Labor applauds as City Council bill mandates employee health benefits.

This article reports that a coalition of labor unions, small businesses, and advocacy organizations has declared the Health Care Security Act passed by the New York City Council. A major victory in the battle to win health care protection for city grocery and food retail employees, and workers in major "big box" stores like WalMart. The measure is considered a victory by a coalition that has fought such "big box" stores as Wal-Mart, charging that the mega-store's health care plan is so expensive employees who find it unaffordable are forced to rely on taxpayer-funded health care programs.