Statement from United Auto Workers (UAW) President Ron Gettelfinger regarding Wal-Mart's comments on the loss of manufacturing jobs in the United States:

"If Wal-Mart is truly concerned about the loss of manufacturing jobs in America, then the company should stop demanding that its suppliers source their goods from overseas factories where labor costs are low, workers are exploited, and environmental and safety standards are either non-existent or not enforced."

"Wal-Mart cannot claim to be a socially responsible company simply because it is creating jobs. Not when the workers who fill those jobs are denied a free choice about whether or not to join a union, and when so many of them are forced to rely on public assistance because of the company's low pay and inadequate benefits."

"There's no reason for U.S. taxpayers to subsidize a company whose owners are among the richest people on the planet."

Wal-Mart's response to a letter signed by 65 religious leaders asking Wal-Mart to change for the better:

They ask: "Should people of faith shop at Wal-Mart?"

Surely many Americans are deeply offended that union leadership would use religion as just another tactic in the negative attack campaign against a company that donates more money to good works than any other company in America. And with all the news reports of manufacturers laying off tens of thousands of skilled union workers this Holiday Season, we’d hope the union leadership would show more compassion for its members rather than spending its member dues attacking a company that creates 100,000 jobs a year.

- Sarah Clark, Wal-Mart Spokesperson