Students are taking action because they are troubled by Wal-Mart's practices which they feel are detrimental to many. The private employers' practices have been under close examination by protestors and students alike, especially within the past year. Currently, fewer than half of Wal-Mart's workers are covered by the company's healthcare plan. Pem Brown '06 claimed that Wal-Mart's low wages and poor benefits have cost taxpayers up to $2.5 billion per year in public assistance and health care programs. Wal-Mart also faces the largest gender discrimination lawsuit in history, directly affecting more than 2 million female employees.
Another concern expressed in relation to Wal-Mart's practices is the breaking of child-labor laws. Wal-Mart has recently agreed to pay $135,540 to settle federal charges after breaking child-labor laws in early 2005. The company's wages have also faced scrutiny. The average full-time Wal-Mart associate, who works approximately 34 hours per week, makes $17,114 in a year. "This is well below the poverty line for a family of four," said Brown. "Wal-Mart also refuses to stock emergency contraception and allows its pharmacists to refuse to fill other valid birth control prescriptions."
The Pioneer Valley Coalition to Change and Challenge Wal-Mart has been meeting weekly on the College's campus since its establishment in October. Brown explained that the anti-Wal-Mart campaign is not centered solely around Wal-Mart, the largest private employer in the US. "It's important to remember that these campus, regional and national campaigns aren't just about Wal-Mart," he said. "We focus mostly on this one corporation because Wal-Mart is the industry leader."
This week has been dubbed National Week of Action against Wal-Mart by the organization Wal-Mart Watch, coinciding with the release of Robert Greenwald's new film, "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price." At the College, students will be tabling in Keefe Campus Center all week, posting informational flyers around campus and screening Greenwald's new film this Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Fayerweather Hall. A student rally will also take place at the local Wal-Mart in Hadley this Saturday on Nov. 19. Although many students will be away from campus on that particular date, the scheduling worked best for the local coalition.
Marshall Nannes '09, a campaign member, described the potential dangers that will result from the formation of a Supercenter in Hadley. "The traffic and air pollution is going to be a problem for all Amherst College students," he said. "The traffic is going to hurt students who have cars and especially students who use PVTA to get to classes at the other Five Colleges."
Nannes explained that existing businesses may suffer if the Supercenter is created. Expanding the current Wal-Mart may take businesses away from shops in the Amherst downtown area and may consequently lead to closures. "You may think that [creating the Supercenter] is a good thing since you can get what you need cheaper at a Supercenter," Nannes said.
Upcoming events, town hall meetings and the rally that will be held this Saturday will support the prevention of the Supercenter. Since Amherst students do not reside in Hadley, they will not be allowed to speak at the meetings. However, Nannes explained that student presence at the meeting may send a message to the Hadley Town Council.
According to Brown, the main local issues surrounding the building of the Supercenter are increased traffic and pollution, the paving of farmlands and wetlands, regional store closures and a loss of unionized jobs. Since the creation of the Supercenter will affect the students on campus, Nannes stated that students "have a real power to do something meaningful to stop it."
Students have taken note of the campaign's efforts, but many feel that it has the potential to become much stronger. "I think this is going to be an ongoing effort, said Lauren Grau '06. "So I feel like as they keep going, it'll raise more awareness."