August 26 ,2008
CONTACT
US
CHECK THE PREDICTION PAGE  
AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM AND OTHERS...
THE
SLOWING
EXPANSION OF THE
NEW STORES IS
ACTUALLY DUE TO
WALMART NOT
BEING ABLE TO
FULLY STAFF
WHAT THEY
ALREADY HAVE
PRESENTLY THE STORES
ARE STAFFED AT 25 TO 50
PERCENT OF WHAT IS
NEEDED TO RUN THEM
PROPERLY
REPORT
Washington Post Journos to Be 'Graded' (NYO)
Reporters at the Washington Post will now be ranked with a multiple-choice job-performance
assessment each year. Each will be described as: "frequently exceeds expectations,"
"sometimes exceeds expectations," "meets expectations," "sometimes fails to meet
expectations," or "frequently does not meet expectations." "It's like a third-grade type of
evaluation system," said one Post staffer.

This is the same kind of evaluation Walmart uses on third grade oh sorry all associates...
LAYAWAY ENDS
NOVEMBER 19TH 2007.  
BLITZ LIST WILL BE OUT
SOON BUT BE READY TO
PAY CASH.
WAGE CAPS ARE GOING
TO WORK ON THE LONG
TERM ASSOCIATES SO
THEY WILL RETIRE OR
QUIT AND PART TIME
WORKERS CAN'T HAVE
WALMART AS A SECOND
JOB...OPEN
AVAILABILITY AND LESS
HEALTH BENEFITS ARE
TO COME.
METRO IS A CROSS
BETWEEN GEORGE AND
NO BOUNDRIES.  LOOKS
GOOD BUT THE QUALITY
IS WALMART QUALITY
WHICH MEANS IT IS
THROW AWAY...I HAVE
BEEN TOLD MY BOOK
DIDN'T BASH WALMART A
BIT.
Walmart Lobbys Congress In
Maryland
Hi Julie,
Thanks and it's OK if you post a copy of my note but
please don't put the email address on there-I have
hundreds of emails in that box!
Take care and I'll read what you sent and share it,
people really need to know because it's so terrible!
Best,
Debbie
--- JULIEJPJERSEY@aol.com wrote:
>  
> In a message dated 11/19/2005 10:21:04 PM Central
> Standard Time,  
> #######@yahoo.com writes:
>
> Hi  Julie!
>
> I found your site at Wakeup WalMart. I'm in
> California
> and I  am concerned about the worker issues at
> WalMart
> that have enlightened me in  recent months by
> reading
> there. I am not and never have worked at WalMart
> but I
> am interested in your book. Hopefully by the time
> you
> are reading  this you will have landed a position or
> somebody who is able will have  helped you to
> relocate
> where there are better opportunities? I know how
> hard
> it is, hang in there because something has got to
> happen soon for  you with the holidays fast
> approaching!
>
> I am among the likely  millions who are career
> displaced in the good 'ol USA but being in the  San
> Francisco Bay Area at least I can sort of 'survive'
> working at a  telecenter until things turn around
> and
> something opens up in my usual  career field which
> is
> real estate and loans (both largely commission
> based
> areas but also which have their share of salaried
> positions  related to them.)
>
> Anyway, if you have a .pdf or Word doc of  the
> prepublication copy of your book please email it and
> I
> will print it  out and also give it to the local
> Union
> office for retail clerks and  grocery workers
> because I
> can see already the problems with WalMart are
> bigger
> than most can probably imagine!
>
> Thanks for doing your part to  enlighten everyone to
> a
> situation that surely affects us  all.
>
> Sincerely,
> Debbie in Contra Costa County,  California.
> __________________________________
> Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors'  Choice 2005
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>>
> Hi Debbie,
> Thanks.
> The copy is an unedited version saved from a
> computer crash but until I  
> revise what I have ... it is all I have.
> It is enough to work with because I have lived it
> all and I have no memory  
> problems.
> Keep in touch.
> Julie
> Let me know if I can post your email.
>__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com
In a message dated 11/17/2005 6:01:52 PM Central
Standard Time, notputtingitinhere.com writes:
If you have called yourself to hear what they have to say
or had a friend
call, why not record the call?  Then you'd have the
evidence you proclaim to
be true already?
I know I hate my job lol and I am a dept mgr.  Use to
love the place. But  I
also assisted in Personnel and I know I was taught that
if anyone called for
a reference I could only say yes or no they worked there
and   from month
/year  to month year.
First taping a call is illegal and I am not as wealthy as
Walmart so I would have no defense and could be
sued..
I was an assistant manager in four states and could
testify as to what they do.
I don't need proof...I am proof.   What a store manager,
personnel manager or anyone might tell an hourly
associate is not what happens when the door is closed
and no one is allowed to know what is happening in an
office.
I would not have a problem going into court and
testifing to some of the things I know about.
I never said Walmart was all bad.  I just can't figure out
why they cannot decide if I was terminated or if I
resigned and what is said when I apply for work.
All indications tell me something is happening as it
happened to others when I worked for the company.
To recieve you are not qualified for any position with us
after thirty years of retail and two great interviews
before the let down.
Is not my idea of someone just telling them when I
worked for the company.

