Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart to Pay $54 Million in Back Wages

In Minnesota, Current and former Wal-Mart workers recently won a class action lawsuit for back wages. Any Minnesota worker who worked there between September 11, 1998 and November 14, 2008 is covered by the settlemen. A Dakota County judge ruled that Wal-Mart violated Minnesota's wage-and-hour labor laws over 2 million times.

"The Walmart wage and hour class action lawsuit alleged that hourly employees were required to work off-the-clock during training sessions and that they were denied full rest and meal breaks as required by labor laws.

UPDATED: Group of Automobile Techs Become Only Wal-Mart Workers in North America Covered by Union Contract

Congratulations to the workers and their union for winning their contract! Predictably, Wal-Mart is already implying it will seek to get out of the government-imposed labor agreement in Quebec. A Wal-Mart human rights official reportedly has threatened to shut down the automotive department. (New York Times)

Canadian Supreme Court to Decide on Wal-Mart's Retaliatory Store Closure to Defeat Union Effort

"The closure drew attention continent-wide because Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer and the Jonquiere outlet, located about three hours north of Quebec City, was one of the first in North America to be organized." (National Post)

80 Class-Action Suits Pending Against Wal-Mart [UPDATED]

[UPDATED] Judge Robert King Jr. ruled in favor of workers on Monday in the Dakota County District Court of Hastings, Minnesota.

"Wal-Mart broke Minnesota labor law more than 2 million times over six years by forcing some employees to work without breaks and without full pay," costing the retail giant up to $2 billion not counting back wages for the 56,000 employees represented under the Braun v. Wal-Mart suit (Star Tribune).

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Wal-Mart Worker Wins $250,000 Disability Lawsuit

Victorious worker Glenda Allen:

Spin Alert: Looking Behind the Wal-Mart Public Relations Turnaround

Two recent New York Times articles paint a picture of Wal-Mart as experiencing a turnaround in its battered public image. Wal-Mart apparently sells a lot of energy efficient light bulbs and has allegedly made marginal improvements to its stingy health care plan.

But there's a problem (among many others) with the idea of a Wal-Mart on the up-and-up: the world's largest company still has shown zero respect for the right under international and domestic law to form a labor union.

Eric Schlosser: Burger with a Side of Spies

UPDATE (05/13/2008): Burger King exec. is ousted over anti-worker Internet smear campaign. (Associated Press) The question remains whether Burger King CEO John Chidsey ordered the operation.

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann Declares Victory Over Wal-Mart for Disabled Worker

But Olbermann is not satisfied yet. He's going after Wal-Mart to compensate Debbie Shank for her legal nightmare.

Go Keith Go!

If you missed the CNN piece breaking the story of Debbie Shank, it's here.

Wal-Mart Sues Severly Disabled Woman

UPDATE: April 1, 2008- Wal-Mart caves to pressure and agrees to stop hounding Debbie Shank!

WATCH THE VIDEO

Debbie Shank getting hit by a semi-truck, becoming severely brain damaged, and losing her U.S. soldier son to war, wasn't enough to shake Wal-Mart's relentless pursuit of money.(CNN)

Religious Community Blocks Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart developer concedes defeat in Monsey, New York after a, "modest yet unweilding campaign" by residents. (New York Times)

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