Wal-Mart employees calling for their employer to improve working conditions and make company health insurance more affordable is probably not the image the world's largest retailer wants to have. But a union-backed group is to launch two television ads today that feature exactly those images and words.

Starting today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union will be running ads starting today that feature Wal-Mart workers. The 30-second ads, produced by WakeUpWalMart.com, show three workers who list their complaints. The complaints include low wages and an odd claim of being locked in stores without the ability to care for a sick child.

One complaint I will never get about Wal-Mart is the absurd "low wage" argument. Wal-Mart does comply with the law, and workers have complete freedom to work or not work there. The tired rhetoric of the downtrodden being somehow "forced" to work at Wal-Mart still holds no water as far as I am concerned. Wal-Mart may indeed pay low -- albeit legal -- wages, but should not be forced to pay higher wages or the very fabric of capitalism will start to be shredded. Workers should be responsible for their own families, not a private employer.

Although I do have many beefs with Wal-Mart, I agree with the company on this one. It says, "Our customers see these attacks as a part of a tired and failing campaign. Americans know that Wal-Mart creates jobs, reduces the cost of health care through our $4 generic drug program and protects the environment through our sustainability efforts."