Wal-Mart failed in its attempts to create a sweatshop on wheels

A Wal-Mart lead business group has failed in its attempts to extend truck drivers' maximum working day to 16 hours. Legislation was going to be introduced by a U.S. representative from Wal-Mart's home state Arkansas, John Boozman, whose district includes Wal-Mart's Bentonville headquarters and who has received considerable campaign support from the company.

In the wake of strong public, trade union and congressional opposition to these plans, Boozman withdrew his proposed amendment to the highway and transit bill.

The new legislation would not only have extended the daily working hours, but also enabled Wal-Mart and other companies to have truck drivers waiting at depots for hours without getting any pay.

- By leading the lobbying efforts for this reckless change to federal law, Wal-Mart's true colours were revealed for all to see, said Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department of U.S. trade union confederation AFL-CIO.

- A company that earns a profit of $20,000 each minute, flaunts labor and safety laws, and pays its workers wages below federal poverty levels certainly does not need any more favours from Washington.

- Forcing truck drivers to spend as much as 16 hours on duty runs completely counter to the vast body of scientific evidence about the dangers of tired truck drivers – and the need for our government to act in the public interest. We will continue to oppose any attempts to advance this anti-safety measure, Wytkind said.

Wal-Mart is among the country’s worst 100 carriers in terms of crash rates, according to the Department of Transportation. In 2003, 5,382 Wal-Mart truckers travelled the roadways; 173 Wal-Mart trucks were involved in highway crashes, causing 10 fatalities.