Sorry that is why the book is going to be a block buster
when it is published.
Regards,
Julie
You may post my email, but please don't use my
address. Associates need to know they are not alone
on the battlefield.   Thanks.

JULIEJPJERSEY@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 11/17/2005 6:19:27 PM Central
Standard Time, ###########@#########.net writes:
Julie,

Would like a copy of your publication. Very interesting
to me. I'm a seven year walmart associate and if I didn't
know better, I would think that I wrote your words. I live
everthing you have mentioned every waking minute of
my walmart days. I am the dreaded one at my store, for
I stand up for the other associates that won't, or fear, for
themselves. I fight battles everyday. Have been called a
liar by management, been accused by an associate for
stealing, but still I'm there and still fight the battles. They
know, and I let them know about the rights of the
employee. I say what I feel and I let them know that it is
right of free speech, but yet nothing ever happens or
changes. We have a wonderful store and wonderful
customers, and we as associates, try, so hard, to keep
the personal touch there. It's so difficult to handle
management sometimes that I just want to throw my
hands up and say it's not worth it, but I know in my
heart, it's not what Sam would have done, and so I
continue to fight. I love my job and the old walmart way.
I'll stand by both forever.
I will send it as an attachment.
The one I am sending out is not the revised one that I
am working on getting published.
There is a lot missing and it is not an edited version.
I am getting a lot of feedback and do appreciate you
and what you must be going through.
It it is okay can I post your email on my  site?
I won't use your email address.
I just appreciate and want others to know I am not
insane.
Thanks,
Julie
LOOK FOR LINKS AT
WALMARTWATCH.COM
AND MUCH MORE ON THE
BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE...
HEALTH CARE IS COMING
TO WALMART ONE WAY
OR ANOTHER.  LOOK FOR
LINKS
THE LEGACY
WALMART GOES
UPSCALE SORTA
Washington
Post...Walmart spending
more on Lobbyists a
Congressional Pass?
One of many biographies of Sam
Walton
THE UNITED STATES
OF WALMART
WALMART EXIT
INTERVIEW IS REVEALING
DOWN AND OUT IN DISCOUNT
AMERICA
PRAISE UNCLE SAM AND PASS THE
18P AN HOUR
WALMART PHOTO SITE
UP AGAINST WALMART
THE WALMART
WAR ROOM
MORE STORIES FROM FOX....
THE FIRST
PHASE IS
STARTING AND
AT LEAST 150
OF THE 500 OR
SO DISTRICT
MANAGERS ARE
OUT.
FOLLOWING
THE STORY AS
NEWS COMES IN.

