Despite multiple headlines in October 2005 which read “Wal-Mart Urges Congress to Raise the Minimum Wage,” Wal-Mart announced today it does not support raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.
According to an article in this morning’s Roll Call, Lee Culpepper said Wal-Mart’s CEO Lee Scott’s statement was ‘misinterpreted,’ and that ‘Scott was not calling for Congress to raise the minimum wage.’
“Wal-Mart’s flip flop on the minimum wage is a cynical about-face which hurts America’s working families,” said Paul Blank, campaign director for WakeUpWalMart.com. “This is hypocrisy at its worst and the American people are the ones that will pay the price,” continued Blank.
In this morning’s article, Lee Culpepper insisted, “I think what he (Mr. Scott) said was clear.” Mr. Culpepper is right. Mr. Scott’s statement was clear. He said the minimum wage was ‘out of date with the times’ and therefore should be raised.
Here is what Mr. Scott said in October 2005, “The U.S. minimum wage of $5.15 an hour has not been raised in nearly a decade and we believe it is out of date with the times…while it is unusual for us to take a public position on a public policy issue of this kind, we simply believe it is time for Congress to take a responsible look at the minimum wage and other legislation that may help working families.”
Blank continued, “Wal-Mart’s flip-flop proves the company’s publicity stunts are nothing more than a sham. Wal-Mart will say anything, even lie about its position on the minimum wage, in order to try and salvage its declining public image.”
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