Sweatshop, Warehouse, Walmart: A Worker Truth Tour comes to NYC

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Thursday, we're bringing together workers from multiple points in the Walmart supply chain to tell how the world's biggest retailer keeps workers in a cycle of low wages, no voice on the job, and dangerous working conditions. Speakers will include a Walmart associate, a warehouse worker, and a Bangladeshi garment worker.  Join us! RSVP and more info on Facebook!

From Walmart Watch:

Walmart wants to open stores in New York City. The company is spending a lot of money to change the debate from the real issue, which is how it treats its associates and creates poverty-level jobs throughout its supply chain. As the world’s largest retailer, how Walmart impacts workers across the globe is a good preview of what kind of jobs it is going to try to bring to NYC.

Three workers representing different links in the Wal...mart supply chain will be appearing in New York on Thursday, March 31th as part of Sweatshop, Warehouse, Walmart: A Worker Truth Tour.

Robert Hines worked until very recently in a Chicago-area warehouse that supplies Walmart.

Cynthia Murray works in a Walmart store in Laurel, Maryland.

Aleya Akter is a young woman from Bangladesh who has worked in garment factories since she was nine years old, sewing the clothes sold in U.S. Walmart stores.

Kalpona Akter is a former garment worker and director of the Bangladesh Worker Solidarity Center who was imprisoned after a Walmart subcontractor brought falsified complaints against her.

These three workers would like to share with the community what it is like to work for Walmart, whether directly on the company’s payroll like Cynthia or indirectly for a shipper or supplier like Robert and Aleya.

For more information, visit sweatfree.org/walmarttour2011 or call 212.631.0886

Tour sponsors include Making Change at Walmart (a campaign of the United Food and Commercial Workers), Jobs with Justice, International Labor Rights Forum, United Students Against Sweatshops, and SweatFree Communities.

Walmart Buys its way into Africa

Image via Wikipedia

"Despite the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africa remains one of the most inequitable societies in the world. The acquisition of 51% of Massmart by Walmart will cut out even more local ownership of one of the major retail players in the country." 
-Tyotyo James, deputy-president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions. After Walmart's 51% bid on the major retailer Massmart was approved this week. "Walmart buys its way into Africa"

It's not just a domestic problem with Walmart, across the world they're notoriously known for exploitation of workers and destruction of small business.  In South Africa they're getting a lot of resistance for buying out the retail chain Massmart and essentially monopolizing the South African retail market.

Now that the Massmart deal cleared all the regulatory hurdles, a massive boycott is being planned for all Walmart/Massmart affiliated stores. [Financial Mail]

WalmartNYC.com Promotes Report: NYC Store Would Lower Wages

Here's something you don't see everyday, Walmart telling the truth.

The ingenious website www.walmartnyc.com which claims to promote real New Yorker opinions, is promoting a report from ABC News which covered NYC Public Advocate's Bill de Blasio's report that if a Walmart were to open in NYC retail wages would suffer.  Here's a screen shot from WalmartNYC's newsroom:

via: www.walmartnyc.com

We love how the logo above reads, "Helping NYC Save Money and Live Better", while they source studies that argue they'll lower retail wages.

Link: http://www.walmartnyc.com/2011/01/13/report-nyc-walmart-jobs-would-lower-wages/

Thanks, Walmart!

Update: The New York Politicker picked up the story also here: http://www.observer.com/2011/politics/wal-mart-website-inadvertently-brags-store-would-lower-wages

Rally and New York City Council Hearing Postponed to Feb.3

UPDATE: Due to the snow concerns, the New York City Council has rescheduled the hearing from Jan. 12th to February 3, 2011, same place, same time.  RSVP and discuss the rally on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=190233140990413

Rally to Keep Job-Killing Wal-Mart Out of NYC

RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=190233140990413

ABOUT WALMART FREE NYC
 
Walmart Free NYC is a coalition of workers, small business owners, community leaders, clergy and elected officials who are committed to increasing economic opportunities, preserving local businesses, and creating more jobs in communities across New York’s five boroughs.
 
