To the editor:

It appears that Lawrence is getting another Wal-Mart. Because they are the world’s largest retailer with $220 billion in sales last year, I’m sure there are those who are anticipating a job there. Those people should know that Wal-Mart sets the standard for wages and benefits throughout the U.S. economy, according to the director for United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. They should also know that health insurance would be available to them.

The down side to all this is that an average hourly Wal-Mart employee will earn barely $18,000 per year with a company that pocketed $6.6 billion in profits in 2002. On the Wal-Mart insurance plan, $85 would be deducted from a biweekly check of $550. You do the math; is this a living wage? Wal-Mart is currently being sued by workers in 27 states for violating wage and hour laws. It is not unusual — but rather the rule — that you will be asked to work overtime for no pay at all.

Any female who is contemplating a career at Wal-Mart should also know that it has the same percentage of women in management today that the average company had in 1975. They also are facing a sex discrimination lawsuit stating promotions and equal pay are being denied to 700,000 female workers.

These statistics came from the March issue of Mother Jones magazine. Anyone considering applying at a Wal-Mart should read the entire article. You may change your mind.

Doris Stine,

Lawrence