Ask Wal-Mart to Extend its Hand in Good Faith
Last fall, together with Wal-Mart Watch and many others, you helped pressure Wal-Mart to be a more responsible neighbor, employer, and corporate citizen by joining Higher Expectations Week. This spring, Wal-Mart Watch launched the next phase of our campaign to pressure Wal-Mart to become a better corporate citizen, called "A Handshake With Sam" -- and based on the company’s own founding principles, established by Sam Walton.
We hope you will join us again. Below is a draft letter asking Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott to protect human dignity at the workplace, to keep Wal-Mart’s operations clean, and to be completely transparent with the public. I hope you will use this draft letter to communicate your concerns -- and to ask CEO Scott to commit to these seven principles and assume the moral responsibilities we expect of our biggest and most important American corporation.
Read and Edit This Letter in Word (right-click to download)
Mr. Lee Scott
Chief Executive Officer
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Bentonville, AR 72716-8611
Dear Mr. Scott,
On May 23rd, 2006, Wal-Mart Watch presented you with a proposal entitled “A Handshake with Sam,” an agreement which outlines Wal-Mart’s moral responsibility to employees, customers and communities. I am writing today to add [organization name]’s support to A Handshake with Sam and to urge Wal-Mart to accept this offer in the same good-faith in which it was proposed. Enclosed, please find a copy of the Handshake agreement for your review.
Wal-Mart has a unique opportunity to extend its hand to the communities in which it operates and to obtain positive corporate impact. [organization name] is committed to joining with Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart Watch to achieve the seven moral principles set out in the agreement. [organization name] is particularly dedicated to working with Wal-Mart to enact the principle [insert particular principle]. We believe Wal-Mart can be a leader on [wages/environment/etc] and can use its size to make great strides for progress.
It is [organization name]’s strong belief that Wal-Mart has an opportunity to become a force for positive change in the American economy by accepting these principles. Following these and extending your hand to the communities in which you operate would signal a willingness to take on an important leadership role in the 21st century.
[organization name] looks forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Title]
[Organization]
Read and Edit This Letter in Word (right-click to download)
