“I’m Excited, I’m Nervous, I’m Scared…” Walmart Workers Walk Off Jobs

[applegrove]

“I’m Excited, I’m Nervous, I’m Scared…” Walmart Workers Walk Off Jobs

By Josh Eidelson at Salon (AlterNet)


http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/im-excited-im-nervous-im-scared-walmart-workers-walk-jobs

"SNIP...........................................

I’m excited, I’m nervous, I’m scared…” Pico Rivera Walmart employee Evelin Cruz told Salon yesterday about her decision to join today’s strike. “But I think the time has come, so they take notice that these associates are tired of all the issues in the stores, all the management retaliating against you.” Rivera, a department manager, said her store is chronically understaffed: “They expect the work to be done, without having the people to do the job.”

Walmart is entirely union-free in North America, and has worked aggressively to stay that way. Today’s strike is an outgrowth of a year of organizing by OUR Walmart, an organization of Walmart workers. OUR Walmart is backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers union, but hasn’t sought union recognition from Walmart; its members have campaigned for improvements in their local stores and converged at Walmart’s annual shareholder meeting.

They say their efforts have won some modest improvements, but also inspired a wave of illegal retaliation by the retail giant, which they charge is more concerned suppressing activism than complying with the law. I reported in July on three workers’ allegations that Walmart retaliated against them for their activism. Since then, OUR Walmart has filed many more Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging further punishment of activists.

............................................SNIP"

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I covered the local action

two weeks ago. The conditions in the warehouses are what we hear about from far away lands like China... ok, there is a slight difference, no guard towers... after that... sorry kids... yes, it is that bad.

And these workers are not even making minimum wage.

[applegrove]

2. I was living in Quebec when Walmart got heavy there and closed one store because of unions.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I hope the effort gains so much traction Wallmart leave the US.

I know, always hopeful here.

But Wally Mart is actually poison.

[whathehell]

4. Good for them...Go WalMart Workers!!...n/t

[philly_bob]

5. Walmart would be profitable without oppressing workers.

It introduced a lot of high-tech inventory and restocking mechanisms.

But for some reason they chose this "plantation" human relations approach.

I wish the workers luck. I'd like to see Walmart humbled....

[socialist_n_TN]

6. Solidarity! When Wally World is unionized.........

there will be no doubt that the working class is making a comeback.