WP: Labor Department (child) Labor Deal With Wal-Mart Criticized

Labor Deal With Wal-Mart Criticized
Inspector General Cites 'Breakdowns'

By Amy Joyce
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 1, 2005; Page D03


Wal-Mart Stores Inc. received "significant concessions" from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division when the department and Wal-Mart signed a settlement agreement last year after the company was cited for child labor violations, according to a Department of Labor inspector general report released yesterday.

While the agreement did not violate laws, the inspector general's office found "serious breakdowns" in the department's "negotiating, developing and approving" such agreements.

The agreement between Wal-Mart and the Wage and Hour Division "was significantly different from other agreements," the report concluded. "Specifically, the Wal-Mart agreement had the most far-reaching restrictions on authority to conduct investigations and assess ."

Wal-Mart agreed in January to pay a federal fine of $135,540 for child labor violations in which 85 minors operated hazardous equipment at stores in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Arkansas. The investigations into violations occurred from October 1998 through April 2002.

Some lawmakers and child advocate groups called the agreement a sweetheart deal, particularly because it stated the company will receive 15 days' notice "of any audit or investigation at the stores covered by this agreement."...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/31/AR2005103101241.html

Anyway, as Y Berra once said, it's so crowded at Walmart's, nobody goes there anymore, OWTTE*.


*Or Words To That Effect.

Besides, if you can believe what you read here, who wants to go to a store that contributes to Tom Delay and Ahnold Schwarzenbagel.

Because of the disdain in which they hold labor, US vendors, and the rights of local communities. I don't make much money, but I buy local as much as I can, and if I can't, Kmart, etc. gets my money.

I'm embarrassed to admit I ever stepped foot in a Wal-Mart, but until someone decided to bring Wal-Mart injustices to light, how would we have know? It's been years since I've been in a Wal-Mart and the stories told by the employees are incredible. One employee I spoke with said it was mandatory for employees to engage in a cheering circle before a shift starts. Another employee told me that if profits were down on any given day, employees were sent home. Smacks of profit manipulation doesn't it? I too prefer to shop local or at discount stores that have principled employee practices. It's worth the few extra pennies.

Representative George Miller, the California Democrat who asked the inspector general to investigate the settlement, said the report showed that the Bush administration was seeking to do favors for a powerful friend and a major Republican contributor in Wal-Mart.

"The Bush Labor Department chose to do an unprecedented favor for Wal-Mart, despite the fact it is well known for violating labor laws, including child labor laws," Mr. Miller said. "The sweetheart deal put Wal-Mart employees at risk, undermined government effectiveness, and further undermined public confidence that the government is acting on its behalf."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/01/national/01labor.html?ex=1131512400&en=98822a094c2fc25a&ei=5059&partner=AOL



http://www.walmartmovie.com/