Because of its sheer size, what Wal-Mart does matters, whether or not you shop there. When it decided to get behind CFL bulbs a couple of years ago, it used its considerable negotiating power to get General Electric to lower the price.
Imagine that, Wal-Mart using its power as a force for good. That it helps Wal-Mart as well - according to one news account, the retailer has sold nearly 200 million CFLs - doesn't hurt.
The news hasn't all been good for Wal-Mart of late, reminding many of the reasons it has become one of those companies that so many love to hate.
About the same time it was touting its newfound support of local farmers, the Wal-Mart of old reared its head: A Minnesota judge ruled last week that it had violated employment laws by denying workers meal and rest breaks and forcing them to work off the clock.
The ruling stemmed from one of numerous lawsuits that workers have filed against Wal-Mart over the years, saying managers regularly kept them from breaks or made them work through lunch hours or after they'd clocked out for the day.
According to news accounts, the judge in Minnesota found that Wal-Mart violated wage and work conditions laws more than 2 million times. He threatened fines of $1,000 per violation, which could end up totalling more than $2 billion in penalties.
Wal-Mart is said to be considering an appeal. Given that big numbers are one thing Wal-Mart understands, maybe a big fine will have the same effect on the company that big fuel costs have had - meaning, the kind of motivation to change how it does business.
jean.marbella@baltsun.com
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