Today Walmart employees at a number of Southern California stores walked out, striking in opposition to the retailer’s attempts to suppress unionization. This is the first time in Walmart’s history that employees at multiple stores are striking at the same time.
Protesters are citing Walmart, the world’s largest private employer, for mistreatment, including OUR Walmart, a labor group that is responsible for attempts to organize Walmart employees nationwide.
In response to Walmart’s treatment of workers, Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angelese County Federation of Labor, Maria Elena Durazo, said, “We cannot stand by while the country’s largest employer tries to silence workers who stand up for a better future for their families.”
Earlier this week, current employees of Walmart’s Tennessee stores announced a class-action lawsuit against the corporation on grounds of sex discrimination. The most recent suit, Phipps, et al. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is similar to two other local class action gender discrimination cases filed recently against the retail company in California and Texas.
Media Resources: Salon 10/04/12; Warehouse Workers for Justice; Our Walmart; Bloomberg 10/04/12; Feminist Newswire 10/03/12; Feminist Newswire 09/25/12; Feminist Newswire 02/21/12
