Just In Case You're Waffling on Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart has been making a concerted effort to redeem themselves with the public lately. Just in case you're still waffling about the Beast from Bentonville, here's another bit of news to consider.

Hat tip to Josh Craft, Political Dissonance:

The Washington Post reports this morning that the inspector general is criticizing the Sweet heart deal between Wal-Mart and the Department of Labor. It's good that the inspector general did its job, but depressing the the DOL has become a wholly owned subsidiary of corporate America under this Administration.

Rep. George Miller, who continues to be a strong voice for working families, had this to say:

"The Bush Labor Department chose to do an unprecedented favor for Wal-Mart, despite the fact it is well known for violating labor laws, including child labor laws," Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the lawmaker who requested an investigation, said in a statement. He also said such an arrangement could allow the nation's largest employer to cover up evidence of a violation and would discourage employees who might fear retribution from filing a complaint.

This is how the Washington Post article describes the specifics of the deal between Wal-Mart and the Department of Labor:

..."the company will receive 15 days' notice "of any audit or investigation at the stores covered by this agreement."

The report released yesterday said that the 15-day advance notice is "inconsistent" with the department's guidelines and that Wal-Mart could avoid penalties or a formal citation if it brings a facility into compliance within 10 days of a notice of violation. Labor officials in February said that Wal-Mart's advance notice would involve only child labor investigations and that it is standard practice in such cases. But the inspector general's office said the 10-day provision "was designed to allow Wal-Mart to avoid penalties if compliance is achieved."

The report also raised specific concerns about the agreement because "it contained significant provisions that were principally authored by Wal-Mart attorneys and never challenged by" the Department of Labor."

No wonder the media is dubbing this a sweetheart deal. Average Americans don't get 15 days notice before authorities bust into their homes to check for evidence of a crime, so why should Wal-Mart get a break, especially considering the advance notice only pertains to child labor investigations?