Local Leaders Condemn Wal-Mart’s “Profits Over People” Policies

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.

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