Strikers to #BoycottWalmart on Black Friday

Nov 21

Web Only

Strikers to #BoycottWalmart on Black Friday

Are fed up workers shaking the corporate giant?

Walmart warehouse employee Nick Saintclaire and other supporters rally in support of striking workers in front of a store in Pico Rivera, California, November 20, 2012. REUTERS/Bret Hartman

Workers at several US Walmart stores plan to strike over the Thanksgiving holiday and on Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Union-financed groups Making Change at Walmart and Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) are organizing the Black Friday and "Black Thursday" protests, the newest in a wave of strikes dating back to October.

Walmart claims the that the protests are illegal and an attempt to unionise its workers, who are prohibited from collective bargaining. The company has filed a complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board.

The strikes, which began last week, are in response to the company's decision to open its doors on Thursday evening, a national holiday in the United States. Organisers say that over 1000 protests are planned for Thursday evening and Friday.

View the story "Strikers to #BoycottWalmart on Black Friday" on StorifyStrikers to #BoycottWalmart on Black FridayAre fed up workers shaking the corporate giant?Storified by The Stream · Tue, Nov 20 2012 13:38:10This Thanksgiving, while millions of families plan to spend quality time with their loved ones, many Walmart workers have been told we will be stocking shelves and preparing for doors to open at 8pm on Thanksgiving night.Black Thursday Press Statement » Making Change at WalmartAs Black Friday approaches, Walmart workers and warehouse workers walked off the job Wednesday and Thursday in protest of the company’s attempts to silence workers who speak out for better jobs.Walmart Workers from Stores & Warehouses Begin to Strike » Making Change at WalmartWorkers also cite a history of low wages, poor conditions, and coercive or retaliatory practices by the company. In the video below, from OUR Walmart's October campaign, associates give their reasons for protesting.Why are we standing up to live better?ourwalmartMany following the protests highlight the discrepancy between the fortune held by Walmart's executives and the average Walmart worker:ICYMI: To Match Walton Heirs' Fortune, You'd Need to Work at Walmart for 7 Million Years http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/09/sam-waltons-fortune-walmart-employees-7-million-years #Boycottwalmart #uppersRB Blair#WalmartStrikers http://pic.twitter.com/ZAOXwlJwStephanie #walmartstrikers #ows stay home blackfriday or better stand up outside Walmart. http://pic.twitter.com/8Jw3c1cGMeatfaceWalmart has spoken out against the strikes, both in official statements and on social media.In an e-mail, Wal-Mart spokesman Kory Lundberg called the strike “just another exaggerated publicity campaign aimed at generating headlines to mislead” the retailer’s customers and employees.Wal-Mart Workers' Black Friday Strike - BusinessweekAmid promotional tweets for holiday sales, Walmart's corporate account tweeted:Don't believe everything you read in the union press releases. We don't think their #BlackFriday activity will have an impact on customers.Walmart NewsroomSupporters of the strikers responded.@WalmartNewsroom then why you tweeting' 'bout it?Tia Keenan@OccupyWallStNYC Hmm. One could only hope so! I think @walmartnewsroom will be tweeting a lot about #WalmartStrikers this week. '(^__^)'Paint It BLⒶcKIs @WalmartNewsroom mad, or just in denial about #WalmartStrikers? @OccupyWallSt http://yfrog.com/esr8iyohjOccupy Wall StreetAlways the Lowest Propaganda RT @kgosztola @WalMartNewsroom is now the @IDFSpokesperson of big box stores #BlackFriday #WalMartStrikersOccupyMemphisUS law bans lots of legit strike activity and permits lots of union-busting. That said, Walmart's case looks weak: http://www.thenation.com/blog/171348/walmart-asks-judge-block-historic-strikes #1uJosh EidelsonThough Walmart officials insist that the impact of the strikes will be minimal, some note that the company appears unsettled.
Large unions and organising groups such as Occupy Wall Street have tweeted their support for the #WalmartStrikers.Low prices. Every day. On everything. Especially for the Waltons. Make this Black Friday special #walmartstrikers http://ow.ly/fnfu7Occupy Wall StreetJoin Walmart Workers for Black Friday Actions http://bit.ly/WqKm0L #WalmartStrikersAFL-CIOHere's an easy way to support the #WalmartStrikers. Donate a Twitter status on #BlackFriday! Sign up now: http://thndr.it/XFVCqf #1uSEIUThe first-ever strikes by Walmart workers. Show your support for the #WalmartStrikers making history: http://bit.ly/TbTWBwJobs with JusticeProtest organisers have also started crowd-sourced funding campaigns to provide food and financial support to strikers.Via WePay.comAJstreamAction on Walmart's complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board is not likely to take place until after this week's protests.