 
WALMART IMPACT STUDIES
 
“The Impact of an Urban Wal-Mart Store on Area Businesses: An Evaluation of One Chicago Neighborhood’s Experience.” Davis, Julie, David Merriman, Lucia Samayoa, Brian Flanagan, Ron Baiman, and Joe Persky, December 2009. Center for Urban Research and Learning Loyola University Chicago.
Available online at http://luc.edu/curl/pdfs/Media/WalMartReport21010_01_11.pdf.
 
“The Effects of Walmart on Local Labor Markets.”  David Neumark, Junfu Zhang, and Stephen Ciccarella. October 2005. Public Policy Institute of California.

Available online at: http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2005/david_neumark.pdf


“The Effect of Walmart on Businesses in Host Towns and Surrounding Towns in Iowa.” Kenneth Stone. Iowa State University. November 1988.
Available online at: http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/stone/Effect%20of%20Walmart%20-%201988%20paper%20scanned.pdf
 

Wal-Mart Tries Again for New York City Store

Here are some recent stories on Wal-Marts attempt to invade NYC:

New York City Council Postpones Wal-Mart Hearing 

Citing a committee room too small to accommodate growing interest in a hearing next week about the economic impact of Wal-Mart opening stores in New York, the New York City Council postponed the meeting until next year, when it will be held in a larger space.

See Also: Wal-Mart Tries Again for New York City Store

"We needed a bigger room," Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, said. "We heard from unions all across the city, small business leaders from across the city. It's a growing list of people."

Walmart Makes Another Push Into New York City

Walmart hasn't given up on New York yet and is looking at real estate throughout the city. Many other metropolitan areas have blocked the retailer, largely over fear that it will damage the prospects of small local stores and regional chains. 

NY Daily News: Wal-Mart May Land in East New York; Community Braces for Big-Box Retailer

East New York is bracing for what could be the city's first Walmart, as the big box chain seriously eyes a site in the neighborhood.  "Related basically threw the supermarkets under the bus and decided to put all its eggs in the Walmart basket," said a real estate source

Walmart News: Walmart Confirms Smaller Stores, After Chicago Win, Will Wal-Mart Look to New York?

After Chicago Win, Will Wal-Mart Look to New York?
Wal-Mart won the right to open two more stores in Chicago this year, but does that man the world's largest retailer can eventually take Manhattan?


Wal-Mart Confirms Smaller Stores
The retailer confirmed that it will open medium- and smaller-sized stores beginning next year in urban areas and small towns. 


Wal-Mart to End Employee Profit-Sharing in February
Wal-Mart plans to end profit-sharing contributions in February, replacing them by matching some of the dollars employees put in their 401(k) retirement plans to pare expenses. Meanwhile, they're expecting "positive" 4Q sales.


Union Opposes Wal-Mart Expansion
A Rep of UFCW Local 152 said the union will raise objections to the company's proposed 40,000-square foot addition plans to add a full grocery component, including produce, deli and bakery sections, and keep the store open 24 hours. 

Massmart Meets Unions on Walmart Offer
Massmart executives have contacted labor unions regarding the offer by global retail giant Wal-Mart to purchase the local company for R30billion. 


Wal-Mart To Boost Buying From Local Farms
Wal-Mart is planning to double the sales of fresh produce it sources from local farms in its U.S. stores by the end of 2015. 


Daily Finance: 5 Fun Facts On Wal-Mart
The Top-line numbers don't convey just how massive Wal-Mart really is. To further understand this retail giant, here are some fun facts that help illustrate its heft...


