Thank you for putting the story highlighting the state Department of Labor and Industries’ exemption of Wal-Mart from ergonomics rules on the front page of your publication.

This is an important story that every newspaper should feature on the front page. Every Washington State citizen should be outraged that L&I is doling our special exemptions to big, out-of-state businesses, while Governor Locke does nothing. Unfortunately, most newspapers in the state have, like Governor Locke, looked the other way on this issue.

Given the seemingly uphill battle BIAW fights every day to garner positive media attention on important issues, it was immensely gratifying to receive the Business Journal and see the photo of Wal-Mart juxtapositioned with the photo of Locke. And the headline accompanying the photo is priceless. Thank you for calling a spade a spade.

Erin Shannon, Public Relations Director
Building Industry Association of Washington
Olympia.