Wal-Mart hits Hub wall (vows no city store despite use of union labor to build)

[Omaha Steve]

http://bostonherald.com/business/general/view/2011_0804headlinegoes_menino_vows_no_city_store_despite_use_of_union_labor/srvc=home&position=3

Menino vows no city store despite use of union labor
By Thomas Grillo
Thursday, August 4, 2011

Despite a promise from Wal-Mart to use union labor to construct its soon-to-be built store in Saugus and the retail giant’s willingness to consider the trades in Boston, Mayor Thomas M. Menino remains adamantly opposed to a Wal-Mart in the Hub.

“All of a sudden, Wal-Mart has become Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes because opposition is mounting and they’re pulling out all the stops to convince urban com-- munities to allow them in,” Menino told the Herald. “It’s not just about using union labor, it’s about their record.”

Menino’s com-- ments follow a decision by the Arkansas-based retailer to use union labor for the construction of a 114,000-square-foot Wal-Mart on Route 1.

Saugus Town Man-- ager Andrew Bisig-nani said he was pleased that Wal-Mart and WS Development, the Chestnut Hill-based project developer, decided to use union laborers. “If Wal-Mart uses union workers and gets the project completed on time without any labor strife, we support that,” he said.

As Wal-Mart runs out of suburban locations, the retail behemoth is setting its sights on smaller stores in big cities. It is eying Boston and is close to a deal in Somerville for a 34,000-square-foot supermarket at the former Circuit City near Assembly Square.

FULL story at link.

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Is this the image WalMart seeks to project?

That of a marauding horde laying siege to a medieval walled city? I agree with Mayor Menino; it's not just about their labor record.

[HockeyMom]

2. No Walmarts in NYC

The people (Queens) fought to keep them out. Imagine all the money Walmart lost with that. Poor babies.