Wal-Mart Watch Has 'Higher Expectations'

Wal-Mart Watch (WMW), which bills itself as the nation's premier Wal-Mart reform online presence, recently announced the launch of "Higher Expectations Week: A National Week of Action," an initiative to be held from November 13 to November 19, 2005. The week kicks off a nationwide WMW campaign to make Wal-Mart "a more responsible corporate citizen all year-round."

Wal-Mart Watch, which launched on April 20, 2005, with a full-page ad in the New York Times, is looking to challenge Wal-Mart to "become a better employer, neighbor, and corporate citizen," said Tracy Sefl, chief spokesperson for WMW.

The key to WMW's success is public education. For example, Sefl noted that, while everybody likes low prices, most consumers are unaware that they are, in effect, paying a "Wal-Mart tax." She explained, "This is what happens to a taxpayer when Wal-Mart doesn't pay a living wage and their employees can't afford to go to a [doctor]." The end result is "thousands of workers receiving public health benefits" via state Medicaid programs. Therefore, while Wal-Mart may sell things at low prices, residents end up paying for it through higher taxes.

In general, Sefl continued, Wal-Mart "has a particularly unique place in the American economy -- a ubiquitous presence in the community and an increasing political presence." Furthermore, according to WMW, Wal-Mart's current business model has a negative effect on both a community's economy -- through "low wages, poor benefits programs, and irresponsible growth" -- and on a community's retailers, many of who are driven out of business because they cannot compete with the retailing giant's prices.

For Higher Expectations Week, WMW wants to bring this information to the fore and is asking retailers, individuals, and organizations to pledge to hold Wal-Mart "accountable to higher expectations."

Sefl reported that about 300 groups have joined Wal-Mart Watch as "charter partners" for Higher Expectations Week, and "tens of thousands" will participate in the weeklong series of events already scheduled in approximately 30 states. And, she said, the list of partners is growing daily. A highlight of the week will be 3,500 house parties to screen Robert Greenwald's new film, Wal-Mart -- The High Costs of Low Prices. WMW is a sponsor of the educational efforts for the film and will also host its world premiere in New York City on November 1 at Union Square Stadium 14.

In addition, WMW has invited over 700 elected officials around the country to join a legislative task force to connect and strengthen efforts by local, state, and federal officials to hold Wal-Mart accountable to their communities. The task force will hold its inaugural meeting during the weeklong promotion.

Those interested in participating in Higher Expectations Week can sign up at http://walmartwatch.bluestatedigital.com/page/s/hew. --David Grogan