Statement on Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott's "Month Long Vacation" by Paul Blank, Campaign Director, WakeUpWalMart.com:

At a time when Wal-Mart is attempting to repair a faltering public image, reverse sluggish store sales, and minimize the in-store damage from a collapse in worker morale, it is extremely odd and very unusual for Wal-Mart’s CEO Lee Scott to take a "month long vacation." Scott's "vacation" raises serious questions about whether or not this is the beginning of the end for Mr. Scott's troubled tenure as Wal-Mart’s CEO.

Above all, whether Lee Scott stays as CEO or is replaced by another Wal-Mart executive, like John Menzer or Eduardo Castro Wright, we remain hopeful Wal-Mart will realize it cannot solve its public relations quagmire simply by changing the leadership at the top. Only real change, which improves the lives of their workers and their families, can salvage Wal-Mart’s faltering public image.

As we have said in the past, we are willing to work together with Wal-Mart - no matter who is the CEO - to improve the lives of its workers and to make Wal-Mart a better and more successful company.