By Allison Kilkenny

OUR Walmart, the group behind last year’s Black Friday activism, has promised even more actions this year with 1,500 protests scheduled at stores all across the country. Walmart is clearly nervous ahead of this year’s plans because the company has asked judges in Maryland and Florida to bar protesters from entering stores on Black Friday.

“This is yet another move from Walmart to try to bend the law to its liking. Walmart has made it a practice to pursue over-the-top legal maneuvers to try to avoid hearing the real concerns of workers and community members,” said Derrick Plummer, spokesman for the organizer, Making Change at Walmart, in a statement.

OUR Walmart announced that Black Friday protests are scheduled in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Miami, Chicago; Seattle, Washington (DC), Minneapolis and Sacramento, and the group calls it the “largest mobilization of working families in recent history.”

“Workers are calling for an end to illegal retaliation, and for Walmart to publicly commit to improving labor standards, such as providing workers with more full time work and $25,000 a year. As the country’s largest retailer and employer, Walmart makes more than $17 billion in profits, with the wealth of the Walton family totaling over $144.7 billion—equal to that of 42% of Americans,” the group said in a statement.

Anthony Goytia, a part-time worker who stocks shelves during the overnight shift, says he isn’t protesting because he hates Walmart. Al Jazeera America:

“I actually do like my job. It’s fast-paced, and time goes by quick,” he said. “But last year I made $12,000. I’m a husband. I have four kids. It’s not enough. I’m living in poverty.”

Goytia is a member of Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), which is backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers union. He has taken part in several protests for better wages and working conditions at the store, including one in early November, when fifty-four people were arrested during protests at a new Walmart store in Los Angeles.

But worker actions against Walmart aren’t isolated to Black Friday. On Monday, Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN) joined Walmart workers in Minnesota who walked off the job, and in Los Angeles, workers went on a two-day strike that culminated in the largest-ever act of civil disobedience against Walmart. Last week, workers in Seattle, Chicago, Ohio and Dallas joined them in walking off their jobs.

Additionally, Walmart workers at three Washington, DC, area stores went on strike Tuesday, calling on the company to end its illegal retaliation against workers, and calling for better wages and full-time work.

“I’m speaking out today because Walmart can afford to do better by its workers,” said striking worker Tiffany Beroid. “We want to work full time, and earn above the poverty level. And we are taking action today because Walmart needs to publicly commit to ending illegal retaliation against workers and better wages.”

In fact, the resistance against Walmart’s low wages never really went away. Workers have continually organized, fought for higher wages, and engaged in creative civil disobedience. For example, these workers led a flashmob back in September at a Raleigh, North Carolina Walmart store:

Since June, Walmart has illegally disciplined more than eighty workers, including firing twenty worker-leaders, and more than 100 Unfair Labor Practice charges have been filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the company. Recently, the NLRB regional office announced it found merit to OUR Walmart’s charge, and found Walmart committed eleven violations of national labor law.

At a time when workers are struggling to survive on low wages, activists expressed outrage at the retirement pension of Walmart CEO Mike Duke, which at $113 million, is more than 6,200 times greater than the average worker’s pay.

“Walmart should be ashamed of the vast labor mismanagement under CEO Mike Duke. From the low wages at Walmart stores to dangerous working conditions in warehouses and the inexcusable safety conditions in factories in Bangladesh and other countries, as the world’s largest employer, Walmart can and should do better to create good jobs and safe working conditions,” Sarita Gupta, executive director of Jobs with Justice, said in a statement.

Following the announcement that Doug McMillon will succeed Duke as CEO, Beroid said the change of leadership is “a testament to the pressure the company is feeling that they’re changing leadership at this moment.”

She added:

“We’re happy to see Mr. McMillon acknowledge the hard work of associates in his statement this morning, and we hope that this appreciation translates into improving jobs for Walmart workers. Americans nationwide are looking to Walmart to improve jobs and strengthen our economy, and Mr. McMillon has an opportunity to be a leader in moving Walmart in the right direction, not just in offering more empty promises. We sincerely hope that Mr. McMillon will answer the country’s calls for Walmart to publicly commit to paying $25,000 a year, providing full-time work and ending its illegal retaliation against its own employees.”

Source: http://www.thenation.com/blog/177392/activists-plan-nationwide-walmart-protests-black-friday

On this Thanksgiving Holiday, as we, the men and women of the labor movement, gather with our loved ones, let us give thanks for food we share and for the opportunities we have been fortunate enough to receive that have made it possible for us to provide for our families.

Let us also give thanks to our forefathers who Buy Viagra, in solidarity, paved the road to prosperity that has lead us to where we are today.

Finally, as we enjoy our Thanksgiving holiday, let us remember those less fortunate and say a prayer that, with our guidance and example, they too may find their way to a life of dignity, pride and good fortune!

