases
"Wal-Mart Stores, the nation's largest retailer, has agreed to pay $135,540 to settle federal charges that it violated child labor laws in Connecticut, Arkansas and New Hampshire. Labor Department officials said most of the 24 violations covered by the settlement involved workers under age 18 operating dangerous machinery, including cardboard balers and chain saws. In the agreement, Wal-Mart denied any wrongdoing..."
New York Times (February 12, 2005)

U.S. Announces Major Clean Water Act Settlement With Retail Giant Wal-Mart (pdf)
"$3.1 Million Penalty Is Largest for Storm Water Violations at Construction Sites"
"The complaint filed against Wal-Mart cited violations at 24 sites in nine states and included allegations of failure to obtain a permit before starting construction, failure to develop a plan to control polluted runoff from the construction site, failure to adequately install sediment and erosion controls on the sites and failure to self-inspect sites and prevent discharges of sediments to sensitive ecosystems."
U.S. Department of Justice (May 12, 2004)

Complaint Against Wal-Mart
"the United States seeks civil penalties because the defendants failed to report a dangerous defect and unreasonable risk of injury in exercise equipment manufactured by Icon and distributed by Wal-Mart, Sam's East, and Sam's West..."

"Icon and Wal-Mart first began to receive information about user injuries related to the Weider and Weslo machines in the late summer of 1996. On July 26, 1996, Wal-Mart learned of an injury to a user of the Weider machine caused by the failure of the link-arm connecting the seat to the machine. This incident took place in a Wal-Mart store while the consumer was trying out the equipment, and resulted in a fractured tailbone and an injury to the consumer’s lower spine."

"As of December 10, 1999, Wal-Mart had been notified of at least 46 different incidents involving Weider or Weslo machines sold in its stores where the seat on the Weider or Weslo unexpectedly disconnected during use. At least 29 of these 46 incidents occurred in Wal-Mart stores while consumers were trying out the equipment. Incidents involving Weider or Weslo equipment sold by Wal-Mart have involved at least 41 injuries to consumers.
Neither Icon nor Wal-Mart reported to the CPSC to notify it of these incidents or the related injuries until after they received specific inquiries from the CPSC."

Cathy Fiscus v. Wal-Mart
The retail giant violates the Americans with Disabilities Act again, firing an "associate" who had been with them for 12 years.

"In September of 1999, Fiscus underwent a kidney transplant and was unable to work for five and a half months, until March 30, 2000. On March 15, 2000, Wal-Mart fired Fiscus because she had been unable to return to work within a year."

"Wal-Mart asserted that her kidney failure was not a covered disability, arguing that the inability to cleanse one’s own blood and eliminate body waste does not amount to the limitation of a major life activity..."
(October 2004)

Wal-Mart to Pay $14.5 Million for California Gun Law Violations
A ConsumerAffair.Com article.
abstract:
"Wal-Mart will pay more than $14 million to settle charges that it committed thousands of violations of California state gun safety laws between 2000 and 2003, including selling ammunition to minors and selling firearms to convicted felons." (June 5, 2004)

Wal-Mart to Pay $220,000 For Rejecting Pregnant Applicant, in EEOC Settlement (Civil Rights Act violation)
"According to the lawsuit, Ms. Stern was told by the Assistant Manager to 'come back after she had the baby,' after informing him that she was pregnant."
EEOC (December 2002)
More on this case from Lexis-Nexis:
When Stern asked when she could take her drug test, Ledbetter replied, "well, we won't be hiring you." Stern then asked why she would not be hired, to which Ledbetter responded, "well, because of conditions of your pregnancy."
...
Ledbetter told Stern, "well, you know, we're not going to hire you . . . . You're welcome back after you've had the baby, and you can have a job in June."