LESS CHANCE
FOR ANYONE
TO PROMOTE
NOW.
MORE HEADLINES WALLY WORLD...
DURING SOME RECENT AS JANUARY
BIG BOX
MART
Illegal Workers at
Walmart
Distribution Center
I HAVE RECENTLY HEARD OF A COUPLE OF DISTRICT MANAGERS THAT I HAVE
WORKED FOR RETIRING AND LEAVING THE COMPANY.  SOME TRANSFERS.  
SOME SHIFTS.  I IMAGINE THEY ARE CUTTING EVERYWHERE THEY CAN.
"THE
WALMART
 WAY"
NOT
SAM'S
WAY
AL QUEADA'S NEXT
TARGET JUST COULD
BE WALMART OR
MALLS?
WITH NO
WARNING...DISRUPTION
OF SALES IS TO BE
AVOIDED
ANOTHER DEPARTMENT
MANAGER QUITS DURING BLITZ.
 THE MANAGEMENT IS YELLING
ON THE FLOOR AND LYING
ABOUT SCHEDULES.  THEY
ARE PUSHING ASSOCITES OUT.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE AT MY
HOME...PRE THE
ANNOUNCEMENT OF
GREENWALDS
DOCUMENTARY WERE
WORKING WITH HIM...IT
WAS WHEN I REFUSED TO
SIGN A RELEASE AND WITH
MUCH RESEARCH I FOUND
OUT WHO THEY WERE.
I ATTEMPTED TO TELL
WALMART THEY WERE NOT
INTERESTED IN TALKING TO
ME ABOUT ANYTHING.  I
KNEW BEFORE THE
DOCUMENTARY WAS
PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED.
THEY WERE NOT
INTERESTED.
Rule #7  
Listen to everyone in your
company, and figure out ways
to get them talking. The folks
on the front line - the ones who
actually talk to customers - are
the only ones who really know
what’s going on out there. You’
d better find out what they
know.

Sam Walton
MORE HEADLINES WALLY WORLD...
DURING OCT & NOVEMBER 1st and on
Interview with Julie Pierce for Wake-Up Wal-Mart Campaign

Julie Pierce is a very knowledgeable and outspoken person whose
personal experience at Wal-Mart over 7-8 years between 1990 and
February 2005 in four states can be a valuable resource to the
Wake-Up
Wal-Mart campaign.   Julie has a website on Wal-Mart at
www.walmartassociatescentral.com and has written a 312 page book
entitled "The Wal-Mart Way: Not Sam's Way" which she is revising for
publication in 2006 or soon after.  Her email address is:
juliejpjersey@aol.com.

Julie claims to have been the victim of gender discrimination in
promotion at Wal-Mart, but has also seen positive aspects of working at
Wal-Mart which she has done in both hourly sales positions and salaried
management positions.   She is concerned that Wal-Mart does not
provide
affordable health insurance to all of its employees, but thinks that
the solution is the type of employer mandate law that the State of
Maryland has recently enacted requiring large employers to spend at
least 8 percent of their payroll in employer-sponsored health
insurance.   She is troubled by the high deductibles in some of the
health insurance plans offered to Wal-Mart employees and the
pre-existing condition exclusions for up to one year, and doesn't think
it is right for Wal-Mart to encourage employees to enroll in Medicaid
in some states when the company can afford to provide an adequate
health insurance policy.

She worries that Wal-Mart's current management is not retaining
experienced associates at Wal-Mart that she claims will undermine its
long term profitability.   While some Wal-Mart associates get less than
they deserve, she also thinks that some associates don't deserve what
they do earn.  She also worries that labor unions are often fragmented
and lack unity and sufficient power to protect pensions and workers
rights on other contract issues.   On the other hand, she favors
unions, class action suits, and campaign efforts like Wake-Up Wal-Mart
to put pressure on the government to require Wal-Mart and other
employers to provide affordable health insurance and to respect
workers' rights.

Julie questions the charge that Wal-Mart avoids over-time as company
policy by asking workers to work off the clock, but worries that
associates are not always treated properly and thinks that some workers
may choose to operate off the clock in order to meet unrealistic
management demands.   She also is concerned about gender and age
discrimination by Wal-Mart, but believes that this does not
characterize all employment decisions.  At the same time, she also
faults management for not listening to the complaints and suggestions
of their employees.

Julie seems less concerned about consolidation in the retail industry
and its impact on smaller companies within a market, than about bad
management practices by large employers like Wal-Mart.  On the other
hand, she thinks that Wal-Mart ought to be limited to retail sales and
not be allowed by government to go into banking or health care clinics.
She also thinks that the problems at Wal-Mart are not unique to large
employers, even though they may be more visible there.  She also
points
out that there are other large employers, like Home Depot, who also are
not unionized and do not provide affordable health care for many of
their employees.

