SEND WAL-MART BACK TO SCHOOL:

The fall is almost here, and parents everywhere are scrambling to get their school supplies in. It's the time of year when it's good to remember that the cheapest is rarely the best.

The people at the union sponsored Wake Up Wal-Mart campaign have brought out a new letter writing campaign around this time of year. 'Send Wal-Mart Back to School' says that "For years, Wal-Mart has earned failing grades in its treatment of American workers, children, and taxpayers. Wal-Mart earns an "F" for paying poverty level wages. Wal-Mart earns an "F" for breaking child labour laws, again and again, right here in America. And Wal-Mart earns an "F" for pushing its health care costs onto taxpayers."

Wake Up Wal-Mart goes on to note that the tax dollars used to support Wal-Mart's practices could be used for the schools that the children are soon to go back to. The situation is particularly egregious in the USA where the taxpayer has to fund health care for the majority of Wal-Mart employees, but Canada is affected in other ways. The campaign asks you to send letters to the editor to your local paper and gives sample forms. Canadian provinces are included as well as US states.

Molly would add that government largess to outfits such as Wal-Mart also harms local manufacturers and retailers. The former are excluded by the Mart's drive to cut costs, often at the expense of product safety-"made in China, sold in Wal-Mart" should be a "warning sticker". The latter are squeezed out to the detriment of the local community.

To learn more go and to join this campaign go to the Wake Up Walmart site. This latest effort is highlighted on the top of their site.