Wal-Mart will be opening a store in the Midway area of St. Paul in the old Kmart building—just one of the first five Wal-Marts planned inside the I-494/694 loop. They are currently remodeling the building (reportedly with non-union labor) and plan to open the store at the end of February.
Wal-Mart legally assumed Kmart’s lease and has agreed to follow several requirements of that lease, including not selling certain grocery items that are carried by the nearby Cub Foods. Wal-mart also made an agreement with the Hamline/Midway Coalition to put perimeter locks on the wheels of their shopping carts so they do not become an eyesore or hazard in the surrounding neighborhood.
The Midway Citizen Consumer Community Coalition (MC4) has been formed in St. Paul out of concern for myriad labor, manufacturing, trade, fair business, consumer, and other issues surrounding Wal-Mart worldwide. While MC4 cannot stop Wal-Mart from moving into our city, we are currently working to hold Wal-Mart accountable for their behavior as our neighbor.
MC4’s plan is to submit a letter to Wal-Mart, explaining five “good neighbor” requirements (see below). They are seeking the support and endorsement of St. Paul elected officials, religious leaders, businesses, organizations, and individuals.
Good Neighbor Agreement
Because Wal-Mart Corporation is the world’s largest transnational corporation, we believe it is both prudent and reasonable that Wal-Mart adhere to the following set of community standards before opening for business in St. Paul, MN:
1) Wal-Mart will meet with community stakeholders quarterly for two years after the store opens to the public.
2) Wal-Mart will obey all applicable labor and workplace law, including laws that bar discrimination on the basis of gender, race, creed, class, or sexual orientation.
3) Wal-Mart will not engage in unethical or illegal competitive practices and will agree to non-competition agreements on items to be determined by local business owners.
4) At no expense to Wal-Mart Corporation, Wal-Mart will allow an independent investigator to review manufacturing standards used for products Wal-Mart produces for its stores.
5) Wal-Mart will hire 60 percent of its employees and 30 percent of its managers from the neighborhood surrounding the store at a starting wage of no less than $9.50 per hour. |
