Workers and Activists Team Up for Associates’ Rights
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From the UFCW International.
WakeUpWalMart.com, America’s campaign to change Wal-Mart, with more than 444,600 members nationally, today launches a new campaign in support of workers rights. The campaign will kick off with a week of press conferences and petition drives across the country. Walmart workers, community leaders, and members of Walmart Workers for Change and WakeUpWalMart.com will join together in support of the Employee Free Choice Act and workers rights.
Thousands of Walmart associates from across the country have come forward to demand a voice on the job. They have the backing of President Obama, who has said “I don’t mind standing up for workers, and letting Walmart know they need to pay a decent wage and let folks organize.”
The thousands of members of Walmart Workers for Change have the support of UFCW International Union and local unions across the country. In the past, workers who have called for union representation have been harassed and intimidated; stores where workers voted for a voice on the job have been closed. It is time for change, and these workers are doing their part to ensure it.
As part of the campaign, local Walmart workers will speak out about their efforts to organize and obtain a better quality of life for their families. In the days leading up to the 2009 shareholders’ meeting, these workers will share their courageous stories and discuss why they believe the Employee Free Choice Act will give them a real chance for a voice on the job.
The campaign will also feature a petition drive, asking community members and Walmart customers to support the rights of Walmart workers. Workers, community leaders and local WakeUpWalmart.com activists will distribute 50,000 petition cards that read “Yes, I support the rights of Walmart workers to have a voice on the job so they can negotiate for better wages, health care and working conditions” and continues “I shop at Walmart, but with billions in profits Walmart can afford to treat its workers right. As America’s largest private employer, Walmart has a responsibility to do better by its associates. That’s why I support Walmart Workers for Change.” The petition card also highlights Walmart’s poor treatment of its workers and their frequently violations of labor law, including intimidation, threats and mandatory high-pressure meetings.
