To: RETAILING EDITORS

Contact: Stacie Lock Temple of Wal-Mart Watch, +1-202-557-7482, +1-202-739-1020

Wal-Mart employees share stories of low wages, poor treatment as Walton family prospers

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the heels of Wal-Mart's closure of a unionized Tire & Lube Express in Gatineau, Quebec, Wal-Mart Watch today unveiled a new website -- walmartspeakout.com -- which will serve as an unprecedented tool for Wal-Mart workers to speak out and share their stories about Wal-Mart's low-wage, low-benefit business model. These stories expose Wal-Mart's poor treatment of the very same workers who are responsible for the tremendous financial success of Wal-Mart and the Walton family.

In recent months, Wal-Mart workers across the country contacted Wal-Mart Watch to express frustration and desperation regarding Wal-Mart's low wages and unfair treatment of its employees. These workers fear retaliation for speaking out against Wal-Mart or using the company's "open door" policy to address their concerns. In response, Wal-Mart Watch created the website to provide an opportunity for workers to tell their stories and expose the truth about their lives as Wal-Mart employees.

The website launch comes in the midst of a presidential election over the struggles of everyday Americans -- and Wal-Mart workers are at the heart of that dynamic. When adjusted for inflation, Wal-Mart hourly employees' real wages and standard of living have decreased steadily while the Walton family's wealth has increased to more than $100 billion, making them the wealthiest family in the United States.

Recently, the "Forbes 400 Richest Americans List" highlighted the contrast between Wal-Mart workers and the Walton family when it named four of Sam Walton's heirs -- Rob, Jim, Alice and Christy -- who own the controlling shares of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., four of the top 10 richest Americans.

"Wal-Mart spends millions of dollars to promote positive stories about the company, but Wal-Mart workers are left without a voice to tell their stories about what it is really like to work for Wal-Mart," said Wal-Mart Watch Executive Director David Nassar. "This website provides an opportunity for workers to speak out about Wal-Mart's low wages, poor benefits, and unfair treatment."

Many employees requested anonymity for their postings on the site because they feared losing their jobs. However, several employees identified themselves and a few even told their stories via video. The site also features audio from Wal-Mart employees in a video about the contrast between Wal-Mart's low wages and the Walton family's wealth.

Some examples of employees' comments from the site include:

"Wal-Mart workers are afraid to say anything because they might get fired over it. Another thing is when you have your evaluation each year, you get a very small raise then they cut your hours back so that you don't make anymore take home than you did before."

"I have a problem with management asking me and various other employees to finish up work that can't be done with the staffing they provide and staying over numerous hours and then not letting us clock in on schedule in order to save on payroll."

"When I was hired, they started me at $6.25 an hour, knowing I had 14 years of experience."

"We think they are trying to make it harder on us so we will quit and they can hire part-time without insurance and lower pay!"

"Average Americans are struggling amidst the current economic crisis and Wal-Mart workers are suffering more than ever at a time when the Walton family continues to rake in billions of dollars," added Nassar. "We hope that through these stories, the collective voices of Wal-Mart workers can somehow persuade the Walton family that Wal-Mart should do better for its employees."

SOURCE Wal-Mart Watch

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