Trying to combat obesity by opening more Walmarts might seem like a counterproductive strategy (Exhibit A), but it’s one of the initiatives being spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama in her quest to encourage “healthier living.” She’s also teamed up with Walgreens and SuperValu to help them expand their stores to low-income urban and rural areas.
But her efforts are sparking criticism, and not just from the right. Many liberal activists are opposed to Walmart, insisting it puts local vendors out of business and has unfair worker practices. For example, shortly after Obama announced her initiative today, I received this statement from the United Food and Commercial Union Joe Hansen:
“The First Lady’s commitment to addressing childhood obesity in the U.S. is laudable and the UFCW commends her for her enthusiasm for such a worthy endeavor. But with income disparity between the rich and the poor at more extreme levels than during the Great Depression, Walmart must be held accountable for its track record of lower standards for millions of retail workers. … The White House should laud employers who are fueling economic recovery by creating good jobs where workers can afford to take care of their families and buy the healthy food their children deserve.”
Unions obviously have their own personal agenda for targeting the anti-union Walmart, which has been ranked by Forbes as a top company to work for. But considering Big Labor’s recent frustrations with President Obama, it’s interesting the First Lady is choosing to pursue this particular initiative.
There are many positive aspects of Michelle Obama’s plan, though. Expanding successful chains like Walmart would help bring jobs to low-income communities, and potentially encourage shoppers to choose groceries instead of fast food. There’s also the benefit of the chain store’s lower prices, which would put less financial stress on struggling families and draw in new consumers from neighboring communities. The boon to the local economy would more than make up for any loss of area businesses that unions say they’re concerned about. For years, unions and liberal activists have campaigned to block Walmart stores in certain urban areas (D.C., for example). But with White House support — and a feel-good narrative about “healthy eating” — Walmart might actually have a shot at overcoming this.
