A neighborhood group has invited both a representative of Wal-Mart and the United Food & Commercial Workers union to discuss community concerns regarding the new Wal-Mart store in St. Paul.

The meeting, open to the public, will be held Tuesday, March 23, at 6 p.m. at St. Peter Claver Church, 375 N. Oxford. It was organized by the Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation and will feature Wal-Mart District Manager Kevin Miller and UFCW Local 789 Organizer Chris Conry.

The first Wal-Mart store in St. Paul is under construction in the Midway area. At the meeting, citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns.

The presence of the giant retailer raises many issues, said Conry. ?There is a host of workplace issues,? such as wages and working conditions, he said. Wal-Mart currently faces a lawsuit in neighboring Dakota County that alleges it has underpaid workers.

?But the problems that Wal-Marts pose aren?t purely labor issues,? he noted. ?The loss of local retailers, local businesses (from competition by Wal-Mart) will ultimately harm the health of an area.?

Groups expected to participate in the meeting include the Twin Cities Religion Labor Network, ACORN, Progressive Minnesota, student organizations and others, he said.

For more information
Visit the UFCW Local 789 website, www.ufcw789.org