To the Editor:
Re “Big Retailers Make Pledge of Stores for ‘Food Deserts’” (news article, July 21):
The White House’s decision to pay tribute to Wal-Mart for agreeing to open or expand stores in areas designated as “food deserts” was misguided.
Wal-Mart has a history of destroying good jobs in the communities it enters and creating jobs that perpetuate the cycle of poverty—leaving more workers unable to buy healthy food for their families.
Instead of honoring Wal-Mart, the White House should laud employers who are creating good jobs with benefits that can support a family and challenge Wal-Mart to do the same.
JOSEPH T. HANSEN
President, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
Washington, July 22, 2011
Note from KBJ: The letter writer would rather have no jobs at all than the jobs Wal-Mart provides.
