Long, Hot Summer for Wal-Mart

[Robbien]

The Nation -- Anti-Wal-Mart activism is pushing some Democrats to speak out against the company's exploitative practices. While Leslie Dach and many other Democratic operatives are collecting fat paychecks defending the retailer -- and Al Gore has been visiting Bentonville to offer environmental wisdom -- an increasing number of Democratic politicians are reaping political capital by attacking Wal-Mart. This will become more and more apparent as Wake Up Wal-Mart 's "Change Wal-Mart, Change America" (19-state and 35-city) bus tour-- which launched today in still Wal-Mart-free New York City-- winds its way through the nation. Former vice presidential hopeful
John Edwards will be participating, as will Howard Dean's brother Jim -- chair of Democracy for America -- and numerous other party folk.

In a moment of drama that everyone in Connecticut should check out, Bush paramour Joe Lieberman and his primary challenger for the Senate, insurgent preppy war opponent Ned Lamont, will appear together tomorrow at noon at an anti-Wal-Mart rally in Bridgeport (the bus tour's second stop). Ah, Wal-Mart, the great uniter!

. . .

In other Wal-Mart news, Chicago last week passed a law requiring big-box stores to pay a living wage -- at least $10 an hour, with benefits of at least $3. Other cities are looking closely at Chicago's bill and thinking about following the Windy City's example; perhaps people fighting at the local level can make the retail sector a decent source of employment for working people.

Check out, too, the intriguing cover storyin Fortune magazine, which details some of the genuinely good things Wal-Mart is doing for the environment, none of which would be happening without the grass-roots Wal-Mart reform movement, which has forced Wal-Mart to get serious about its image, and even take a few real steps toward better corporate citizenship. It's, of course, great that Lee Scott is finding his inner Ben Cohen, but the company should not be allowed to greenwash its way out of criticism over its abuse of workers -- nor over the ecological unsustainability of its whole business model, which has so far, been based on selling cheap, disposable crap and building on cheap land far from town centers. Still, because of Wal-Mart's scale, even its small gestures can have a huge impact, and are worth watching closely. Just to get a flavor of the conversations the Fortune article has sparked, read David Roberts on the Grist blog for some ecstatic praise and conversion, and, on BuyBlue.org, an indignant response to Roberts.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20060801/cm_thenation/15107427

[Sherman A1]

1. Good to hear!

That the issue of Wal Mart and it's policies stay in the mix. We all know even with their "green" movement, just how bad they really happen to be. This point needs regular reinforcement and hopefully will continue to get it, until they get it.

[Broken_Hero]

2. question....

"In other Wal-Mart news, Chicago last week passed a law requiring big-box stores to pay a living wage -- at least $10 an hour, with benefits of at least $3. Other cities are looking closely at Chicago's bill and thinking about following the Windy City's example; perhaps people fighting at the local level can make the retail sector a decent source of employment for working people."

So, are these same folks, going to push McDonalds, and fast food companies, and all the other industries to pay 10 bucks an hour? Or is this just a stab "only" at Walmart?


"nor over the ecological unsustainability of its whole business model, which has so far, been based on selling cheap, disposable crap and building on cheap land far from town centers."

I see Target, Costco, and other box stores, on land...is there land cheap? And if memory serves, Best Buy, Target, Dollars Stores, and almost any other store I see, sells the same "cheap disposable crap" that you are accusing walmart of selling....

[acmejack]

3. Why don't you direct that question to the Nation?

I am sure they will print it or something like it in the letters section. I think WalMart as China's biggest Corporate customer has a special place of responsibility and deserves the notoriety. They have compelled the pothers to follow suit in order to survive. Why are you so defensive of them, there is nothing about Walmart to love!

Not that there is much about the others you named that makes them any box of chocolates, either.

[Broken_Hero]

4. I didn't post the question to you

Good sir, it was directed to the OP...:) I do believe Walmart deserves the noteriety, but I do believe the blame can be spread further. I don't want to see organizations just "team up on walmart." If they only target walmart and not other box stores, than I see a hint of hyprocrisy.

I am defensive of walmart because all the accusations I see hurled at them, can also be said of a lot of other box stores, and companies. I just want these organizations who target walmart, to target all companies who do, partake in the same actions...:)

on edit:spelling, grammer, lots of stuff!...:)

[acmejack]

5. I fully agree with you!

All of those companies do deserve the jaundiced eye! Fast food has to be one of the most egregious abusers of our youngsters, I know those jobs nowadays with the advent of computer driven metric collection and analysis coupled with the bare minimum adequate staffing level ensures that they squeeze the maximum possible effort, er, "productivity" out of each individual for their measly $5.15. They have a lot of nerve to cry about a raise in the minimum raise and act like it will destroy them.

I hate the present exploitive atmosphere, it was admittedly always present, but it has been elevated to an art form in the last three decades. I place th blame on that "genius" Jack Welch. I worked at GE and saw him trans form that corporation from a great place to work, a place where people worked their entire life and retired, into a hire for the job, contract shop. He sold off every business that was not number one or two in it's sector. I took my job at GE because I was so impressed with the way they treated me and everyone there was smiling. The first time I met Welch after our best year ever, he told us we were overpaid, under worked and that there were too many of us. He was known as "Neutron" Jack, because when he left, only the buildings remained.

He started the layoff craze.

[Broken_Hero]

6. I think you and I are on the same

eye level on here, and I'm sorry about your layoff with GE. The workplace nowadays is very rocky, and its damn scary, when people who have the experience, or degree's, can't even find decent work. I'm in the boat, of having a degree, but can't find a job other than McD's, or some chicken plant...its nuts.