Wind, Full disclosure and Walmart

So the good news is, on the Cape Wind project, National Grid has agreed to buy the electricity generated from the turbines of of Cape Cod.... this is huge folks and should help move the project forward.

It is revealed today that at lease 7 of the 21 companies awarded stimulus money in Mass have failed to report, as the State requires, serious pollution or workplace safety penalties levied against them. The Center for Investigative Reporting at Boston University has done the investigating. Prior violations do not dis qualify contractors from receiving the funds, but clearly, those companies who have neglected to be honest with their paperwork will be looked at by the AG's office for possible fraud charges. As we know from past posts, the State was directed to make sure the stimulus money went to fully vetted companies who have complied with ALL the reporting requirements. The lack of oversight in just this matter... is just what many of you have written about all along.... and you were right.

Walmart wins some.. and losses some. Last week in Canada, their supreme court ruled in Wally's favor in closing a store because of Union activity... but the world's largest retailer has agreed to pay 40 million in wages to 87,500 current and past employees in our State, in this states largest wage and hourly class action suite, filed in 2001. In the suite, Walmart is accused of denying workers rest and meal breaks, refusing to pay overtime and manipulating time cards to lower employees pay. Employers across the State should take notice from this as it appears that they are seriuos about violating workers rights and will eventually make the violator pay.