Globalization: Mexico vs. Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart is getting maddeningly hard to avoid in Mexico City. Owners of popular chains like Vips, Suburbia, Superama, Bodega Aurrera and Sam's Club, they are weakening the competition and workers rights throughout the country.
At a meeting of the Frente Nacional Contra Wal-Mart (Mexican Front Against Wal-Mart, link below) some of the following statistics about Wal-Mart in Mexico were discussed:
• There are currently 1,030 establishments in Mexico (of a total of about 8,000 worldwide), and they are promising to open a new one each day in 2008.
• 200,000 workers, making it Mexico's biggest single employer. Around 30,000 of those employees are UNPAID. (18,000 grocery baggers and 12,000 parking lot attendants). Seems incredible but I have spoken with baggers and parking lot attendants, who actually have to pay Wal-Mart part of their tips to keep their jobs!
• Fundación Wal-Mart, the group's philanthropic arm, gives away approximately .07% of the value of its sales in Mexico. Wal-Mart's U.S. foundation gives away approximately 2% of their profits.
• Wal-Mart has set up stores in delicate areas such as Teotihuacan, Amecameca, Cuernavaca and Acapulco, where it cut down 1000 trees for a new location in 2003.

The Mexican Front Against Wal-Mart has a meeting with the Mexican House of Representatives April 8-9 to put forth their arguments about Wal-Mart's tax evasion, environmental destruction and devastating effects on local business and workers.
The first meeting of Latin American countries against Wal-Mart is scheduled for Oct. 12 in Mexico City.

Americas Policy Program related article:
Wal-Mart Faces Accusations of Anti-union Practices in Argentina
http://americas.irc-online.org/am/4733

Sources for Mexico's anti-Wal-Mart campaign information:
Frente Nacional Contra Wal-Mart A.C.
www.geocities.com/frentenacionalac

Tianguis-Si-Wal-Mart-No
http://wal-mart-no.blogspot.com/

Video from "A Day Without Wal-Mart" Dec. 2, 2007


Posted by Katie Kohlstedt