Wal-Mart elected "Grinch of the Year" for 2004 [View All]

http://www.jwj.org/updates/media/12-22-04Grinch.htm

Wal-Mart elected "Grinch of the Year" for 2004

Cintas and Comcast runners-up in national contest to determine who did the most harm to workers and their families this year.



washington, dc – The retailing giant Wal-Mart was named 'Grinch of the Year' in a national online poll held between December 6 and December 22 by Jobs with Justice.


Wal-Mart is a fitting recipient of the Grinch title. As the
United States' largest retailer and largest employer, Wal-Mart is a driving force in setting wage standards wherever its stores are located. Despite nearly $9 billion in profits, its wages are so low that many employees are eligible for food stamps. Even so, local taxpayers often finance Wal-Mart's expansion through tax breaks and development incentives.
Wal-Mart has created such high barriers to qualify for its health care benefits, that many workers are left dependent on publicly financed medical services, a largely hidden taxpayer subsidy. According to a research study in

California, Wal-Mart workers seek $86 million a year in state aid because of inadequate wages and benefits. In effect, Wal-mart cleverly shifts a portion of its labor costs to the public.
Earlier this year, Wal-Mart admitted that it routinely locked overnight workers in its stores. Wal-Mart was also sued this year in the largest sex-discrimination case in history, brought on behalf of about 1.6 million current and former employees.

Around the country, Jobs with Justice coalitions have been in the middle of many community-based campaigns calling attention to the impact of Wal-Mart by demanding agreements from this giant corporation to improve its hiring and employment practices. Local Jobs with Justice coalitions in Chicago, IL, St. Louis, MO, Buffalo and New Paltz, NY, Washington, DC, Eugene and Bend, OR, and Toledo, OH have held rallies and hearings on Wal-Mart, published reports about its potential impact on communities, and pushed for comprehensive 'Big Box' store ordinances to help communities gain more leverage in the development process.
"The overwhelming vote to name Wal-Mart 'Grinch of the Year' reflects the growing concern that working families have with this mega-corporation," said Fred Azcarate, Executive Director of Jobs with Justice. "Jobs with Justice and our many allies are building a movement to challenge Wal-Mart’s low road strategy." Over sixty percent of the more than 2,300 votes cast in this year's election were for Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart has more than 3,500 stores and 1.3 million employees. The company is based in Bentonville, Arkansas. Learn more about how Wal-Mart is harming working families at www.walmartwatch.com.
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