I read this article the other day and thought it would make a good topic for Worker Wednesday. The dirty little secret that is not stated directly is that while 94.5 percent of Wal Mart workers have health insurance only 51.8 percent have Wal Mart provided insurance. That leaves a huge number of Wal Mart workers who are covered by State insurance plans, plans paid for by taxpayers.
I am all for public health coverage, but an employer should be required to make its insurance plans affordable to their workers. Paying minimum wage or slightly better and offering an unaffordable health plan will push employees to taxpayer supported health coverage. In the meantime the CEO of Wal Mart walked away with $30 million in compensation. Wal Mart should use some of that CEO compensation to better the pay and benefits of its workers.
See this blog post for more information about Wal Mart’s profiteering.
