Dive Summary:
- Wal-Mart is dropping plans for as many as three D.C. stores following the D.C. Council's expected adoption of a bill requiring large retailers to pay employees a "living wage."
- Under The Large Retailer Accountability Act, companies with at least $1 billion in annual revenue would be required to pay employees a minimum of $12.50 an hour, $4.25 higher than the D.C. minimum wage of $8.25.
- The dropped plans include stores at Ward 7's Skyland Town Center and Capitol Gateway, and possibly a Ward 5 store planned for New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road NE--each of which would have had 300 full- and part-time employees.
From the article:
... In a statement, Mayor Vince Gray says he is quite disappointed with the latest turn in Wal-Mart's development saga with the District. "Walmart’s announcement today is immensely discouraging," he says. "We’ve worked diligently to expand entry-level job opportunities for District residents and end retail leakage to neighboring jurisdictions. The cancellation of three planned stores will surely set us back." ...