Julie was apparently fired for allowing herself to be interviewed in
preparation for the Greenwald documentary "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of

Low Price".  She believes there are some inaccuracies in the Greenwald
documentary, but that most of the charges are believable.  
Nevertheless, she would consider returning to Wal-Mart if they matched
her current earnings at another large retailer.
THE REALITY IS THAT THE CULTURE IS DEAD...
INTERNAL WALMART MEMO
SUGGESTS WAYS TO CUT
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
WALMART WATCH
SOME GREAT IDEAS
MORE HEADLINES WALLY WORLD...
DURING OCT & NOVEMBER 1st and on
LINKS WILL BE UPDATED THE FIRST TIME I HAVE TWO DAYS IN A ROW OFF.  I
HAVE A NUMBER OF STORIES THAT I AM WORKING ON.  I WILL ALSO START THE
PROCESS OF FINDING OUT ABOUT PUBLISHING THE BOOK ON MY OWN.  I AM
BECOMING IMPATIENT WITH THE WAY THAT THE MEDIA HANDLES WALMART
NEWS.  AS OF TODAY THE STOCK IS GOING DOWN AGAIN UP AND DOWN FOR
MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AND DAILY UPDATES ARE ALMOST A WASTE OF TIME
BECAUSE THERE IS NO DEFINITE TREND WITH THE STOCK PRICE ASIDE FROM
IT HASN'T HIT SIXTY DOLLARS IN A VERY LONG TIME...THIS PROBABLY WILL NOT
CHANGE.  IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE MANIPULATED BY THE WAY THE
STOCKHOLDER SEE THE COMPANY.  THE COMPANY I AM WITH WILL GIVE A
TWO WEEK VACATION AFTER SIX MONTHS AND I INTEND TO USE IT WELL.  I
STILL HAVEN'T FOUND IT.  BY THE WAY...IF WALMART SAYS YOU ARE RE
HIRABLE THAT'S GREAT BUT DON'T DEPEND ON IT.  ALSO AN ASSISTANT WHO
STEPS DOWN AND STAYS WILL PROBABLY SEE THEIR PAY CUT IN HALF IN
MOST DISTRICTS.  
DISTRICT MANAGERS WILL BE GIVEN A SEVERANCE PAY OF ONE WEEK SALARY FOR EACH
YEAR...WALMART IS THINNING OUT THE WORKERS AND THE DMS ARE BEATING OUT THE
ASSISTANT MANAGERS.  FIRST IT WAS THE JEWLERY/SHOES DMS, NOW IT IS THE REGULAR
DMS.  STORES ARE CONSTANTLY UNDERSTAFFED AND ASSISTANT MANAGERS ARE
QUITTING...DROPPING LIKE FLIES.
THERE IS NO RESPECT FOR ANYONE OR ANYTHING.  THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR RULES AT THE
CORPORATE OFFICES.
November 4, 2005

Julie Pierce
12719 E Millburn Ave
Baton Rouge, La 70815

November 4, 2005

225-273-4354
juliejpjersey@aol.com

To the Board of Directors and Walton Family,

I cannot afford an attorney so I am sending this to request a letter explaining Walmart’s position on my
separation from the company among other remedies as determined by previous communications and situations
arising from this action taken by Walmart on February 28, 2005.

I need an indication of exactly what is being said when a reference check is made.

Many contacts over a nine-month period have indicated to me, that there has been numerous communications
that have caused me to be in a situation where Walmart has destroyed my career in retail.

Considering I requested an attorney be present if interrogations by district manager Janey and Loss Prevention
Supervisor Jason were to continue was told I could leave and left the premises in order to find out if this could
be avoided by contacting the home office.  I reported to management that I was leaving the store for a specific
reason and continued to stay in direct contact with the store manager until his call to me on February 28.  

I consider leaving was directly connected to the situation where I was isolated in the manager’s office with no
witness present being put under pressure to respond to personal issues and questioning that was considered
by me to be hostile in nature.  

My store manager on Feb 28 first said I should report to work March 2 after my day off then called later that day
and terminated me.

I never received a response from the home office and was told by the Gonzales Louisiana Store manager that
he was directed from higher up to terminate me.

I have documents that contradict each other.  As far as my status with the company I have no real answer.

I have other documentation all of which no one has had any interest in listening to or looking at and will use any
of it as needed to show that my intentions were nothing other than good at the time.

I did nothing wrong and although Louisiana along with other states has an at will employment law, I see much
more connected to this situation and a retaliatory kind of situation where Walmart considered my private life and
terminated me because of my moral beliefs at that time.

