Wal-Mart praises Chicago mayor’s big-box action

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/11/2006 1:45:00 PM

Chicago – Wal-Mart today applauded the action by Chicago major Richard Daley to veto the recent “anti-big-box” employment regulation proposed and passed by the city government.

Michael Lewis, senior vp store operations and president, Midwest division of Wal-Mart Stores, today declared, "We commend Mayor Daley for vetoing the ordinance and ensuring more jobs, more convenience and more choice for Chicago's working families. His action encourages desperately needed business investment and development in the city, with job opportunities and savings for those who need it most.”

Some labor organizers had pressured for and praised the measure. The stipulation that employers doing more than $1 billion in annual sales and with stores bigger than 90,000 square feet would have to pay a “living wage” above the legal minimum wage – as well as certain benefits -- had moved Wal-Mart and other retailers to say they would put store development plans on hold in the city.