Holiday Wish: Better Sales
Although the world's largest retailer has been losing sales to its competitors this year, they expect sales to improve in the critical holiday shopping season. "We expect positive sales results in the fourth quarter"- Mike Duke, Wal-Mart's CEO


New Baltimore Walmart Plans Anger Some

"We've looked at all the impacts of big box retailers around the country on urban communities, and we're not happy with what we learned,"- Betty Robinson of Baltimore

Groups Sue to Block Rohnert Park Wal- Mart Expansion

Sonoma County, CA-- The County Conservation Action argue that the council's decision effectively violated the land use policies outlined in the city's general plan, which calls for encouraging supermarkets to be "close to where people live". 

Colonie Rejects Super Walmart Plan

Latham, NY-- The board voted unanimously against the proposed 184,000- square-foot store during a public meeting that stretched into the early morning hours of Sept. 15.

Wal-Mart to Split Merchandising Responsibilities Among 4 Executives

The decision, which may not be permanent, raises some uncertainty about how the world's largest retailer will shape its merchandising  strategy. 

Wal-Mart Remodeling Many Wholesale Clubs

The remodeling is to better compete with rivals such as Costco. The new look includes wider aisles and lower shelves to offer a more expansive view of the store.

Walmart to Become Supercenter in Whitehall

Whitehall, PA-- Officials approve plans to tear down Sam's Club to make way for 180,000-square-foot general merchandise and grocery store with drive-through pharmacy and garden center. 

Wal-Mart Retailers Must Face Organic Milk Lawsuit

A federal appeals court reinstated a nationwide lawsuit accusing Wal-Mart Stores, Target and other major retailers of misleading consumers in the marketing of organic milk. 

Wal-Mart Sets Sights on San Francisco
As a part of its new "urban strategy," the world's largest retailer is looking to open two dozen stores in the Bay Area

Wal-Mart's News: July

Wal-Mart Moves In, In A Big Way

Chicago, IL--Wal-Mart Announced they want to open "dozens of new stores" in the next five years in various sizes ranging from 8,000 square feet to the typical  200,000 square feet Supercenter. 

Wal-Mart Goes to Washington- Maybe

Just a few days after Wal-Mart Stores appears to have won over skeptics in the Windy City of Chicago, the retailer has its sights set on another untapped metropolitan area: Washington, D.C. 

Wal-Mart Eyes Urban Expansion

Community groups claim victory, but retail giant won't pay "living wage" unions wanted. 

Westridge Store to Reopen in Fall

Portola Valley, CA-- The Walmart Store at Westridge Shopping Center in Salinas will reopen in the fall when a renovation is completedm a company spokeswoman said. 

Wal-Mart Grocery Deal Okayed by Farmers Branch City Council

Dallas, TX--The City Council voted unanimously to advance talks to sell a four-acre plot of land to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to develop a small grocery. 

Walmart to Present Grants on Opening Day

Johnson City, TX-- Walmart said that it will present $16,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to eight area organizations during the grand opening of its second store in Broome County. 

Walmart Hearing Set

Franklin, NC-- On Aug. 2, anyone with an opinion on the proposed Walmart Supercenter will have a chance to address the town board in a public hearing at 7:05pm at town hall. 

Fairlawn Wary of Walmart Move

OHIO- According to site plans recently filed with the township, LRC Development Co. of Akron is proposing two large retail buildings on Rothrock Road in Copley.


Walmart Near Battlefield Back in Virginia Court
ORANGE, Va-- A trail date is expected to be set on a bid to block a Walmart Supercenter near an endangered Civil War battlefield in northern Virginia. 


Another Billionaire Bailout for Wal-Mart Developer
Bridgeton, MO-- One of the richest people in America was given millions in public welfare to build an unnecessary Wal-Mart. This "bailout for Billionaires" was the work of the Bridgeton, Missouri City Council, where economic  illiteracy trumps common sense. 

Wal-Mart Fighting $7,000 Fine in Trampling Case
Wal-Mart Stores has spent a year and more than a million dollars in legal fees battling a $7,000 fine that federal safety officials assessed after shoppers trampled a Wal-Mart employee to death at a store on Long Island on the day after Thanksgiving in 2008. 


