Richardson to pressure Wal-Mart on pay, benefits
Posted 8/16/2006 07:41:00 AM
Gov. Bill Richardson is one of four potential Democratic presidential candidates who will be in According to the Associated Press,
The group is planning to visit 19 states in 35 days, according to the article, which was posted on the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Web site. The tour will be in
The group claims Wal-Mart’s low wages and poor benefits equal government subsidies, because its workers are eligible for programs that include Medicaid and food stamps. Wal-Mart disputes the claims.
Also participating in events in Iowa are that state’s governor, Tom Vilsack, Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del. Vilsack and Richardson will hold a town hall meeting Thursday in Waterloo, the Associated Press reported.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, also a Democrat, has participated in the group’s events in other states.
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Update, 9 a.m. According to the Albuquerque Journal,
Not so fast, says Wal-Mart, which told the Journal that it will share the truth with its workers because “We want to make sure they’re informed across
4 Comments:
It is not a secret that Wal-Mart pays their employees the lowest wages of any other similar size retailers! This has been something that has bugged advocates for many years and the reason why Chicago just passed a living wage ordinance to demand that these big box retailers pay at least $10 an hour to their employees.
Every quarter, Wal-Mart gets huge profits from its national and international chains, while more employees go on government assistance programs. What a shame!! And then we have politicos here in Las Cruces who believe that it's OK for poor people to continue making crap — like Mayor Bill Mattiace on an article by the Sun-News on July 30.
If more politicos like Richardson would start to put their foot down on these greedy corporations it would be a miracle.
I agree with the above commentor, but I think because of all the negative attention gets focused on Wal-Mart, many other stores, fast food establishments, and businesses who have exactly the same crappy policies get away without being scrutinized. How about Target, McDonald's, Sonic, etc. What are their records on employee starting pay, raises, hours/week necessary to qualify for medical insurance,etc.? Not much better.
We need to change the culture in this country of business making huge profits at the expense of low-wage workers and the American taxpayer. But that won't happen soon---we call it "free market capitalism".
Welcome back to the era of the Robber Barons, folks!
Big Bill how about spending some time and effort and helping us folks here in VADO- Its raining again..
How much campaign money has Three Dollar Bill received from Wal Mart
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