Andrew Young to head pro-Wal-Mart group

Andrew Young, a former United Nations ambassador and Atlanta mayor, will be the public spokesman for a group organized with backing from Wal-Mart Stores that defends the world's largest retailer against its critics.

Working Families for Wal-Mart, a group of community leaders from across the country, was set to announce today that Young will be the chairman of its 16-member steering committee formed in December to counter charges from two union-backed groups that are pressuring Wal-Mart to improve wages and benefits.

Young said he will be a public face for the group, giving interviews and publishing opinion articles defending Wal-Mart.

"They are some of the best entry-level jobs that are available to poor people. And they also make products available to the working poor," Young said.

The ordained minister and former U.S. congressman and union organizer now heads GoodWorks International, which pairs corporations and governments on global issues.

Young said he is not being paid but that GoodWorks has a contract from Working Families for Wal-Mart for consulting work. Wal-Mart is the group's largest financial backer. Working Families for Wal-Mart declined to say how much Wal-Mart contributes or what it is paying GoodWorks.