I consider the exit interview that was filled out by the store manager Mark and Co manager Richard as
defamatory and filled with lies.  I was not present for this and did not sign it.

This letter is notification of my need to have answers.  This is a final effort to obtain a written form of reference
and a determination of separation.

My inability to pay an attorney will decide my continuing efforts to be reimbursed for intentional hardship placed
on my career, character and family by Walmart due to the malicious and negative comments made about my
employment with the company.

If a response is not received within seven days of receipt of this correspondence I will proceed pro se to file for
any and all relief that will remedy my current situation as I believe Walmart has caused all either directly or
indirectly with malice.

Indication at the time of my hire was that an open door within the company exists and this open door was not
available to me for any questions I had at the time of the interrogations or at any date after.

Indication at the time of my hire was that if I followed company policy I would be gainfully employed and not
harassed by upper or equal management.

There area many variables and reasons for my questioning the situation including my inability to find gainful
employment with thirty years of retail experience.

Instances of misappropriation of funds and gender discrimination along with other ethics issues on a local and
corporate level that I presented to higher management in good faith were, I believe the reason behind my
ultimate separation.

Full disclosure is requested at this time.




Julie Pierce

WAL-MART'S BANK BID SUFFERS MAJOR BLOW

Greenspan Opposes Bank Loophole (Wall Street Journal)
As Wal-Mart seeks charter, Fed chairman aims to end exemption for corporations
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is opposing a regulatory loophole that allows corporations to own banks, thrusting
himself into the middle of an effort by Wal-Mart to establish a bank. Mr. Greenspan's salvo, outlined in a 12-page letter to
Congress that was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, is the latest in a controversy over the separation of commerce and
banking. In his letter, sent Jan. 20 in response to questions from Rep. Jim Leach, an Iowa Republican and member of the House
Financial Services Committee, Mr. Greenspan writes, "The ILC exemption is now the primary means by which commercial firms
may control an FDIC-insured bank engaged in broad lending and deposit-taking activities and thereby breach the general
separation of banking and commerce," Mr. Greenspan's letter said. He warned that the growing use of the loophole is
"undermining the prudential framework that Congress has carefully crafted and developed" to oversee financial institutions. Mr.
Greenspan's letter noted that the parent companies of these industrial-loan entities escape the regulatory scrutiny of bank
holding companies, which must operate under the supervisory authority of the Fed. In uncharacteristically blunt language, Mr.
Greenspan urged Congress to close the loophole, which he said "provides the corporate owners of exempt ILCs a significant
competitive advantage over other types of banking institutions, and creates an unlevel competitive playing field among banking
organizations." Many banking organizations oppose Wal-Mart because they fear its strength, and believe it would compete
unfairly. "The Wal-Mart bank would have no incentive -- in fact it would have a disincentive -- to lend to businesses that compete
with its parent company," said David Hayes, president of a small bank in Dyersburg, Tenn., and chairman of the Independent
Community Bankers of America, in testimony before a congressional committee in October.

Greenspan Urges Industrial Bank Exemption Review (Reuters via New York Times)
That bid has drawn concern from some in Congress, and from some financial institutions, that the world's largest retailer could
use its bank as a base to offer a much wider array of services. "Importantly, these changes also threaten to remove Congress'
ability to determine the direction of our nation's financial system with regard to the mixing of banking and commerce and the
appropriate framework for prudential supervision," Greenspan wrote in a letter to Iowa Republican Rep. Jim Leach. "These are
crucial decisions that should be made in the public interest after full deliberation by the Congress; they should not be made
through the expansion and exploitation of a loophole that is available to only one type of institution chartered in a handful of
states,"' Greenspan said. Wal-Mart's application has generated significant interest. A record 1,500 public comments were
submitted on the application and the FDIC's acting chairman recently told lawmakers the regulatory agency would likely hold a
public hearing on the bid.

CNN's Andy Serwer On Greenspan's Comments
"Alan Greenspan -- still making waves. Wherever he goes, whenever he speaks, no one knows what he says but it's a big deal.
He's writing stuff, looking to step down probably sometime next week. But this is a memo that went to congress, concerning
companies trying to get into the banking business. Specifically, this would concern Wal-Mart because Wal-Mart is trying to get a
bank charter going in Utah. They say they've got 140 million credit card transactions a month. they want to do the work in-house.
They want to set up bank branches but want to do this so they need a bank charter, and Alan Greenspan says this is a very bad
idea. And he says that other companies that have been trying to do this basically taking advantage of a loophole, setting up what
are known as industrial loan corporations saying it's a bad idea, because it's outside of regulation by the fdic, and other
regulatory bodies. still weighing in, and affecting Wal-Mart. It will be interesting to see if they get this done, if Wal-Mart gets the
bank charter or not."

