Creating a Sweatfree World

2028

Factory Fires Spark Burning Questions about Perils of Apparel

San Diego City Beat
03/03/2006

By D.A. Kolodenko

Working for Wal-Mart sucks worse than shopping there. One minute you’re sweating your ass off from sewing together pieces of fleece active-wear in a stuffy, locked factory; the next minute you’re still sweating, but now it’s because you’re burning to death. Yes, slaving 12 hours a day under shitty conditions for $4 a week was bad enough, but nowadays Wal-Mart workers face possible death.

Wal-Mart Ups Central American Investment

Associated Press
03/15/2006

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Tuesday it boosted its stake in Central American Retail Holding Co., or CARHCO, lifting its ownership of Central America's biggest supermarket retailer to 51 percent from a previous 33.3 percent.

Financial terms of the latest agreement as well as the original investment were not disclosed.

Wal-Mart also said it would replace the name CARHCO with Wal-Mart Central America. No immediate changes were planned in names of any of the store formats operating in the region, it added.

Wal-Mart Begins Quest for Generals in P.R. War

New York Times
03/30/2006

By Michael Barbaro

Wanted: two people to help defend the nation's largest retailer against critics. Requirements: plenty of experience managing a crisis.

Wal-Mart Stores has begun circulating two senior-level job postings — both in public relations — and if the language used to describe the positions is any indication, the giant discount retailer is on the P.R. equivalent of war footing.

Wal-Mart's Hired Advocate Takes Flak

USA Today
03/16/2006

By Larry Copeland

ATLANTA — Andrew Young, who's never been shy about staking out controversial positions, is at it again.

Young, one of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s top aides, a former United Nations ambassador and former mayor of Atlanta, announced last month that he would head a group formed to spread the word about the positive contributions of Wal-Mart Stores (WMT).

Young says he was drawn to the Wal-Mart venture because the company is creating wealth, especially in rural and inner-city communities shunned by other retailers.

Wal-Mart Steps Up Surprise Inspections of Foreign Factories

Associated Press
03/29/2006

By Marcus Kabel

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is increasing surprise inspections at thousands of foreign factories where it buys clothes, toys, shoes and other products as it expands efforts to make sure its suppliers uphold labor and environmental standards.

Wal-Mart expects unannounced inspections to make up 30 percent of all inspections this year, up from 20 percent last year and 8 percent in 2004, said Beth Keck, director of international corporate affairs for the world's largest retailer.

Letter from India: The Wal-Mart Debate

Reuters
03/20/2006

Reuters correspondent Emily Kaiser is in Asia, reporting on U.S. retailers operating in the region. Here are her impressions on the prospects for big retailers in India:

Sitting in a Mumbai taxi as the driver angrily honks at an endless stream of trucks, buses, cars, pushcarts, pedestrians and cows, it's hard to imagine how foreign retailers could operate here. Then you hear about customers causing traffic jams as they flock to clearance sales and it becomes obvious why Wal-Mart and others are fighting so hard to open stores in India.

Attention, Wal-Mart Shoppers: Remove Those Pesky Conscience Stains

Spokesman-Review
03/24/2006

By Frank Sennett

Buying clothing from Wal-Mart might not leave you with blood on your hands, but it could put some on your pants.

That's the most surprising lesson U.S. consumers have learned so far from the International Labor Rights Fund's ongoing effort to bring foreign factory workers stateside to see the products of their sweat and, yes, blood on Wal-Mart racks.

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