7 Signs the National Outcry Against Walmart Will Lead to Big Changes

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/activism/7-signs-national-outcry-against-walmart-will-lead-big-changes



1. The NLRB finds Walmart’s retaliation tactics illegal.

In a huge victory for labor, the National Labor Relations Board found that Walmart violated the rights of 117 of its workers. On Monday, the NLRB released a statement affirming that Walmart stores “unlawfully threatened, disciplined, and/or terminated employees” for both “having engaged in legally protected strikes and protests” and “in anticipation of or in response to employees’ other protected concerted activities.”

***SNIP

2. The fear is fading, and workers continue to speak out.

Instead of silencing workers, Walmart’s harsh retaliations are actually encouraging more and more workers to speak out. Even several fired employees are continuing the fight and making sure their stories are told and voices are heard. This community of former and current workers, known as OUR Walmart, has been highly courageous. As the saying goes, courage is contagious. Check out OUR Walmart’s video here featuring workers who have been fired. The best part: their rewording of Walmart’s motto “Save Money. Live Better” to “Speak Out. Live Better.”

3. Workers can’t wait for Black Friday.

Empowered more than ever, all this speaking out has led to amped-up action, happening even before the planned Black Friday events. In recent weeks, strikes were reported in Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Texas, and Washington. Perhaps the most notable action was in early November, when more than 50 Walmart workers in Los Angeles were arrested after taking part in the largest act ever of civil disobedience against Walmart. These escalating actions are the leadup to the 1,500 scheduled Black Friday protests around the country.

***SNIP

4. OUR Walmart’s actions received numerous endorsements.

These eager workers are not alone in their desire for change. OUR Walmart has stated that numerous individuals and organizations have announced their support for Walmart workers’ Black Friday actions. They stated:

Individuals and organizations announcing their support for Walmart workers represent millions of Americans from every corner of the country, including members of Congress such as Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Rep. George Miller (D-CA); policy experts and academics such as Demos, the National Employment Law Project and the Economic Policy Institute; women’s groups such as the National Organization for Women and Family Values @ Work; and environmental and consumer protection organizations such as the Sierra Club, the National Consumers League and Food and Water Watch.

[Laelth]

1. k&r for labor. n/t

-Laelth

[NYC_SKP]

32. And let's not forget who served on Walmart's Board of Directors and wants the Whitehouse.

Please give us Liz Warren instead.

[Scuba]

33. +1

[drm604]

2. It would be HUGE if they could succeed in forcing meaningful change.

If something as big and powerful as Walmart could be changed by these types of actions, imagine what else is possible.

People will have more hope and less fear. The psychological effects of such a win could be enormous and could lead to more outpourings and more actions on a host of issues.

[NewJeffCT]

3. I hope this leads to something, but I'm not hopeful

There was a lot of publicity last year about Wal-Mart opening at 8pm on Thanksgiving... they responded by opening at 6pm on Thanksgiving this year.

[Starry Messenger]

4. I think I read they have the largest number of employees in the US

Organizing them all would be a huge leap forward for main street. 1.3 million people, only 475k are making 25k, according to Walmart's own reports.

[lonestarnot]

5. Solidarity!

[a kennedy]

7. ditto to Solidarity.

[RichGirl]

35. True solidarity....

Because this isn't just about employees....all of us are getting scammed. Almost half of Walmart employees live below the poverty line. Their pay is so low that they qualify for food stamps, housing supplements, etc. And who is paying for that? Us...the taxpayers. We are paying Walmart employees. Friday CNN had a panel to discuss this and they said that ONE BILLION DOLLARS of Walmarts 3 billion profit last year was taxpayer money. They all concluded that Walmart doesn't care about people.

[myrna minx]

6. K&R for labor. n/t

[99Forever]

8. Please Walmart wage slaves.

Strike on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

As much as it will hurt, in the short term, it will do more to better your futures than you can imagine.

And to the rest of us, boycott Walmart, for now and until the day they change their evil 1%er business practices.