CLINTON CRITICIZES WAL-MART HEALTHCARE PLAN

Clinton: Cover Employees (Newsday)
Senator pushes for Wal-Mart's contribution to workers' health plans
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton wants Wal-Mart to contribute to health insurance for its employees. "Cities and states are saying we
can't keep holding the bag here," Clinton said yesterday, praising a new Maryland law requiring Wal-Mart to spend at least 8
percent of payroll on health benefits or contribute to insurance plans for the poor. About 20 state legislatures have similar bills
pending - and Suffolk County has a similar law - reflecting frustration with paying Medicaid and other state health care expenses
incurred by company employees.

Irresponsible Employers (Chicago Tribune LTE)
In your editorial "The War on Wal-Mart" (Editorial, Jan. 23), you opine that it is a bad idea for the lawmakers in Maryland to
require that Wal-Mart spend at least 8% of its payroll to provide health care for its employees. On the contrary, the passage of
the Maryland "Fair Share Health Care" bill means that Wal-Mart will no longer be able to shift the costs of covering its employees
onto taxpayers. Wal-Mart was the only large profitable corporation in Maryland that did not pay its fair share for health coverage
for its employees. Last year, Wal-Mart sat at the top of the Fortune 500 Companies with over $288 billion dollars in revenue. As
skyrocketing health care costs continue to eat away at already strained state budgets, taxpayers can no longer afford to
subsidize Wal-Mart, while it forces its uninsured employees to gobble up scarce Medicaid dollars.

Take action to make Wal-Mart pay its fair share in health care in your state.

DOWN AND OUT IN BENTONVILLE

Wal-Mart To Appeal Dismissal Of Lawsuit (AP via Yahoo News)
Wal-Mart will appeal an Arkansas judge's dismissal of its latest lawsuit against former vice chairman Tom Coughlin. Circuit Judge
Jay Finch said Monday the lawsuit, which Wal-Mart amended in November after Finch dismissed an earlier lawsuit, added nothing
to the original complaint filed last summer. "We will appeal the decision and the required papers will be filed next week," Wal-Mart
spokeswoman Sarah Clark said. She declined to elaborate. Wal-Mart referred a company investigation to federal prosecutors
last year, and claims that Coughlin conspired with others to defraud the company of money and property. The company alleges
Coughlin funneled company funds into everything from alcohol to personal vehicles and gifts for his family. Coughlin is scheduled
to appear in court January 31.

Learn more about a company in turmoil in our "Down & Out In Bentonville" special report.

FRIENDS WITH LOW WAGES

Wal-Mart's Musical Moves (Los Angeles Times)
The giant retailer's success in it's exclusive relationship with singer Garth Brooks has some in the recording industry worried
about the company's plans
Just as it has done with toys, clothes and toiletries, the world's biggest retailer went right to the source -- in this case, Garth
Brooks himself. "The middleman's cost that was eliminated was also eliminated for the people," Brooks said. "To get a box out like
that for $25 just shows me that these guys are not just eliminating the middleman and keeping the middleman's money -- that
makes me feel very good." This latest example of Wal-Mart's "direct procurement" approach continues the company's practice of
upending the traditional relationship between the makers of goods and those who sell them. The deal has some in the recording
industry alarmed at the thought of Wal-Mart's establishing direct partnerships with musicians and cutting out the labels. And it
may just be the start. The company Wednesday announced the launch of Wal-Mart Soundcheck, a series of exclusive musician
performances and interviews that will be broadcast in stores and over the Internet. The program's offerings initially will include
studio sessions with rock bands Yellowcard and Switchfoot and will expand to include performances from country, R&B and
hip-hop stars, the retailer said. "It's analogous to the way they want to deal with their vendors -- they want to deal directly and cut
out the middleman, whether it's widgets or Rubbermaid, and now they're doing it with stars," said Nelson Lichtenstein, a professor
of history at UC Santa Barbara and editor of "Wal-Mart: The Face of 21st Century Capitalism." "Whatever they touch they
transform, because they're so big and they have such tremendous market clout and power."

