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What Wal-Mart Won't Be Talking About

By David Nassar

Health care? Wages? American-made products?

Last week, Wal-Mart Watch members suggested hundreds of serious, thoughtful topics for Wal-Mart to discuss at Friday's shareholders' meeting.

Unfortunately, Wal-Mart still doesn't plan to talk about any of them because any serious discussion of issues would interfere with the dog and pony show it plans to perform instead.

We're still looking for more feedback on what problems Wal-Mart should discuss at its meeting on Friday. Will you help us?

http://action.walmartwatch.com/shareholdersmeeting

To date, most people have written about workers' conditions - fair pay, affordable health care, and equal opportunity for promotions. But we also received hundreds of comments on a broad range of issues - from product safety to environmental responsibility to questionable labor practices in foreign countries.

The comments came from all over the country, and some were even submitted by current or former Wal-Mart employees. Angela from Maryland wrote:

The high cost of Wal-Mart's health insurance for employee & child and/or family coverage. I currently work at Wal-Mart.... and will not be able to get insurance for myself or my son because if I do I will not be able afford to take him to daycare and pay for gas to come to work.

Michelle from New Mexico wrote:

Is it possible for Wal-Mart to return to its previous vote of confidence in America by stocking, selling and promoting products made in America (I mean the 50 states)? They have the power to re-ignite the American economy by selling US products. A move like this would provide jobs for US workers and would make Wal-Mart look like a hero. Can Wal-Mart stop supporting China and their poorly made and oftentimes dangerous products? Be a hero Wal-Mart -- buy and sell American made products!

And Nicholas from Georgia wrote:

We who work at Wal-Marts across America need a cost of living increase... prices in the stores are going up each day but [our] wages are not so... when will we see this, when it costs more to get to work than what we are paid?

Wal-Mart's shareholders' meeting is on Friday, and we're still looking for more feedback about what the company should discuss. Will you send in your own response?

http://action.walmartwatch.com/shareholdersmeeting

Check out some of your responses on our blog at: http://walmartwatch.com/blog/cat/shareholders_meeting.