Medical Marijuana User Sues Over Walmart Firing
DETROIT-- A man who uses medical marijuana to treat symptoms of an inoperable brain tumor and cancer claims in a lawsuit filed when he was wrongfully fired from a Walmart store in Michigan after testing positive for the drug. 


Putting Screws to Suppliers Means Big Cash For Wal-Mart
Retail and consumer goods manufactures realize significant sales through Wal-Mart's retail channel giving Wal-Mart leverage to influence suppliers to sell at cheaper prices. With its power over suppliers and strong credit quality, can thus efficiently manage its working capital. 


Sam's Club Will Offer Small Business Loans
NEW YORK-- Wal- Mart's Sam's Club chain is teaming up with a lender to offer loans of up to $25,000 to its small business members. 


The Stats Behind Walmart


It's Called Capitalism
Walmart CEO Michael Duke's $35 million annual salary constitutes an hourly wage equal to the annual salary of the average Walmart employee. New Walmart employees are paid a gross salary of $13,650 a year. Thus, over a single lunch, Duke makes the yearly salary of one of his workers. 


Walmart Contributing to Destruction of Indonesia's Rainforests
Major U.S. companies are contributing to the destruction of Indonesia's rainforest's by sourcing paper from Asia Pulp and Paper (AAP)


Wal-Mart and Procter & Gamble Join Forces
To promote more family friendly shows, the "project" is a secret community of geniuses formed to solve some of the world's problems, and they must fight to keep a new technology from falling into evil hands. 

WakeUpWalmart.com Launches “Hope for the Holidays” Campaign to Highlight Walmart’s Track Record of Poor Product Safety

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 15, 2009  

WakeUpWalmart.com Launches “Hope for the Holidays” Campaign to Highlight Walmart’s Track Record of Poor Product Safety

 

(Washington, DC) - The 490,000 members of WakeUpWalmart.com today launched a consumer education campaign to highlight Walmart’s track record of stocking dangerous and unsafe products. Activists and community leaders from across the country will come together to inform consumers about Walmart’s business model and how it encourages the production of dangerous products and puts profits above the safety of consumers. Supporters of WakeUpWalmart.com and the National Consumers League will also send Walmart CEO Mike Duke an open letter asking him to put consumer safety ahead of profit this holiday season.

Walmart has repeatedly carried products that have been identified as unsafe or dangerous by reputable consumer safety organizations. Right now, there are children’s holiday gifts offered for sale at stores and online with high levels of dangerous substances including lead, chlorine, arsenic, cadmium, and bromine according to HealthyStuff.org, a project of the Ecology Center and the Center for Environmental Health.

WakeUpWalmart.com and the National Consumers League are calling on Walmart to pull these dangerous products. These products include:

-     Zhu Zhu Pets

-     Mrs. Potato Head

-     Walmart brand black and yellow frog wallet

-     Disney Princesses pink belt

-     iCarly pink belt

-     10 Squirtin' Sea Buddies

-     A Touch & Feel Bedtime Book

-     Chux! Fling Shots

-     Our Good 5 Game Combo (Badminton, Volleyball, Shuttle Smash, Flying Disc, Jelly Ball)

-     The Original Little Red Wagon - Model #32

-     Small Bakugan Battle Brawlers Backpack

-     The Original - Butterfly Watch

-     Red Flame Watch

-     Green Giraffe Print Bag

 “As the world’s largest retailer, Walmart should be a leader in improving safety standards for the products it carries,” said Pat O’Neill, Executive Vice President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. “Unfortunately, right now Walmart is using its size to push suppliers to produce at a lower cost which could end up compromising product safety. Saving money and living better should not mean pushing suppliers to cut costs that may result in cutting corners. Our wish list for Walmart is that they ensure their products are safe, so families don’t have to worry. Walmart can certainly afford to take extra precautions to inform customers of potential safety concerns.”