ALWAYS IN COURT

Appeals Court Rejects Wal-Mart, Favors Lafe Man (Jonesboro Sun)
The Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that a Lafe man is entitled to temporary total disability and wage-loss benefits
of 40 percent after he hurt his right shoulder while working as a mechanic for Wal-Mart in Paragould in May 2001. Wal-Mart
appealed the Worker's Compensation Commission decisions that were favorable to Ronald W. Jackson, who was 47 when the
panel heard his case and who had an 11th grade education. The court unanimously upheld the commission's decisions in an
opinion written by Judge Andree Layton Roaf. Jackson testified that after his injury, Wal-Mart kept reducing his hours until he had
to quit because he needed full-time work. He said he also quit in July 2001 because Wal-Mart's risk control leader in the
automotive section, Rosalyn Farley, asked him to do "courtesy tech" work of vacuuming vehicles, washing windows and putting
air in tires. She said he could do this work with one arm, and he said he couldn't.

Allegedly Dangerous Bikes (CBS Early Show)
"Wal-Mart is the number one seller of bicycles in this country. But now the retailer is facing a lawsuit because of thousands of
bikes that rolled off the store shelves. Nine families are suing Wal-Mart and a bicycle manufacturer by the name of Dynacraft.
They claim they were sold dangerous bicycles which caused serious injuries to their kids. Consumer correspondent Susan copen
is here with details. Good morning. Good morning, Harry. Nearly 500,000 of these bikes were sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide.
The families who are suing say the front wheels pop off without warning. they don't want other children to be injured, and they
want those bikes recalled."

EXPANSION

Wal-Mart Is Expected To Appeal (Boston Globe - NH)
The Nashua Planning Board last week rejected Wal-Mart's proposal to build its first store in the city, and now activists and city
leaders who opposed the plan are waiting to see whether the nation's largest retailer will file an appeal in Hillsborough County
Superior Court. ''I don't think this will be the end of it," said Jocelyn DeMuth, a high school Latin teacher and a spokeswoman for
Citizen Action for Southern New Hampshire, a community group that fought both proposals. ''I think Wal-Mart will go to court but,
of course, they haven't said anything yet."

Extremely Pleased By Wal-Mart Plan Denial (Nashua Telegraph LTE - NH)
Thank you, thank you, thank you. To all the people who have put time and energy into this Wal-Mart site plan saga. To the
planning board for voting against this. To the people who value Nashua for what it is. To the people who fought to preserve the
synergy that now exists between our local communities. To the people who realized that we just don't need another box store.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Residents Angered By Wal-Mart's Proximity To Wildlife Refuge (Sprawl-Busters - NJ)
One thing is certain: Wal-Mart is not an endangered species, and the giant retailer doesn't seem to worry too much about
species that are. Residents in Pennsville, New Jersey cannot believe that Wal-Mart Realty has such a tin ear for environmental
issues. Wal-Mart's proposal to build a 220,000 s.f. superstore abutting the 2,800 acre Supawna Meadows National Wildlife
Refuge has prompted major citizen upheaval in this small New Jersey community.

Citizen Appeals Tie Up Three Wal-Marts (Sprawl-Busters - WA)
Three Wal-Mart proposals in Snohomish County, Washington have been bogged down by unruly citizens, who clearly don't buy
the notion that wealthy developers should have free-rein in their communities.

Learn more about Wal-Mart's bullying tactics in out special report - "Shameless: How Wal-Mart Bullies Its Way Into Communities
Across America."

ROLLBACK WAL-MART

Wal-Mart Is Target Of Event At UMKC (Kansas City Star)
Critics want firm to change practices
A conference this weekend at the University of Missouri-Kansas City will take a critical look at the business practices of Wal-Mart.
"Rollback Wal-Mart" will be held Friday evening and Saturday at UMKC's Pierson Hall, 50th Street and Rockhill Road. The event
is being held to counter Wal-Mart's annual managers meeting, which is being held this week, said Judy Ancel, director of the
Institute for Labor Studies at UMKC. Wal-Mart is holding its meeting at Bartle Hall. About 6,100 people are attending the event,
which began Wednesday and runs through Tuesday. Speakers scheduled for Saturday at "Rollback Wal-Mart" are Andy
Grossman, executive director of Wal-Mart Watch, Philip Mattera of Good Jobs First, and the Rev. Spencer Barrett of Bethel AME
Church in Kansas City and co-chairman of Interfaith Worker Justice Kansas City.

