Washington D.C. Targets Wal-Mart With "Living Wage" Law

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...211_story.html

The world?s largest retailer delivered an ultimatum to District lawmakers Tuesday, telling them less than 24 hours before a decisive vote that at least three planned Wal-Marts will not open in the city if a super-minimum-wage proposal becomes law.

The company?s hardball tactics come out of a well-worn playbook that involves successfully using Wal-Mart?s leverage in the form of jobs and low-priced goods to fend off legislation and regulation that could cut into its profits and set precedent in other potential markets. In the Wilson Building, elected officials have found their reliable liberal, pro-union political sentiments in conflict with their desire to bring amenities to underserved neighborhoods.

Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) called Wal-Mart?s move ?immensely discouraging,? indicating that he may consider vetoing the bill while pondering whether to seek reelection.

The D.C. Council bill would require retailers with corporate sales of $1 billion or more and operating in spaces 75,000 square feet or larger to pay their employees no less than $12.50 an hour. The city?s minimum wage is $8.25.

While the bill would apply to some other retailers ? such as Home Depot, Costco and Macy?s ? a grandfather period and an exception for those with unionized workforces made it clear that the bill targets Wal-Mart, which has said it would open six stores, employing up to 1,800 people.

My question is, "Why would someone want to go work a manual labor job for a paltry $12.50 an hour when welfare is much more lucrative?" $12.50 per hour comes out to $26,000 per year based on a 40 hour work week.

I don't like Wal-Mart - they're up there with commercial airline travel IMO. But for the life of me I do not know why they continue to try to locate their behemoth stores in large urban areas like Chicago and DC.

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