Wal-Mart Watch: Chicago Aldermen refuse to back down from demands that Wal-Mart commit to labor standards in exchange for zoning approval: ...on Wednesday, allies of organized labor on Chicago's City Council scored at least a temporary victory over Wal-Mart, securing a one-month delay in zoning approval for Wal-Mart to open its first two Chicago stores, on the South and West sides. ...Northwest and Southwest Side aldermen, including Zoning Committee Chairman William J.P. Banks, who tabled Wal-Mart's zoning, say Wal-Mart is a negative force on the U.S. economy, forcing other stores to lower wages to be competitive and forcing companies such as Chicago-based Radio Flyer to move their manufacturing operations overseas where it's cheaper. "If Sam Walton were alive today he'd be doing somersaults in his grave," said Ald. Dick Mell (33rd). "He wanted to buy American." Now Wal-Mart sells cheap imports instead of American, he said. "They're not good for the country," said Ald. Tom Allen (38th). "And they're taking over." Banks and Ald. Edward Burke (14th) predicted labor leaders would reach an accord by the next City Council meeting allowing the projects to go forward. "A commitment by Wal-Mart not to get into the grocery and food business would go a long way toward resolving this controversy," Burke said. A commitment by Wal-Mart to pay Chicago employees a "living wage" and not punish them for trying to unionize would also help, other aldermen said. So much for the conventional wisdom that you (or City Hall) can't fight Wal-Mart.