April 2012

On Sunday, April 21st, the New York Times reported allegations of widespread bribery by Wal-Mart's Mexican subsidiary, Wal-Mart de Mexico, in order to achieve fast growth in the country over the past decade. The article went on to show how top Wal-Mart officials were aware of the allegations.

Last week workers and community members responded with calls for accountability and an end to corruption and cover-ups. Venanzi Luna, a Walmart associates and leader in the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), launched a petition on change.org calling on CEO Mike Duke and Board Chair Rob Walton to re-sign, and for the Board of Directors to launch a thorough and independent investigation. In just a few days, the petition has gained over 5,000 signatures towards its goal of 10,000.

In several major cities, Jobs with Justice chapters joined actions to echo these demands and call on board members to step up and take responsibility for sorting out the mess.

Today the Supreme Court will hear arguments on Arizona’s SB 1070, and communities across the country will once again unite to call for an end of unsanctioned state immigration laws that promote racial profiling.

When SB 1070 passed it was unprecedented for a state to create its own immigration laws in spite of federal laws.  Now, two years later, legislatures in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, and Utah have passed similar laws, in part of what has been called the “Arizonification” of the country.

While the threats of SB 1070 type laws to workers and their communities are real, as the moral and civil rights complications are many, the question in front of the Supreme Court is much more fundamental.  They Supreme Court will be asked to decide if we are a country with a singular immigration law, or will we be a country divided by different immigration laws that vary from state to state.

Today we will join in solidarity with labor, faith, student, and immigrant right groups on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court and in communities across the country to demand a decision that falls on the side of justice and civil rights, and promotes national cohesion. 

(Washington, D.C.) - Joe Hansen, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and Chair of Change to Win, today released the following statement in response to the New York Times expose of Walmart’s corruption and purported cover-up by senior company officials. 

“The New York Times story about the Walmart Mexico corruption scandal and reported cover-up exposes serious violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and demands an immediate and thorough investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.   Walmart senior management exposed its lack of corporate morality and internal ethics to workers, shareholders, consumers and community members. 

Workers from Walmart and Hyatt are joining forces with community supporters to kick off a series of actions to confront the 1% and demand accountability from corporate America. Greg Penner is a super-1%-er who sits on both the Walmart and Hyatt boards. Penner is also a member of the wealthiest family in the United States, the Walton family, that largely controls Walmart.

The Waltons are no strangers to using their wealth to influence local elections, even in states they don’t live in. In 2010, Greg Penner was the fourth-largest individual contributor to winning state legislative candidates that put anti-worker Republicans in control of the Wisconsin state government. Now, he has co-founded Govern for California to leverage his influence on state elections.

Govern for California talks a lot about finding candidates with "courage" do to the right thing. But, is it courageous to refuse to meet with employees? Is it courageous to use your money to meddle in elections where you don’t live?

Last week, Bangladeshi labor activist Aminul Islam was murdered for his trade union activism.  The targeted and intentional killing of Islam in the export garment industry is a reminder to all of us about the deadly lengths that the 1% who oppose workers' rights are willing to go.  Apparel brands and retailers such as Walmart, Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, and H&M continue to make huge profits on the backs of impoverished workers of Bangladesh and other Asian countries – and turn a blind eye to the poverty, suffering, and deaths among the very people who produce for them.

Islam’s assassination is an escalation of the violence and indignity already heaped upon workers and organizers in the garment industry.  In 2010, Mr. Islam, a former textile factory worker, was arrested along with other colleagues of his and interrogated and tortured by the police and intelligence services.  In May of 2011, Jobs with Justice supporters signed a petition to save the lives of Islam among others for this very reason--