It is time to take OUR NATION back.

[Control-Z]

17. I haven't shopped in Walmart since 2004.

Even before, I had only been in their stores maybe a dozen times. I don't enjoy shopping in big, filthy places.

[juajen]

31. Instead of the slaves taking all of this on their backs,

I think we all should boycott WalMart. If they've no customers, perhaps they will come around. I know a lot of us have already been boycotting WalMart, but we need more dedicated to shopping elsewhere. There are many places that are kinder to their workers than WM.

[99Forever]

36. I haven't stepped into a Walmart...

.. in well over a decade and have spoken many times to friends and family of their abuses and the need for all of us to never give a penny of business to that bloodsucking corporation. A few have listened, but most haven't, that leaves it to the workers to take measures to make a better future for themselves. I wish there were an easier way for them, but there really isn't.

[spanone]

9. K&r...

[pinboy3niner]

10. Attend a Black Friday Protest Near You

Join Walmart workers around the country on Black Friday (Nov. 29th), the biggest shopping day of the year, as they stand up to Walmart and call for an end to retaliation against those who bravely speak out and a real wage of $25,000/yr.
Don't forget to download all of your protest materials.

Last year you told us you wanted more support and training to make sure you knew what to do. We heard you - and so we're having trainings all across the country - check them out here. If you're not near these, we'll also be having a phone training too (details coming soon).

If you have any questions, email us at [e-mail]

Sign up to visit a store near you on Black Friday!

https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/black-friday-near-you

[xchrom]

11. +1

[TBF]

12. I have seen so many people upset lately

about stores being open on Thanksgiving. I wish they gave a damn the rest of the year about the retail workers toiling away for $8/hr ...

But, yes, maybe it will wake some up to what jobs have become in this country. We need some strong union action, strikes, and consumers refusing to cross those picket lines (both actual and virtual - the online shopping) to affect change.

[Enthusiast]

13. K&R! nt

[japple]

14. One of my very conservative (I won't label them tea partiers, but it's close) relatives

sent me this email the other day. The subject line was "Birth of a New Christmas Tradition." Not wanting to duplicate other posts here, I did a search and saw where it was posted on DU in 2011. My GOP relatives have always been HUGE supporters of WalMart and Sams Club, etc. Now, all of sudden, they are railing against stuff made in Asia. Wonder where this will lead?

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Oh.... Yes there is! It is time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamin's on a Chinese-made flat-screen TV? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a gazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint.

Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.

And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community.

If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US (We the People), encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we could not imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition!!

Please pass this around. We can make a difference. Can't we?

"If you lack the courage to start, you have already finished."

[BrotherIvan]

15. I had not seen this before and I am impressed

I give everyone my Made in the USA spiel all the time, but Christmas is especially galling. Most people actually do not know that when you buy cheap foreign crap, none of the money stays in this country to benefit their children's education, to fix that pothole they keep complaining about. So educate and keep on telling people to shop locally.

But the biggest problem is helping people wrap their heads around the need for thousands of presents, which because most people cannot afford top dollar for everything, leads to insane consumption of cheap slave labor goods. I actually had one woman tell me rather indignantly that her grandchildren would *cry* if they didn't receive tons of presents for Christmas. And when I tried to discuss that Christmas is about spending time with family and enjoying the spirit of the season, she said she would never deny her grandchildren anything they wanted and did not care if some child in another country made it! She is a Democrat and claims to be a liberal. I just shook my head.

[japple]

25. Dear Brother Ivan: I shake my head a lot. In fact, many folks think I am daft

because that is my usual response. With some people, it is almost impossible to find a place to connect. I am a bleeding heart liberal leftover from the 60s who works in a hospital run by a religious organization. It is very rare that I find a place to connect with these people. They talk about God, Jesus, healing the sick, etc., but I hear a lot of condemnation of the poor, those whose lifestyles are different (i.e. LGBT, dropouts, non-religious.) In the past, I heard a LOT of criticism of uninsured people, although, with the advent of ACA, it has been less pronounced. President Obama, can you give me a HALLELUJAH AND A PRAISE THE LORD!!!! I know my co-workers would really love to hear it!!

