Posted 7 years ago on Nov. 22, 2012, 9:04 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Tags: solidarity, labor, walmart



Picket line happening right now in Miami! -- other actions, including walk-outs, have already begun in Ohio, California, Maryland, New York, Florida, Texas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, North Dakota, Alabama, and growing as of 11pm Eastern time! See below for info on following live updates

We are reaching out to you today to see if you would consider supporting the Walmart workers who are being unfairly fired for organizing their peers.

https://www.wepay.com/donations/walmart-worker-organizer-fund

https://www.wepay.com/donations/walmart-strikers-food-fund

Why should I support the workers?

Getting fired for demonstrating is a scary thing. We at the Occupy Solidarity Network would like to help alleviate that worry for anyone who is fired in retribution for organizing or demonstrating at Walmart. Walmart workers decided in October 2012 to strike on Black Friday after they were targeted for retaliation for speaking out against substandard work conditions and treatment in the first ever walk out in the history of the company. Now we are looking at a world in which the bravest workers of Walmart are being fired so they may be silenced.

We will support the workers participating in organizing efforts and nonviolent demonstrations in support of the fight for economic civil rights of the Walmart worker effort. Money raised will go towards paying stipends and living expenses for workers fired for organizing and participating in acts of peaceful civil disobedience.

Click here to support the Walmart organizers today!

Click here to donate to the Walmart Workers Food Fund!



#walmartstrikers solidarity in Kenosha, WI from overpass light brigade

To find a walk-out/picket line near you, see here. For live coverage, follow @ForRespect, @ChangeWalmart, and #WalmartStrikers on Twitter.

You can also support the strike and show your solidarity on social media using Thunderclap or sign this petition from Jobs With Justice.

More social media resources:

http://artistsvswalmart.tumblr.com/

http://documentthestrike.tumblr.com/

http://ChangeWalmart.tumblr.com/

Past articles for more information on supporting Walmart workers and the Black Friday Strike:

More info via Making Change @ WMT (see original link for sources)

For over a year, Walmart workers and workers throughout Walmart’s supply chain have been coming together to speak out for change. They have called on the company to ensure safe working conditions, adequate hours, sufficient staffing, a living wage, regular schedules, and above all, respect in the workplace.

Time and time again, Walmart has sought to silence and retaliate against those who speak up.

The message is clear -- we won't tolerate this any longer. By joining our Thunderclap, you're standing up alongside Walmart workers nationwide in a virtual Black Friday picket line. Your presence is powerful, and we hope you'll ask others to join you.

A few facts on the Walmart economy:

Walmart is the largest private employer in the U.S.

$408.2 billion - Walmart’s 2010 revenue as the number one Fortune 100 company

But America is paying the price…

196,000 - Number of U.S. jobs lost from 2001-2006 as a result of Walmart’s imports from China

11% - Conservative estimate of percentage of Walmart’s share of U.S. Trade Deficit with China

$8.8 million - Cost to Massachusetts of Walmart associates using publicly subsidized health care in 2009

$1 billion - Cost to nation if public safety net use by Walmart associates in Massachusetts is adjusted nationwide

And Walmart associates are paying the price…

$15,500 - Average annual salary of a Walmart sales associate (based on an IBIS World figure)

$8.81 - Average hourly wage of a Walmart sales associate (based on an IBIS World figure)

46¢ - Additional cost per shopping trip for a Walmart customer if the company offered a minimum wage of $12 an hour

Walmart makes close to $16 billion in profits and its executives brought home more than $10 million each. Six members of the Walton family, who own half the company, are worth more than the bottom 42% of American families combined. Those profits are made by keeping all workers in poverty.

This year, on Black Friday, we're calling on Walmart to immediately end its illegal retaliation against Walmart workers.

See also: Walmart Strike! Links to background, analysis and action for videos and more.