Walmart Workers Worldwide Call out World's Richest Family for 'Shameful' Labor Practices

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Common Dreams

Published on Wednesday, November 19, 2014

by Common Dreams

Walmart Workers Worldwide Call out World's Richest Family for 'Shameful' Labor Practices

'The Waltons are at the center of the income inequality problems that are hurting the global economy and all of our families,' says worker

by Lauren McCauley, staff writer



Calling out one of the world's richest families for perpetuating global inequality while reaping the benefits, Walmart workers in more than ten different countries are uniting on Wednesday in a global day of action for decent wages and respect at work.

With coordinated demonstrations planned in Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, the United Kingdom, India, Zambia, Hong Kong, and the United States, workers and allies are teaming up with international trade union UNI Global Union to expose Walmart’s bad labor practices throughout their stores, warehouses, and global supply chain.

"I'm working to build the profits of the richest family on the globe, while putting my safety at risk just to go into work," said one unnamed supply chain worker in a press statement. "The Waltons need to see and hear what they are doing to families around the globe. It’s shameful."

The demonstrators are calling on the Walton family—which own over 50 percent share of Walmart and are estimated to be worth a combined total of $152 billion—to publicly commit to paying the company's 2.2 million retail workers and countless more supply chain employees a living wage.


Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/11/19/walmart-workers-worldwide-call-out-worlds-richest-family-shameful-labor-practices

[Omaha Steve]

1. FIRST R!!!

[Dustlawyer]

2. +1!!!

[Dont call me Shirley]

3. Anyone have living wage amount in dollars for 2014?

[Politicalboi]

4. Have some sympathy

WalMart just got scammed with Amazon over their PlayStation 4.

The workers hold the power, more power to them. We're all tired of supporting WalMart and McDonald's for their lack of a "living" wage.

[cstanleytech]

5. The only thing imo thats going to get Walmart to change isnt a strike but rather a massive boycott

of them and anyone who makes a product that Walmart sales until Walmart decides that paying poverty level wages isnt profitable anymore.

[TBF]

7. We need both - strikes are important

to draw attention to the plight of the workers. Then perhaps folks will choose other sources if they have alternatives (understanding that in some areas Walmart is the only game in town or the cheapest). Personally I live within a few miles of many big box stores but do most of my shopping via Amazon.com.

[midnight]

6. " Managers are also encouraged to watch out for employees who complain about low wages or bad

working conditions"

"Managers are ordered to “immediately” call a special Walmart labor relations hotline if they suspect associates are discussing union-related activity or if they are approached by an employee with a question about such efforts. Managers are also encouraged to watch out for employees who complain about low wages or bad working conditions — those also warrant a call to the labor hotline, the material says.
A Walmart spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the document to MSNBC in January, saying such tools “are important to [making] sure that our associates are receiving accurate and timely information [about unions].”

But OWS says claims made in the managerial manual and another non-confidential document distributed to Walmart associates contain misleading claims about the UFCW and their “OUR Walmart” campaign.

“Walmart falsely claims that OUR Walmart is seeking union recognition and trying to build a union, because under U.S. labor law, this would take away some of the rights of striking workers,” OWS wrote. “OUR Walmart workers have gone on strike to stand up to Walmart’s retaliation against workers when they have come together to speak out about issues like decent pay, respect in the workplace and getting enough hours to survive. These are legally protected unfair labor practice strikes. Walmart wants people to believe that these are strikes for union recognition so that it can freely fire and target workers, rather than be forced to obey the law and respect their right to speak up.”

http://theblot.com/walmart-spies-employees-turns-unions-7716669

[sakabatou]

8. K&R

[bleedinglib]

9. Workers !!

I'v noticed the new jackets the wally world folks are wearing! That symbol on the back looks like a target. I at first believed that too be funny, But it's not !

[Initech]

10. The Waltons = worst family in the world.

[libodem]

11. Kick

[blkmusclmachine]

12. By definiton, the 1% cannot know "shame."

[Sparhawk60]

13. At What Point is Enough?

I understand the drive to make more money, being able to provide for your future, your children. But surly, at some point, even the greediest person has have enough money where they can sit back and say, enough is enough, lets start giving back to the workers who made me a millionaire. (or in the Walton's case, billionaires)

At this point, the Walton's can give all their additional profits back to the workers and the family would not even notice the difference.

[niyad]

14. k and r.

have not set foot in the evil empire in nearly 20 years, and will never. I would not care if they were giving the blood-soaked stuff away.

[grahamhgreen]

15. I boycott Walmart.