[MisterP]

16. "buy American" is definitely a tactical-coalition opportunity

(and after that we can address the fact that it's not being run by a "cabal of Judeo-hippie bankster globalist Hollyweird elite" or whatever the populist right is blaming today)

[japple]

18. That's why I couldn't believe that this email is circulating as

something NEW. And the person who circulated it to me is uber righty, anti union, and in the past has been pro-Walmart. I'm just curious if they are finally starting to see the light, or is this being circulated by one of the RW cabals who are claiming it as their own idea?

[MisterP]

20. probably the former--that's all the RW can really do is hijack and remake

that's what the Powell Memo's about: consumer groups are countered with think tanks, shooting victims with uninvolved people testifying that "they could've taken the shot," campesino refugees with Kuwaiti princesses saying they saw babies being tossed out of incubators and UN certifying (then retracting) Viagra in Libya; freedom is redefined as "flat taxes" and "trans fats," War on Drugs opponents invited to deregulate pollution, end Medicare, and buy lots of guns

that's on top of the rightward ratchet: it's a process of constant redefinition, and it works two ways: today's Pubs attack their policies of yesteryear when we pass them, and we go along with the game by trying to defend the latter...

[japple]

22. So when do we have a meeting of the minds? Or will that ever be possible?

Pardon me, I have to go referee a cat fight between my senior cat, Lola, and one of my foster kittens, Popcorn.

[MisterP]

23. probably be a conversion-type thingy: recall that RWers get their news only from single sources,

while everyone else gets it from everything *but* Fox News--so it's *not* actually a matter of two self-selecting "bubbles"; they even have Alex Jones to filter the rumor culture for them: Iran-Contra or the Downing Street Memo become way less jaw-dropping when you put them against a backdrop of constant conspiracy theories: if revealed secrets and strong suspicions (9-11, Kennedy, deeper plotting) have to fight against a tide of "the ethnic-studies-controlled Fed used a tornado machine to do Sandy Hook" 24/7!

also, perhaps try remember what you did with the cats if you ever fight with your RW associate?

[japple]

24. No, my relatives don't just get their news from one source. They mostly view RW TV, probably listen

to Rush, listen to most mainstream media, flip channels, sit in front of the teevee for hours. OTOH, I only listen to/get my news from NPR (but only if I happen to be in the kitchen) and various sources on the internet. When it starts getting windy, I just shut the window.

[Curmudgeoness]

19. Who said that the GOP can't agree with us on anything?

It looks like we have found one thing we can all mobilize against.

[japple]

26. And if that is the case, I will totally rejoice with you. Maybe this is it!

If this is what it takes to mobilize the 99%, that will make me very happy.

[Scuba]

34. japple, please consider making this an OP. It's very deserving of more attention.

[japple]

37. I posted this as an OP in the GD forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024088171

[Scuba]

38. Excellent, thank you.

[gopiscrap]

21. Excellent

[Flatpicker]

27. I'd love

to see all the Walmarts shut down for 1 black Friday.

It's the only way to make a point. Hit them in the wallet. HARD!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

28. Biggest sign it's working?

Easy. The commercials called "The REAL Walmart" where they pay either actors or sellout employees to sing the praises of their wonderful company and how WONDERFUL it is to work there.

Think about how CHEAP these bastards are. They feel they have been damaged enough to spent MILLIONS on a PR campaign.

[Left Coast2020]

29. Hell, pay em $14-15 to start...$16 after 30 days.

Saw a brand new store just off the freeway, so Wal-Fart can afford it.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

30. $20 - $25 an hour sounds better to me

considering many WalMart employees are trying to raise families on their meager salaries. It's not just part-time work for high schoolers or college kids. It's part-time, underpaid work for people who need and want full time work.