In addition to educating consumers about Walmart’s unsafe business practices and dangerous products, WakeUpWalmart.com, the National Consumers League, and their supporters will sign an open letter to Mike Duke demanding that Walmart take responsibility for the products on its shelves. In it, consumers tell Duke that, “We know Walmart can afford to do right by America’s families and help make this holiday a safe one. As the nation’s largest retailer, Walmart has an obligation to pull products with toxic levels of chemicals from its shelves—and end the unsafe practice of pushing suppliers into cutting corners.”

For more information please visit http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/holiday2009.

###

UFCW News Service
www.ufcw.org

UFCW Coalition Launches New Wal-Mart Campaign,

“Nobody wants an economy where workers earn wages that can’t support a family. Nobody wants an economy where people who go to work everyday and work hard have to turn to public assistance for basic needs." 

-UFCW International President Joe Hansen, announced a new national comprehensive American values-driven agenda to hold Walmart accountable to its workers, our communities and the planet.

The UFCW announced a campaign challenging Wal-Mart to change its corporate practices for the sake of the economy and the communities in which it operates.

"We want to see some real change," said Patrick J. O'Neill, international vice president of UFCW in today's Washington Post.  You may watch the new advertisements here. Or Below

Week in Wal-Mart News

Wal-Mart continues to test their Latino thread of stores, hoping it will spark more U.S. expansion.

It's official a Wal-Mart will be built on a Civil War battle field.  But Preservationists say that the Wal-Mart Civil War battle is not over yet.

Wall Street Journal looks at Wal-Mart's international growth and sales compared to the U.S.  Wal-Mart operates 3,615 stores internationally and 4,258 in the United States.

Wal-Mart also spent $2.6 million lobbying in the 2nd quarter.

Wal-Mart uses recession in attempt to come to NYC

“Now, more than any other time in recent memory, New York City residents want and need better access to our stores so they are not forced to travel to New Jersey or Long Island to benefit from the savings Wal-Mart provides for working families,”... “Hopefully we will be able to bring a store to New York in the near future.” -a spokesman, Philip Serghini, in an e-mail message, in yesterdays Crain's.

Here is Wal-Mart once again using the recession as a frugal attempt to enter New York City.

Weekly Wal-Mart Round Up: July 20

Image by Lone Primate via Flickr

In Boston, a Superior Court judge here who refused to allow Wal-Mart to settle a class-action lawsuit involving off-the-clock work and shortened breaks has scheduled the case to go to trial Oct. 5, according to published reports.

In a long five year battle, UFCW Local 1400 (Canada) is appealing a decision by Court of Queen's Bench Justice Peter Foley, who ruled last month that the certification of a Wal-Mart, in the town of Weyburn, was wrong.

Workers in foreign factories that supply Wal-Mart can't blame the company for their alleged sweatshop conditions, despite the retail giant's code of conduct that's supposed to hold its contractors to decent labor standards, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

Wal-Mart Stores here will discuss the development of a new index that measures the "social and environmental impact" of its products at a press conference today, reports said yesterday.

OSHA cites Wal-Mart $7,000 for Black Friday Death.

A federal judge has given final approval to a $17.5 million settlement of a discrimination lawsuit that accused Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of not hiring black truck drivers.

The UFCW is appealing the decision in Canada which overturned the unionization of a Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart, messes up sales tax in second state, makes another false claim in new Ad...

A national Ad group has told Wal-Mart Stores yesterday that it should stop running TV ads claiming customers can save $700 a year by shopping its stores. This is not the first time Wal-Mart has been told to stop making claims like these in advertisements.

Wal-Mart has also named a new diversity officer.

Wal-Mart is also having yet another 'sales tax mishap', overcharging customers, this time in Missouri. If you remember this was previously an issue in Connecticut.

Lee Scott, the former chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores, called on attendees at the CIES World Food Business Summit here on Friday to join the Global Social Compliance Program to help ensure that suppliers are adhering to local wage and environmental regulations.


