Once again, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is promoting the idea of a “Compensation Equity Act” that would require British Columbia public sector workers to be paid no more than private sector workers doing the same job. An article in the Province newspaper quotes CTF’s BC director, Jordan Bateman, as claiming that “taxpayers are overpaying for labour throughout the system”, based on three examples:

Daily Kos: “The Real Walmart”?!? Six Big Fibs in Walmart’s New Ad Campaign.

Walmart is good: good for its employees, its customers, its suppliers, and even for the environment, says the company’s new ad campaign and website, dubbed “The Real Walmart” as a retort to the company’s critics.

But alas, the facts say otherwise. On inspection, each of the major claims in the campaign turns out to be “The Fake Walmart.”  Let’s examine each of these glowing pronouncements, along with the murky reality that lies behind it.

1. The Claim:  “Opportunity: That’s the Real Walmart!” exults one of the ads. “Over 75 percent of store management started as hourly associates.”

The Reality:  An internal Walmart document just leaked to the press this week reveals that:

• Hourly “associates” at Walmart start at or near the minimum wage. Performance-based pay increases can result in “promotions” in pay and title…