SEIU Matches Wal-Mart Watch’s Donation to Former Wal-Mart Employee Deborah Shank

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today matched Wal-Mart Watch’s donation to former Wal-Mart employee Deborah Shank. Together with an online fundraiser, a total of over $15,000 will be donated for her future medical care.

A November 20 Wall Street Journal article entitled “Accident Victims Face Grab for Legal Winnings” brought Mrs. Shank’s story to national attention.  When she was left brain damaged after a tragic collision with a semi-trailer truck seven years ago, her Wal-Mart health care plan paid her initial medical bills. After the Shanks collected a modest settlement from the trucking company responsible for the accident, Wal-Mart successfully sued the Shanks to seize the funds - $470,000 to reimburse itself for the medical expenses, plus the company’s legal fees and interest. Wal-Mart’s lawsuit demands will completely drain the money set aside in a trust for Mrs. Shank’s future care and force her to rely on public assistance for her medical and living expenses.

“In this season of giving, Wal-Mart has the opportunity to grant the Shank family a holiday miracle,” said Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union.  “Wal-Mart should reconsider its decision to take back the money that Mrs. Shank would use for her medical expenses.”

Wal-Mart Watch launched an online fundraiser for the Shank Family on November 28th and in two weeks the group pulled in over $5,000 dollars. Wal-Mart Watch pledged to match the amounted donated, and did so last week. Today, SEIU told Wal-Mart Watch that they would also match the money donated through the online campaign to help ease the burden on the Shank Family and send the strong signal that while Wal-Mart’s actions are technically legal, they are morally reprehensible and heartless.

As Wal-Mart touts its new health care plan and spends millions on public relations campaigns to repair its poor reputation, this story once again exposes the company’s poor business practices and disregard for the health and welfare of its employees.

Last week, letters were mailed on behalf of Deborah Shank to the Wal-Mart Foundation, The Walton Family Foundation and the Wal-Mart Employees in Critical Need Fund, imploring them to match the donated sum as well. Despite the large amount of negative publicity that Wal-Mart has received over its treatment of the Shanks, no response has yet been heard from the foundations.

Click here to contribute to the fund.

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Thursday, December 20, 2007

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