PRINCE OF PR?

Prince Charles Is Brilliantly Placed To Advise The Boss Of Wal-Mart - After All They Have So Much In Common (The Guardian)
The only difficulty for the prince, given his two hours with Lee Scott, will have been in focusing on Wal-Mart's areas of greatest
need. Should he address the abysmal pay and conditions, which recently led to an award of $172m to thousands of US
employees who had been denied lunch breaks? Or its proposals for discouraging unhealthy job applicants? Or, the effect of its
rock-bottom price guarantee on struggling suppliers? Or should he concentrate, instead, on the way the company's out-of-town
stores have despoiled the environment? While it's easy to understand the attraction that one put-upon and misunderstood
plutocrat might have for another, you can't but think the Prince of Wales, like many businesses before him, may come to regret
the day he became a Wal-Mart supplier.

OFF THE WAL

Coble Is Comfortable Fishing In The Shadows (BassFan.com)
Coble said he was banned from the BFLs after his first All-American victory at Arkansas' Lake Hamilton for what he believes was
a logo issue. He'd been at Triton for several years and the company had become a BASS sponsor, so he knew he wouldn't be
allowed to display his employer's logo at the tournament. So he said he went to Wal-Mart and purchased a Duke University cap
(he's a fan of that institution's basketball team) and wore it instead. He said he wore it the first day "without a hassle," but was told
he couldn't wear it on day 2 because it violated logo regulations. He went on to win the tournament bareheaded. He said he later
mailed the cap and the sales receipt directly to Wal-Mart president Lee Scott, along with a note that said he wanted his money
back because he wasn't allowed to wear it in the tournament. He subsequently received a banishment letter from then-FLW
Outdoors CEO Charlie Hoover, along with a refund of his dues.

Paid for by WalmartWatch.com, a campaign of Five Stones and The Center for Community and Corporate Ethics
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"THE WALMART WAY" NOT SAM'S WAY
WILL LABOR TAKE THE
WALMART CHALLENGE
LOOK FOR LINKS AT
WALMARTWATCH.COM
AND MUCH MORE ON THE
BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE...
WALMARTWATCH DOES A
MUCH BETTER JOB WITH
UPDATES DAILY THEN I
CAN ALONE
SAM
WOULD
SAY
NO TO
LEE
AND
THE
REST
THE WALMART
WAR ROOM
A RELIABLE SOURCE GAVE ME
A STAFF COUNT OF A LOCAL
WAL-MART SUPER CENTER.
A STORE THAT USUALLY HAS A
STAFF OF ALMOST 500
(ALTHOUGH THIS ONE NEVER
MADE IT) HAS ONLY 216 ON THE
SCHEDULE.
EVEN AT 480 IT WAS DIFFICULT
TO SERVE THE CUSTOMERS IN
A SUPER CENTER...WHAT IS
NEXT"?
HOW LOW CAN THEY GO?
The bigger they are the harder they fall... WALMART
IS NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING PROBLEMS
DUE TO WALMART ADDICTION THE CONSUMER
IS HELPING LEE SCOTT PAD HIS POCKETS.  
THE PRICES GO UP UP UP ON A DAILY BASIS.  
STEAKHOUSE BRAND MEATS NOW
ADVERTISED DOES NOT MENTION IN THE AD
THAT MOST OF THE BRAND IS NOT CHOICE
MOST OF IT IS SELECT AT CHOICE PRICES WITH
WATER ADDED 9.99 A POUND.
IN THE STORE YESTERDAY.  A WOMAN
LOOKING AT THE BEEF.  I EXPLAINED THE
SELECT MEAT PER POUND.  SHE WENT TO
WINN-DIXIE...SO DID I ... I SAW HER THERE.
MY BOOK IS
AVAILABLE ON
AMAZON.COM AND AT
XLIBRIS.COM.
I AM TRYING TO
START A MARKETING
PLAN THAT WILL
FINALLY GET MEDIA
ATTENTION.  TWO
YEARS LATER IT IS
THE SAME.