Walmart workers strike for full-time jobs, against retaliation

Walmart workers in several areas of the country walked off the job on May 28 to protest the retail giant’s efforts refusal to improve employment conditions.

The strikers in South Florida, the San Francisco Bay Area and in Massachusetts encouraged other Walmart workers in other areas to join them in the “prolonged” strike.

Also, the Organization United for Respect at Walmart, a national organization of Walmart associates, has been calling on the nation’s largest private employer to create better jobs.

With more than $16 billion in annual profits and executives making 1,000 times more than the average Walmart employee, a growing number of associates are calling for the company to publicly commit to providing full-time work with a minimum salary of $25,000 a year.

Workers also are demanding that Walmart cease retaliation against those campaigning for workplace improvements.

The company, according to a news release, “has attempted to silence these voices through illegal retaliation, meritless lawsuits and even firing workers.”

The retaliation has led OUR Walmart to file nearly 30 federal labor charges against the retailer.

“Walmart needs to address our concerns about hours and staffing, rather than trying to silence us with lawsuits and threats. We’re on strike and taking our concerns directly to Walmart executives and shareholders because we cannot continue to let Walmart try to intimidate and silence committed associates like Carlton and Vanessa,” said Dominic Ware, who has worked at Walmart in Oakland, Calif., for two years.

“Walmart can only do what we allow them to do and we need to stand up and let them know that what they are doing is not OK with us and we are taking a stand,” said Barbara Gertz, who works at a Walmart in Denver.