Around the Net

Wal-Mart Controls Its Advocacy Group

  • MSNBC/AP, Friday, December 21, 2007 11:45 AM
Wal-Mart is taking control of the advocacy group Working Families for Wal-Mart, which was created and run by Edelman, its global public relations firm, to counter political-style campaigns against the retailer started in 2005 by two large unions. The company will retool the group and its Web site as a platform for employees and consumers to speak out in favor of the world's largest retailer, rather than the outside supporters it has featured so far.

Working Families has been part of a broader campaign to counter WakeUpWalMart.com and Wal-Mart Watch, founded by two unions. They were launched in 2005 to shame the retailer into changes, including better pay and benefits.

Working Families featured a national steering committee of small business owners, clergy and academics who spoke out in favor of the retailer. In its heyday, the Web site traded almost daily barbs with the union critics. At one point Working Families created another site--paidcritics.com--that attacked the individuals behind the union campaigns.

advertisement

advertisement

Read the whole story at MSNBC/AP »

Next story loading loading..