’Make Wal-Mart Care About Health Care’ Campaign Launches in Washington State, Nationwide; Civic, Community Leaders Hold Press Conferences in 16 States, Demand Wal-Mart Provide Health Care for Workers, Stop Relying on Taxpayers

News Advisory:

-- “Make Wal-Mart Care About Health Care” Campaign Launches in Washington State and Nationwide

-- Civic and Community Leaders Hold Press Conferences in 16 States, Demand Wal-Mart Provide Health Care for Workers, Stop Relying on Taxpayers

Tomorrow, June 1, at 9 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seattle, civic and community leaders will hold a press conference to launch a nationwide campaign to “Make Wal-Mart Care About Health Care.” The press conference is part of a coordinated nationwide launch by Wake-Up Wal-Mart, who will be holding press conferences in 16 states.

Speakers at the press conference will address Wal-Mart’s health care crisis and the direct cost to taxpayers at both the state and federal level. The press conference will begin with a “Wake Up Call” to Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart, in which Scott will be told that it’s time for Wal-Mart to provide decent and affordable health care for its workers.

At the press conference, a bill of the “Wal-Mart Health Care Tax” will be presented. The “Wal-Mart Health Care Tax” is a 3-foot-by-6-foot replica of an actual “Wal-Mart bill.” The bill displays the dollar cost state taxpayers pay for providing health care for Wal-Mart’s workers. Speakers will also be calling on the need for legislative action in the state to ensure that wealthy, multi-billion dollar corporations, like Wal-Mart, stop shifting their health care costs on to taxpayers. Finally, speakers will release a letter to Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart, on behalf of state taxpayers demanding Wal-Mart provide affordable health care for its workers and reimburse state taxpayers for the amount owed.

WHAT: Launch of nationwide “Make Wal-Mart Care About Health Care” Campaign

WHERE: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Parish Hall (downstairs), 1215 Thomas Street, Seattle, WA, 206-622-1930

WHEN: Wednesday, June 1, 9 a.m. (PDT)

WHO:

-- Pastor Susan Burchfield, Immanuel Lutheran, 206-622-1930

-- Washington State Sen. Karen Keiser, kkeiser@wslc.org

-- John Burbank, executive director, Economic Opportunity Institute, 206-529-6345

-- Shawn Cantrell, executive director, WA Citizen Action, 206-389-0050 ext. 109

-- Dr. Bob Crittenden, University of Washington/Harborview Medical Center, 206-744-9192

-- Washington State Rep. Steve Conway, 253-735-8181

Background:

Wal-Mart, a company with $10 billion dollars in net profit last year, fails to provide health care for more than 52 percent of its 1.3 million workers. In 12 of 13 states with available data, Wal-Mart workers rely on public health care, like Medicaid, more than the workers of any other employer. As a result, in state after state, Wal-Mart is directly shifting its health care responsibilities to American taxpayers. Central to the campaign will be a grassroots effort to build public and political pressure against Wal-Mart to address its part in America’s health care crisis, as well as a call for legislative action that will ensure Wal-Mart - not taxpayers - pays its fair share in each and every state. The “Make Wal-Mart Care About Health Care” campaign initiative is part of an overall nationwide effort to change Wal-Mart led by http://wakeupwalmart.com.

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The “Make Wal-Mart Care About Health Care” initiative is part of national grassroots effort led by wakeupwalmart.com to change Wal-Mart into a more responsible corporate citizen.

Contact Information

Peter Diaz

Media Contact

Wake-Up Wal-Mart

Contact via E-mail