Wal-Mart Calls on Videomaker to Fix Errors in Trailer or Take it Down
Trailer for New Greenwald Special Interest Video Makes Three Errors in Three Minutes
BENTONVILLE, AR (October 26, 2005) – Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. today called on Robert Greenwald to correct the factual errors and misrepresentations in the trailer for his video: Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. Mr. Greenwald’s missteps include claiming Wal-Mart forced the closure of a Middlefield, Ohio hardware store, when, in fact, the store closed before Wal-Mart opened its doors, and the hardware store has since reopened under new ownership.
“We at Wal-Mart welcome a fair and honest discussion,” said Wal-Mart Vice President for Corporate Affairs Bob McAdam. “But what Mr. Greenwald has done in his latest trailer is neither fair nor honest to his audience or the American people. He should fix these errors or take down the trailer altogether.”
In addition to Mr. Greenwald’s misrepresentations about the Middlefield, Ohio hardware store, he uses interview footage to make broad assertions that don’t line up with the facts about Wal-Mart.
Greenwald uses footage of one interviewee saying Wal-Mart told her: “…There’s no place for people like you in management.” The fact is that Wal-Mart is considered one of the most diverse employers in America and was recently named by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the “30 Best Companies for Diversity.” In addition, more than 40% of Wal-Mart managers are women.
Greenwald uses footage of another interviewee who states: “No Wal-Mart in Chicago, they don’t pay a living wage, they can’t come to Chicago.” However, the average wage for full-time hourly Wal-Mart associates in the Chicago area is $10.69 – more than $4 above the Illinois minimum wage of $6.50 and $1 above the $9.68 living wage recently established in Chicago.
“100 million working Americans shop at Wal-Mart every week,” added McAdam. “They deserve to know that the store where they spend their hard-earned dollars provides them with the best value and cares deeply about their communities.”
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM’S CLUB locations in the United States. The company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The company’s securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartfacts.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com.
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