Progress Illinois

Our nation is mired in the current economic crisis in part because corporate America dictated the rules for too long and did so while fixated on generating the largest profits at whatever cost.  These tactics led to the overextension of credit, job reductions, and the erosion of the middle class.  The corporate greed on Wall Street and failed policies of the Bush administration have contributed to the staggering unemployment figures we now face. 

Media outlets report on these issues daily and have exposed many of the most flagrant schemes.  Yet still Wal-Mart is touted by some in the local press as the potential savior of Chicago communities.

Wal-Mart has long been the leader in establishing business practices that put profits over people.  When Americans elected Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, the message was clear: The time has come to change the direction of America.  Stop allowing our workers and our communities to be exploited so large corporations can grow their bottom line.  Now in office, President Obama and his administration are seeking to restore the necessary balance between corporate America and the rest of us.

As the president works towards these ends in Washington, we should follow his lead, especially relating to Wal-Mart. 

Throughout the 2008 campaign, Obama repeatedly stated his belief that Wal-Mart should pay a living wage.  He understands that in order to strengthen the middle class, we must ensure that workers earn decent wages and receive comprehensive benefits.  Indeed, the president recently stated: "You cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor union." 

Walmart, meanwhile, has a long record of suppressing its workers right to organize. Last year, The Wall Street Journal further exposed Wal-Mart's anti-worker culture by reporting that the company directed its managers and supervisors to actively discourage employees from voting for Obama due to his support for the Employee Free Choice Act.  If passed by Congress, this piece of legislation will diminish the employer intimidation regularly used to discourage union drives.

In Chicago, Wal-Mart is still trying to call the shots at the expense of our communities and working families. The City Council has previously pushed back against the company's expansion because there are too many negative side-effects -- for workers, public programs, and our neighborhoods -- that accompany their expansion and market saturation.  As Wal-Mart continues to look for opportunities in Chicago, aldermen should not be bullied into giving corporate greed free reign.  If Wal-Mart wants to enter this market, then they need to step up by offering their workers a living wage and comprehensive health care.

Ron Powell has served as President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 881 since 1983.  He is also a Vice President on the UFCW International Executive Board; a Vice President of the Illinois State AFL-CIO; and a Trustee for the UFCW Midwest Health Benefits and Pension Funds.