Wal-Mart Can Be Responsive - Sometimes

Here is a story that stands out in the midst of all the negative press coverage of Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has been known for ignoring ethics in many cases, such as the recent case involving Debbie Shank, the woman who was hit by a truck, suffered severe brain damage, and was awarded a settlement, which Wal-Mart then proceeded to sue her for.

This time, Wal-Mart stood out among a group of retailers who are all seemingly stonewalling the media on allegations of selling shrimp processed in Thailand and Bangladesh factories with very poor working conditions. An article on cnn.com tells of a report from the Solidarity Center detailing the brutal working conditions some workers in these factories are subject to. According to the report, factories are dangerous, dirty and full of potential for fatal accidents. Workers are treated "like slaves" and many workers are trafficked. Some of these workers are as young as eight years old.

Some of the well-known American retailers who allegedly sell this "slave labor" shrimp are: Costco, Tops Markets, Wal-Mart and the trendy Trader Joe's, where we liberals go to feel healthy, organic and environmentally conscious. Shame on you, Trader Joe's.

Of these (and others not named), only Wal-Mart has come forth with statements to the media. The cnn.com article quotes Wal-Mart spokesman Deisha Galberth as saying, "We hold our shrimp suppliers to the highest safety and quality standards - including maintaining processing plants and packaging facilities that meet or exceed Best Aquaculture Practices standards set by the Global Aquaculture Alliance. Although we have not seen the Solidarity Center's report, we are working with our suppliers to investigate the allegations shared by CNN. We're not aware of any issues in our supply chain."

Now, in time, the truth about the shrimp will, doubtless, come out and we will know whether or not Wal-Mart is hiding the truth about their suppliers. However, it was interesting and somewhat encouraging to see Wal-Mart reply to the media before the other retailers; as it now stands, Wal-Mart is the only organization that has responded. The point is: a response is better than stonewalling.  

-Kelly