WAL-MART CHEATS EMPLOYEES OUT OF OVERTIME - Wal-Mart made employees in its Oregon stores work overtime without pay, as discovered in the first of several law suits. Wal-Mart is fighting 38 different lawsuits filed by workers in 30 states, over forcing them to work unpaid off the clock. A July 2000 audit of 128 Wal-Mart stores found 127 were "not in compliance" with company policies concerning workers not taking breaks, employees were forced to work thru their breaks, and were not paid for it.

WAL-MART IS A UNION BUSTER - has been cited more than 40 times by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board for using illegal union busting tactics, such as threats and firings to deny its workers the right to have a union.

WAL-MART DISCRIMINATES AGAINST WOMEN -Wal-Mart's female employees, in every job category, have been paid less than their male employees every year since 1997 for the same jobs. Men hold twice as many management jobs as women. There is currently a class action suit pending against Wal-Mart for sex discrimination in employment practices, it is the LARGEST EVER class action lawsuit filed.

WAL-MART DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THE DISABLED - the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has had to file more suits against the Bentonville billionaires club for cases of disability discrimination than any other corporation. A top EEOC lawyer told Business Week, "I have never seen this kind of blatant disregard for the law."

WAL-MART LOCKS EMPLOYES IN the stores after hours, an illegal and dangerous practice, leaving employees stuck inside with no way to leave even if they are sick or hurt. One case involved a Texas employee, Michael Rodriguez, who had machinery fall on top of him. He was trapped under the machinery for over thirty minutes until they could find a key to free him from the mess. Wal-Mart says that they only use the lock-in policy in areas of high crime or at risk of theft.

WAL-MART UNDERPAYS EMPLOYEES ­ An average employee makes about $7.50 an hour, and works 32 hours a week, a monthly gross of barely $1,000. Even though China's minimum wage is 31 cents an hour, workers in Guangdong Province are paid 13 cents an hour making toys sold at Wal-Mart. In contrast, of the 10 richest people in the world, five are Waltons ­ the owners of Wal-Mart. S. Robson Walton was called the wealthiest human on the planet by London's "Rich List 2001". Wal-Mart is now the world's biggest corporation, having passed ExxonMobil for the top slot. It hauls off a stunning $220 billion a year.

WAL-MART SHIRKS ON HEALTH INSURANCE ­ A majority of Wal-Mart's workers don't participate in its health insurance plan due to the high cost and huge deductibles. Wal-Mart relies on hiring part time employees to avoid giving health insurance coverage, and advises employees to apply for Medicaid from the state to cover their children, in effect, the taxpayers are footing this bill, and subsidizing Wal-Mart. They have increased the workers share of insurance premiums by over 200% since 1993, while medical care inflation only went up 50% in the same period.

WAL-MART TAKES ITS' PROFITS AWAY - Instead of profits staying in town to be reinvested locally, the money is hauled off to Bentonville, either to be used as capital for conquering yet another town or simply to be stashed in the family vaults (the Waltons, just bought the biggest bank in Arkansas).

WAL-MART PRACTICES PREDATORY PRICING ­ Putting local companies out of business, and driving jobs to China. Wal-Mart buys $10 billion in goods each year from China, where they now have their world-wide purchasing headquarters.

Leaflet given out by the Raging Grannies Without Borders, Detroit, Michigan, in front of the Wal-Mart Store at Van Dyke & 12 Mile Rd., Warren, Michigan on Saturday, December 11, 2004. This information was researched and compiled by Granny Kathy Russell.