November 2012

Holiday, what holiday?!  Jobs with Justice coalitions joined workers at Walmart locations around the country on Black Friday as they walked out against unfair labor practices.  Twenty-seven JwJ coalitions mobilized community, faith, student and labor allies to over 80 actions in solidarity with the company’s “associates” in protest of their ongoing attempts to silence workers for speaking out for better jobs. Actions came in all sizes and creativity, from singing carols to store managers to stopping traffic and organizing mic checks inside.

While the impact on Walmart’s bottomline is still unclear, the company did make illegal threats to workers in the stores—even going so far as to file a bogus ULP claim with the National Labor Relations Board.  Needless to say, Walmart has yet to sit down with OUR Walmart collectively to discuss conditions on the job.

Reports are still coming in, but here are some of the photos so far.

A Statement of Jobs with Justice

In a historic move, nearly a thousand actions have begun around the country as a part of a rolling series of walk-outs by Walmart’s store associates.  The Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), called for the strike after numerous unfair labor practices (ULPs) the company committed against worker and in protest of Walmart’s ongoing attempts to silence workers for speaking out for better jobs.  This strike followed successful direct action by warehouse workers and seafood workers along the company’s vast supply chain.

In response, the company continued to make illegal threats to workers in the stores—even going so far as to file a bogus ULP claim with the National Labor Relations Board.

However, public support has been widespread, with many mobilizing to stores over the holidays to support workers who are walking out.  Over $125,000 has already been raised for strike support.  Jobs with Justice coalitions alone are responsible for mobilizing to over 80 store actions around the country.

This new movement of the Walmart 99% is only going to grow, and more rapidly each day.  It has become clear that the company cannot deflect it forever. 

On Thursday, November 15, Walmart filed a legal complaint against the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. The National Labor Relations Board charge is the company’s latest effort to quell the swell of organizing within its ranks.

Regarding the claim, Walmart spokesman David Tovar said in a statement obtained by Reuters: “We are taking this action now because we cannot allow the UFCW to continue to intentionally seek to create an environment that could directly and adversely impact our customers and associates. If they do, they will be held accountable."

This statement comes in direct contradiction with previous statements made by Tovar regarding the strikes. Following the initial wave of strikes in early October, Tovar told the Huffington Post, "The events that took place this week had absolutely no impact on our business whatsoever, on our ability to staff our stores adequately or serve our customers. The workers that have raised issues this week represent a very small, miniscule number of the total number of associates that work at Walmart."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 13, 2012

CONTACT:
Ori Korin
(202) 822-2127 x126
okorin@americanrightsatwork.org

Washington, D.C. – Tonight, Jobs with Justice and American Rights at Work Executive Director Sarita Gupta will be honored with the Business Ethics Network (BEN) Individual Achievement Award for her decades of successful work on economic and social justice, and for her leadership in bringing together diverse efforts into powerful coalitions for change.

BEN introduced the annual BENNY Awards in 2005 to recognize outstanding corporate campaign victories, and to celebrate the dedicated people leading the movement to transform corporations into socially and environmentally responsible organizations.