National NOW's Wal-Mart "Merchant of Shame" Campaign
If you think of Wal-Mart as nothing more than a convenience, think again.
Wal-Mart's dismal record of discrimination and unfair labor practices make it the National Organization for Women's most recent Merchant of Shame.
The facts:
- 75% of Wal-Mart employees are women - but only 1/3 of managers and supervisors are. Men comprise 90% of the "top store manager positions." (U.S. District Court, Case No. C01-2252-MJJ, June 19, 2001)
- The average female sales associate earns $6.10 per hour.
- Wal-Mart refuses to provide legal prescription emergency contraception - even if a customer cannot access any other pharmacy.
- 60% of Wal-Mart workers have no company-provided health insurance - 2/3 of them women. The average monthly fee is $151 - too high for someone who does not make a living wage. In 2003, Wal-Mart will charge its employees up to $227 a month for the best family health package, with a $350 per person deductible. (Sam's Club Employee Health Plan)
- The National Labor Relations Board has accused managers in more than 24 Wal-Mart stores of illegally firing union supporters and threatening to withhold bonuses if employees unionized. The NLRB has lodged over 40 complaints against Wal-Mart in the past four years. (The New York Times, Steven Greenhouse, "Trying to Overcome Embarrassment, Labor Opens a Drive to Organize Wal-Mart," November 8 2002)
Always in Court:
- Maine Wal-Marts were found guilty of violating child-labor laws - nearly 1,500 times.
- Employees nationwide are suing, claiming they have been forced to work many unpaid hours.
- Wal-Mart is currently facing two class-action lawsuits for gender discrimination.
- Most recently, a class-action suit has been brought challenging the Wal-Mart employee insurance policy that denies prescription contraceptive coverage.
For more information, see the NOW website at www.now.org.
Information provided by National NOW.
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