Take Action for “Cover The Uninsured Week”
Posted on May 2, 2005 by webteam
We’ve alerted the media. Now it is time for you to take action:
As “Cover the Uninsured Week” begins, Walmart Watch has called upon state legislators nationwide to follow Maryland’s lead and compel Wal-Mart to improve its health care spending for workers. Wal-Mart Watch has also called upon its nationwide network of supporters to contact their state legislators in support of such action.
The Walmart Watch appeal to over 3,400 state legislators notes that Wal-Mart, as America’s largest private employer, is contributing to the crisis of uninsured Americans by failing to cover 60% of their workers – over 600,000 men and women. According to a study of 2002 data by Harvard Business School, Wal-Mart spends $1,300 less per employee annually on health care than average retailers and $2,100 less than average U.S. companies.
The legislators of Maryland have taken a bold step. Let your leaders know that similar measures must be taken in your state today. Click here to find contact information for your state senator and representative.
Walmart Watch Executive Director Andrew Grossman said, “In calling upon state legislators to pass similar bills – and as companies like Starbucks rightfully point to their commitment to providing health care for their workers – we note that last year alone, Wal-Mart reaped a $10 billion profit. Improving health care spending for Wal-Mart workers is an attainable goal for a company that is under increasing pressure to reform. During ‘Cover the Uninsured Week’, we also note that more than eight in ten of the uninsured live in families where the head of the household is employed. The crisis of affordable health care can be mitigated by responsible employers. Wal-Mart bears tremendous responsibility and must be amenable to change.”
Click here to read the full press release.
