Hillary Clinton: The Facts

The facts on Clinton and Wal-Mart
January 22, 2008
CLINTON SAYS SHE WORKED TO PROMOTE WOMEN AND DIVERSITY AT WALMART...
Clinton: I Worked To Promote Women, Diversity, Environment At Wal-Mart. "It's no secret that I served on the Board of Wal-Mart. I took a very active role in promoting diversity and involvement of women. I started talking about and working on the environment and the steps that the corporation could take. But I had disagreements with Wal-Mart that are also well known. I disagree with their approach toward unions and for a long time I urged then to provide healthcare to their workers." [Clinton press avail, 1/22/08]

...BUT THE RECORD SAYS OTHERWISE
Clinton Did Not Rock The Boat On Labor Or Gender Issues At Wal-Mart. The Los Angeles Time reported of Clinton's tenure at Wal-Mart, "Crowded with the others around metal folding tables in the kitchen of a converted warehouse -- a no-frills board room selected by 'Mr. Sam' himself -- Clinton assumed the role of loyalist reformer, making the case for measured change without rocking the boat. [...] Wal-Mart critics say her presence brought little lasting change to the firm. And former executives say she was not a voice for bold reform. 'She was not a dissenter,' said Donald G. Soderquist, Wal-Mart's former chief operating officer and the board's vice chairman during Clinton's tenure. 'She was a part of those decisions.'" [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]

A Lawyer Suing Wal-Mart Claims There Was "No Change For The Better" For Women During Clinton's Tenure. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Assigned to work on the diversity issue that preoccupied Walton's wife and daughter, Clinton joined an advisory committee that Walton had assigned to draft recommendations on pay parity and hiring women and minorities as executives. Rhoads said he and Clinton flew to New York to consult with a firm that helped corporations recruit more female directors. But Tom Seay, a former Wal-Mart vice president who was on the advisory committee, said that her 'involvement was limited' and that Wal-Mart staffers did 'most of the heavy lifting.' [...] The committee's existence -- and Clinton's role on it -- was not previously acknowledged by company officials said Joseph T. Sellers, one of the lawyers behind a class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart on behalf of women claiming discrimination. 'There was no change for the better during that period for women at Wal-Mart,' Sellers said. 'If there was change, it was minimal. Nobody knew about it or else it was just too subtle to recognize.' " [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]

Fellow Board Member: Clinton "Stayed Pretty Much In The Background On The Board." The Los Angeles Times reports, "On the board, Clinton impressed other outside directors brought in by Walton. 'She stayed pretty much in the background. But she was an advocate for women, quietly and effectively,' said Toys "R" Us founder Charles Lazarus, who became a director in 1984." [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]

Former Wal-Mart COO: Clinton Did Not Object To Wal-Mart's Union Policies. The Los Angeles Times reported, "Bob Ortega, author of 'In Sam We Trust,' a history of Wal-Mart, said workers were provided with incentives such as stock purchase programs and bonuses for efficiency while the firm sent in teams of lawyers and executives to stiffen resistance to union organizing efforts. Although the details of Wal-Mart's anti-union efforts were rarely broached during board meetings, Tate said recently, Clinton 'clearly knew the company's reputation.' Tate said that when he 'made presentations on what we were doing' during board meetings, Clinton did not raise objections. [Former Wal-Mart COO] Soderquist agreed, saying there was 'no sign that she had any criticism.'" [Los Angeles Times, 5/19/07]

Clinton Was Silent On Union Issues During Her Tenure On Wal-Mart's Board. Fellow board members and Wal-Mart executive said Clinton used her position on the company's board to champion personal causes, like the need for more women in management and a comprehensive environmental program, despite being Wal-Mart's only female director, the youngest and arguably the least experienced in business. On other topics, like Wal-Mart's vehement anti-unionism, for example, she was largely silent, they said Though she was passionate about issues like gender and sustainability, Clinton largely sat on the sidelines when it came to Wal-Mart and unions, board members said. During their meetings and private conversations, Clinton never voiced objections to Wal-Mart's stance on unions, said John Tate and John A. Cooper, board members who served with her. "She was not an outspoken person on labor, because I think she was smart enough to know that if she favored labor, she was the only one," Tate said. "It would only lessen her own position on the board if she took that position." A spokesman for Clinton said, "Wal-Mart workers should be able to unionize and bargain collectively." [New York Times, 5/20/07]

Critics Said Clinton Did Not Improve the Experience of Female Employees During Her Time on the Wal-Mart Board. The AP wrote, "Critics said there was little tangible change at Wal-Mart during Clinton's tenure, despite her apparent prodding. 'There's no evidence she did anything to improve the status of women or make it a very different place in ways Mrs. Clinton's Democratic base would care about,' said Liza Featherstone, author of 'Selling Women Short: The Landmark Battle for Worker's Rights at Wal-Mart.'" [AP, 3/11/06]

While Clinton Was A Director, Wal-Mart Resisted Unionization. The Village Voice wrote, "At the time, Hillary Clinton was still on Wal-Mart's board, and the retail giant was still resisting the unionization of any of its workers." [Village Voice, 5/30/00]