Working Families for Wal-Mart on Thursday announced a roster of local supporters that includes local business owners, veterans advocates and former city councilmen from Denver and Greeley.
The group – funded by the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer and formed to counter criticism of the company – also released the results of a study it said illustrates the company’s impact on the metro-area economy.
Working Families for Wal-Mart was founded in December. It has pegged high-profile leaders, including former United Nations ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, to speak on its behalf.
At an event organized by the group, University of Colorado economics professor Barry Poulson presented data indicating that in 2004 the average Denver-area household saved $1,364 as a result of Wal-Mart’s prices. That amounted to 2.2 percent of the average family’s annual household income before taxes, said Poulson, who serves as a consultant to Working Families for Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart’s metro-area employment increased to 6,337 people in 2004, compared with 1,530 people in 1991. The retailer’s share of metro-area retail employment grew to 5.23 percent from 1.67 percent over the same period, according to the report.
The study did not address wages or health- care costs. Wal-Mart has been criticized for its health-care policies, which opponents say leave many of its employees and their families uninsured or on public assistance.
Opponents who spoke outside the Working Families news conference said the group is trying to put a positive spin on problematic business practices by Wal-Mart.
“They bring bad jobs into our communities and drive good jobs out,” said Heidi Zwicker, executive director of Colorado Jobs With Justice, a union-backed group.
Working Families member Terry Cooper said she supports the retailer because of its contributions to veterans’ causes. Denver-based Orange Glo International founder Max Appel said Wal-Mart provides a venue for small companies to grow.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-820-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
