Here's our statement on the ruling from Minnesota:

Walmart again forced to pay for exploiting workers

For Immediate Release
July 2, 2008

CONTACT: Meghan Scott
(866) 253-1350

A Minnesota judge has ruled that Walmart must pay $6.5 million in back pay to 56,000 employees because it forced them to work off the clock and through lunch breaks. Walmart is currently facing 76 lawsuits across the country for such behavior, and has already been forced to pay $172 million in a suit in California. They were cited for more than 2 million violations of labor law and a jury could force them to pay $1,000 for each violation, or $2 billion.

The following statement is attributed to Meghan Scott – campaign director for wakeupwalmart.com.

“Walmart’s slogan claims to help its customers “live better,” but at a time when hard-working families are struggling, Walmart continues to cheat and exploit its employees.”

“It is shameful that a company with more than $11 billions in profits feels it can break the law. It is even more shameful that at a time when families are financially struggling, Walmart CEO Lee Scott continues to allow this type of exploitation and mistreatment. Walmart and CEO Lee Scott need to start playing by the rules and stop denying workers the pay and benefits they have earned.”