Walmart Fires Striker

[Omaha Steve]

Source: The Nation

Josh Eidelson

The union-backed labor group OUR Walmart alleged Friday night that Walmart has retaliated against multiple workers who went on strike and traveled to its Arkansas headquarters this month, including Florida employee Lisa Lopez, whom the retail giant fired Friday.

“I think they don’t want me to actually let people know what’s really going on at Walmart as an associate,” Lopez told The Nation. “So they’d rather get rid of me.” Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday night.

As The Nation has reported, about a hundred members of the retail workers’ group OUR Walmart, which is closely tied to the United Food & Commercial Workers Union, mounted a several-day strike in the lead-up to the retail giant’s June 7 shareholder meeting. That first-ever prolonged strike by US Walmart employees, which began May 28, brought Lopez and others workers from across the country to Walmart’s Bentonville, Arkansas, hometown, where they staged a week of protests.

The OUR Walmart campaign described Lopez as a prominent activist, noting that she was the star of a campaign video, posted to Youtube May 31, which highlighted her reliance on food stamps and a second job to support her family. Lopez drew the attention of local and national media (including The Nation) during OUR Walmart’s November 23 “Black Friday” work stoppage, when US Congressman-elect Alan Grayson came to her St. Cloud, Florida, store to accompany her as she went on strike.

Read more: Walmart Fires Striker | The Nation http://www.thenation.com/blog/174937/walmart-fires-striker#ixzz2WyfEBePi
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FULL story at link.



Read more: http://www.thenation.com/blog/174937/walmart-fires-striker#axzz2WyeasSdH

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[Cooley Hurd]

1. Kick and Rec. Costco is opening a new store near me...

...and I plan on being the 1st in line!!!

[closeupready]

8. Costco is the best! You won't be disappointed.

I am a member, and love it. Renew every year.

[Ash_F]

2. I haven't shopped at Walmart in a long time. And won't

But what we need is legislation to protect workers and break their monopolistic stranglehold.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. You mean get rid of Taft Hatley for starters?

Florida is a right to work for less state courtesy of it.

[Ash_F]

4. Sure. Boycotts and strikes are not enough.

There needs to be a threat of jail for these abusive practices, that only hurt consumers, workers and the economy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Won't happen under this government

But there is a reason the corps, and te government really did not fight, card check.

It is just a minor around the edges law making union organizing easier.

If that could not happen, nothing will.

That said I disagree in one respect...this country needs national strikes that last for days...these are really small actions.

Until millions take to the streets and stay in them...

[thenooch]

6. Strike?

I'm not sure these employees understand what a strike is. You can't just not go to work and take a trip to Arkansas and call it a strike.

Get back to me when they can shut down a store for a day, until then they will have no power.

Problem is, most WalMart employees are living hand to mouth and can't risk losing their jobs...I truly believe WalMart is the bottom of the barrel for workers...get fired there, you're screwed.

[DainBramaged]

7. "I'm not sure these employees understand what a strike is"

I guess the UFCW is a front for a dance group?

[thenooch]

9. " I guess the UFCW is a front for a dance group? "

I read the articles and for the life of me I didn't see where this "strike" actually closed, or even adversely affected the commerce, of ONE WalMart location.

Did I miss something?

[bitchkitty]

10. They have to start somewhere.

At least they're fighting back. They're setting an example for other workers, and the next strike may be more effective, and the one after still more, until as you say, they close a store.

So yes, you missed something. There's no instant gratification in a revolution.

[lanlady]

11. whatever happened to the right of freedom of assembly?

Can't these anti-union tactics be challenged on constitutional grounds?

[ButterflyBlood]

12. What? No one is being arrested for these actions

Constitution doesn't govern private entities. If Paula Deen was arrested for her racist comments, that'd be a First Amendment violation, but the Food Network ending her contract for them is not.

[ButterflyBlood]

13. She sounds like a good organizer and can get a better job now

Anyone with a diploma or GED can get a better paying job than Wal-Mart. My advice to anyone forced to work there is put all your energy into finding a decent job instead of the futile task of getting this shit company to change.

[primavera]

14. This is news?

This is what MalWart does.