RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum Praises Clinton Stance on Wal-Mart (5/1/07)

A key leader of the effort to stop Wal-Mart from opening in New York City praised Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) for her comments about the giant retailer at an April 26 Democratic presidential debate in Orangeburg, SC.

"Sen. Clinton spoke for all working families when she discussed Wal-Mart's shortcomings," said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the 100,000-member Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

Appelbaum said that the Democrat's stance on the company's controversial employment practices "flies in the face of claims that she is too cautious in addressing tough issues."

"A cautious candidate would have side-stepped the question and she clearly did not," he said, adding that her willingness to challenge Wal-Mart "is reminiscent of Sen. Robert Kennedy's supporting the farm workers at a time when few in public life were willing to identify with them."

"Sen. Clinton has demonstrated a unique understanding of how Wal-Mart is failing to live up to its responsibilities as a corporate citizen," Appelbaum said.

"Based on my experience working with her in New York I know that she shares the labor movement's commitment to making Wal-Mart the kind of employer it ought to be," he concluded.