Why Wal-Mart needs the Employee Free Choice Act.

Wal-Mart Watch Launches an NYC Watch Program

Our friends at Wal-Mart Watch have launched a site specifically designed to keep Wal-Mart out of New York City! Take a look for yourselves!

New York is the largest city in the United States. It's home to 8.3 million people – 27,147 persons per square mile – and zero Wal-Mart stores.

Much to the chagrin of Wal-Mart and its former CEO Lee Scott, Wal-Mart has had no luck in New York City. Masters of rural and suburban growth, Wal-Mart has never been able to circumvent the city's strong labor presence, activist population, and restrictive zoning laws. In 2004, Wal-Mart tried to open its first store in Rego Park, Queens and the move was met with opposition from a coalition of politicians, union organizers and community members. [New York Magazine, 8/8/05] Similarly, residents denied Wal-Mart when it attempted to open a store in Staten Island in 2005. [New York Times, 8/22/05]

big ups to everyone at Wal-Mart Watch!

Wal-Mart close to unionizing in Miami, Florida

Image by anonymonk via Flickr

Breaking news from Miami,
Miami may have the first Wal-Mart to unionize in the United States.

Walmart Workers for Change, a new campaign claiming to represent thousands of the Bentonville, Ark.-based mega-retailer’s 1.3 million associates across the United States, the campaign has employees in over 100 stores in 15 states who have signed union representation cards, alleging a lack of respect from the company, in addition to low wages and inadequate benefits as reasons to become unionized.

Check their new video here.

Chicago's Wal-Mart super-center is now back on the table.

Exon Mobil overtakes Wal-Mart Stores to top the Fortune 500.

UFCW steps up organizing efforts at Wal-Mart.

More Wal-Mart's around the country are showing signs of organizing.

Questionable donations by Wal-Mart, Employee Free Choice...

Image by AlaskaTeacher via Flickr

Wal-Mart was downgraded from 'buy' to 'hold' by Citi, why? Fear of the Employee Free Choice Act. [Reuters]

Wal-Mart's Sam's Club has a new CEO.

Questionable donations in Chicago have spurred rumors and raised eyebrows regarding a development and Wal-Mart.

Supermarket News: "Wal-Mart denies interest in reported Manhattan sites"

Image via Wikipedia

Despite Supermarket News reporting this morning that Wal-Mart has declined interest in the Circut City and Virgin Megastore sites, Wal-Mart did acknowledge their continued interest in the "Jewel" of retail, New York City.

Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union President Stuart Applebaum called the move opportunistic:
"We don't need Wal-Mart to take a advantage of an economic crisis to sneak into New York and drive down standards and wages," he said.

He's right, the last thing this city needs is for Wal-Mart to continue to take advantage of the recission. Reports have surfaced in the past few weeks of their strategy to take advantage of the recession in order to "sneak" into cities, they've done so in Chicago and now California.


NYC Rumors

Gothamist: "Reverend Billy to send Wal-Mart back to lake of hellfire"

Sign the letter to the new Wal-Mart CEO

Today, Wal-Mart has a new CEO. Mike Duke has the historic opportunity to turn the page, and finally start doing things the right way at Wal-Mart. Sign our open letter of support to Wal-Mart workers, outlining what their new boss can do – starting today – to let them live better, too. We’ll be posting the letter on our website, and sending it to every employee that we talk with -- and we'll make sure to send Mike Duke a signed copy as well.

Follow this link to sign the letter: http://action.walmartwatch.com/page/s/mikeduke

Bruce Springsteen: "It was a mistake." (Doing business with Wal-Mart)

Image via Wikipedia

In the New York Times Sunday Bruce Springsteen expressed his regret on having his new album for sale exclusively at Wal-Mart.

“given its labor history, it was something that if we’d thought about it a little longer, we’d have done something different.” He added, “It was a mistake...."

You can read the entire piece here.