Peter Lizdas: Living wage at Wal-Mart?

Wal-Mart's union-busting labor practices are legendary.

Only recently, all across the nation, demonstrations by Wal-Mart employees and their sympathizers in labor drew attention to the poor pay and working conditions of those workers, and to the fact they have no opportunity to collectively bargain for improved conditions.

So, while I hope it is true that Wal-Mart will suddenly reverse its previous labor practices here in Merced, I see no good reason to believe this will actually be the case.

Without the right to organize, Wal-Mart workers' chances of earning a living wage are approximately zero.

PETER LIZDAS

Merced