New leaders at union-backed group target Wal-Mart on China product safety issues

[billyoc]

Under new management, union-backed Wal-Mart critics unveiled an ad campaign Thursday that seeks to tie the world's largest retailer to the recent slew of safety problems in Chinese imports.

It is the first campaign from a new team of strategists at WakeUpWalMart.com after the two founding leaders left in July for the Democratic presidential campaign of John Edwards.

The group is one of two political campaign-style organizations launched by unions in 2005 to pressure Wal-Mart Stores Inc. from the outside after years of failing to unionize its stores. WakeUpWalMart.com and the other group, Wal-Mart Watch, criticize the retailer over issues including wages and benefits.

Wal-Mart has responded by adding public relations staff and hiring global PR agency Edelman to press its message of being a good corporate citizen with competitive wages and benefits.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070920-1053-wal-mart-critics.html