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DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
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Local Leaders Condemn Wal-Mart's "Profits Over People" Policies
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 3:13 PM
During this week of Thanksgiving and "Black Friday" -- the largest shopping day of the year, when many retailers finally go from debt (red) to profit (black) -- some leaders are calling on the most profitable retailer in America to be more generous with its employees.
Congressman Lacy Clay and Pastor James Morris yesterday called on Wal-Mart's CEO, Mr. Lee Scott, to give many of his roughly 1.4 million employees better pay and health benefits.
"By its own admission, nearly one out of every two children of Wal-Mart workers are either uninsured or on taxpayer-funded health care programs," said Morris.
Congressman Clay quoted a memo from a Wal-Mart executive that was leaked to the press: "Our critics are correct in some of their observations. Specifically, our coverage is expensive for low-income families, and Wal-Mart has a significant percentage of associates and their children on public assistance."
Clay was joined by Alderman Frank Williamson (26th Ward) and State Rep-elect Jamilah Nasheed. Nasheed said she would be boycotting the retailer this holiday season.
Tuesday's event was organized by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 and coincided with similar events in seven other cities across America as part of WakeUpWalMart.com's 2006 holiday campaign called "Hope for the Holidays."
Wal-Mart has for years resisted efforts to unionize its workforce. The company has maintained that it is a good employer and does everything it can to ensure prices are kept low for its millions of loyal customers.
Congressman Says He'll Take Wal-Mart's Money and Still Vote Against Them
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 2:41 PM
EXCLUSIVE PUB DEF VIDEO
At a press conference today meant to call attention to the working conditions of employees of Wal-Mart, America's largest private employer, Congressman Lacy Clay was asked about contributions he has accepted from the retailer.
At the conclusion of Clay's speech, which slammed Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott for his company's huge profits in the face of persistent poverty among his roughly 1.4 million employees, reporter Matt Sepic of local NPR affiliate KWMU asked Clay whether he would return nearly $7,000 in campaign donations from Wal-Mart's political action committee.
"Not at all," said Clay. "That's the name of the game is raising money. I have dues to pay to my Democratic Party, about $150,000 a year. So wherever I can get that money to pay those dues, I will take it."
Clay said even though he has accepted money from Wal-Mart, he has not voted how the company would have wanted him to on many issues in Congress.
"You have to have money to run effectively," said Clay. "I'm going to take all the money I can get."
Check back later for more exclusive video from today's press conference...
A tipster reports that Mary "One" Johnson's realty company is among six firms whose Better Business Bureau membership was revoted last month. Johnson is the vice chairman of City's Preservation Board and the star of numerous bus stop bench ads.
In a press release dated June 30, the BBB states "Mary One Johnson Home Team Realty, LLC was notified on numerous occasions between Jan. 19, 2006, and May 3, 2006, regarding a customer complaint. The firm did not respond to this complaint."
Other firms getting the boot include: All Phase Construction, of St. Charles; Bob Wright Building Co., LLC, of Hannibal; Earthshine, Inc., of Ballwin; Furry Tails Grooming, Inc., of St. Louis; and Roofs Plus, of Hazelwood.
School board member Peter Downs made a motion at tonight's administrative meeting to have the superintendent look at cancelling the district's contract with controversial maintenance contractor Sodexho.
By a vote of 4-2, the board voted to add to next week's regular board meeting agenda a resolution to ask Superintendent Creg Williams to come back to the board by September with a plan on how to bring the services currently being performed by Sodexho back in-house.
Voting against the motion were board members Robert Archibald and Ron Jackson. Joining Downs voting in favor were Donna Jones, Bill Purdy and board president Veronica O'Brien.
O'Brien voted against Down's original motion to have Williams come back to the board with a plan in one month. Williams said that he needed more time to review such a large contract.
Board member Flint Fowler left the meeting early and was not present at the time of the vote.
Latino-owned business along Cherokee Street in south St. Louis are closed today in recognition of the national "Day Without Immigrants" protest.
"We are tired of being treated like second-class citizens," said Carlos A. Dominguez, the owner of Latino Americana, a convenience store at the corner of California and Cherokee.
Several other shop owners have joined Dominguez by closing their doors today to draw attention to the economic impact of America's immigrants. Large demonstrations are expected across the country in cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Denver, and New York.
State Rep. Juanita Head Walton (D-81) will be hosting a free Credit Scoring Seminar next weekend at the University of Missouri St. Louis.
A poor credit score can cost people thousands of dollars in higher interest rates. "For African-Americans, the burden of these higher costs only serves to further fuel the wealth divide," said Walton.
Walton, who represents a section of north St. Louis County, is also the chair of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators' Business and Finance committee. That committee recently expressed support for the new unified credit scoring system announced by the three major credit reporting agencies.
The seminar will take place Saturday, April 22, on UMSL's campus, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