Happy Thanksgiving in Solidarity,

PhillyLabor.com

By The PA. AFL-CIO

Just one week after the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO held a Press Conference in support of legislation to keep it made in America and made in Pennsylvania, the members of the State House of Representatives unanimously passed Buy American legislation House Bill 530 (198-0) giving preference to American made products in their procurement policies.

The bill included an amendment to the original legislation which required state agencies purchasing American and Commonwealth flags, to purchase flags made in America only. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Mark Cohen, which was later adopted, requires Commonwealth agencies and the general assembly, when making purchases, to give preference to American-made products.

“This is a very important boost to American manufacturers as well as Pennsylvania manufacturers and the working people employed in the manufacturing sector. We are pleased that our press conference impressed upon the Cialis 10mg State House members of both parties of the importance of expanding buy American policies. Giving preference to Pennsylvania and American made products will help ensure that taxpayer dollars support good jobs for our families and communities and not be used to undermine our valued manufacturing sector,” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale said.

“Now that we will be making the much needed additional investments in our transportation infrastructure, it is critical that the materials that are used to build and rebuild the highways and mass transit systems are made in America and made in Pennsylvania. It is important that every dollar that is spent goes to supporting American and Pennsylvania manufacturers and the workers they employ,” Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder remarked.

“We encourage the State Senate to pass this legislation, to put Pennsylvania and America back to work,” Bloomingdale emphasized.

Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=3183&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

By Randy LoBasso

Workers at Walmart have been striking for better wages for the better part of two months. Just in the past week, employees at the gigantic box chain store walked out in Tampa, Florida and Sacramento, California. More strikes are planned for Friday in the California Bay Area, Chicago, Seattle, Sacramento, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

The strikers are demanding at least $25,000 per year, full-time positions and an end to strike retaliation, and until the massive corporation gives in, there seems to be no end in sight, even though the strikes are not expected to put much of a dent in the company’s profits.

“Widespread, massive strikes” are expected at nationwide Walmarts the day after Thanksgiving, which is largely thought of as the most gluttonous, shopping-heavy day of the year in the U.S.

But one place we haven’t heard of any strikers leaving their corporate setting is in Philadelphia or the Greater area. To figure out what’s going on, I contacted William Epstein, communications director at UFCW Local 1776, who helped organize a “solidarity” showing and petition drive outside the box store along Columbus Boulevard last year.

“We’ll be out in a pretty good number at [the Walmart stores off Columbus Blvd. and Aramingo Ave.],” says Epstein, “to say, basically, ‘here’s a company that this most recent year made $17 billion in profits; the major owners of the company, the so-called Walmart heirs, together, have more wealth of 42 percent of the entire population … They can afford to be a more responsible company.’”

Epstein expects 40-50 people, “perhaps more,” affiliated with UFCW and local community organizing groups, in each location.

Earlier this month, it was reported that a Walmart in Cleveland, Ohio, was holding a food drive for its own employees who do not make enough money to afford basic food supplies. “Please donate food items so associates in need can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner,” read a sign alongside several plastic bins in the store. Indeed, many minimum wage Walmart workers and other workers are forced onto government assistance, even though they’re working adults. A recent study showed that Walmart is one of the biggest beneficiaries of food stamps.

“There’s no reason in the world someone working full-time at Walmart shouldn’t be making at least $25,000 a year to be able to feed and clothe their families,” continues Epstein.

He notes that there has not been a sighting of a food drive at a local Walmart, “but the facts are the same,” he adds. “These people earn the same minimum wage, they don’t get enough hours to support their family … This is happening all over the country. We don’t have any reason to believe it’s any different here.”

Source: http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/2013/11/25/walmart-strikes-usa-philly/

By Jobs with Justice

As much of the country begins the gradual transition into the winter holidays, Walmart recently announced its plans to open stores at 6pm on Thanksgiving Day. While most of us settle down for Thanksgiving dinner, Walmart store workers will have to skip time with their families to open, stock and staff Walmart stores for the holiday rush.

Many workers are not going to take this in stride. On Black Friday, members of the Organization United for Respect at Walmart will take action—risking arrest and retaliation from the company—to demand fair wages and scheduling.

As many as 825,000 Walmart workers are making less than $25,000 a year because of low wages and inadequate hours. Workers can’t raise their families on these poverty wages. Anthony Goytia, father of three, relies on payday loans and even sells plasma to cover the bills. After 11 years at Walmart, Patricia Locks makes only $19,000 a year and relies on food banks and food stamps to feed her teenage daughter.

On top of the hundreds of actions already planned around the country on Black Friday, Walmart workers can now anonymously request support from community members via a new website, AssociateVoices.org. You can support these workers on Black Friday, and even Thanksgiving, by showing up at their store and delivering thank you cards, telling them how you support them, leafleting other customers about what’s happening, or planning your own action outside the store.

Show your support for Walmart employees on Black Friday! To find a protest at a store near you, got to: http://www.jwj.org/blog/walmart-employees-ready-hundreds-black-friday-protests

Source: http://www.jwj.org/blog/walmart-employees-ready-hundreds-black-friday-protests