May 2012
18 posts
Today: Pressure on Walmart Board of Directors...
Walmart associates, including employee-shareholders, and community activists have been confronting members of the Walmart board of directors in protests in the past several weeks, with escalating protests happening this week in the days leading up to the Walmart shareholders meeting Friday. The protests, which will include confrontations with Walmart board members Rob Walton, Greg Penner, and...
Walmart’s ‘bad neighbor’ actions in South Africa →
Walmart continues to try to claw its way into the New York City marketplace, but in 2012, its efforts to penetrate other markets have been creating the headlines.
The New York Times has reported that Walmart paid bribes worth a staggering $24 million to win the permits it needed to expand quickly in Mexico, then shut down an internal investigation in an attempt to cover it up.
And an ongoing...
NY Post: It’s good to be Goldman →
Walmart Free NYC blasted Goldman Sachs last week for naming Michele Burns as its audit committee chair even though she was on Walmart’s board in 2005 and 2006 when the company was covering up a bribery scandal in Mexico. Read the full story.
NY Post: Goldman’s audit head worry →
Walmart faced “rowdy shareholders” at its annual meeting last week as the director named to head the bank’s powerful audit committee was caught in the middle of Walmart’s bribery scandal in Mexico. Read more.
NY Post: Walmart faces call for entire board's... →
Throw the bums out!
A big Walmart shareholder says it will vote next week to oust the retailer’s entire board in the wake of the company’s sensational bribery scandal in Mexico.
That means chairman Rob Walton, CEO Mike Duke and former CEO Lee Scott, as well as two New York-based directors — human-resources exec Michele Burns and investor Christopher Williams. Read more.
New York Times: Bribery Case at Wal-Mart May Widen →
As Wal-Mart reported higher-than-expected first-quarter earnings on Thursday, it suggested in a regulatory filing that the scope of an internal investigation into bribery accusations had widened beyond the retailer’s subsidiary in Mexico.
The company reported that the audit committee of the Wal-Mart Stores board was examining possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and “other...
Wal-Mart sued for 'all black people must leave'... →
A black man is suing Wal-Mart for $1 million in damages, claiming he suffered emotional distress while he was shopping at a store in Washington Township, N.J. On March 14, 2010, a voice came over the PA system announcing: “Attention Wal-Mart customers: All black people leave the store now.” A manager quickly took control of the microphone and a 16-year-old boy was later arrested for...
Walmart At 50: Website Serves As A Forum For... →
Nearly three weeks after Walmart was accused of bribing government officials in Mexico, a new website, Walmart at 50, is airing all manner of grievances about the company. Launched by labor groups Making Change at Walmart and Our Walmart in connection with the company’s 50th anniversary, the site allows anyone with access to a computer to share their own photos, videos and Walmart-related...
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Severe Human Rights Violations at Food Processing... →
Sign the petition and tell Walmart to address abuses in the supply chain!
Last week thousands of workers at two different Thai food processing facilities protested their extremely poor working conditions. Both facilities, Phattahana Seafood and Vita Food Factory, are suppliers to Walmart stores across the US. Disturbing reports coming out of the region indicate that the questionable treatment...
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Wal-Mart At 50: A Crisis of Governance →
Wal-Mart may have entered the Golden Years, but its self-dealing and covers ups have seriously tarnished the brand, and put its “independent” governance in a state of crisis. Read the full story.
Democratic National Convention Returns $50,000... →
Facing pressure from Walmart opponents, the host committee for the Democratic National Convention is returning $50,000 worth of gift cards donated to the convention cause by the megaretailer, a Walmart spokeswoman and a convention official confirmed to The Huffington Post on Monday.
The Democratic National Committee has maintained a rule barring corporate cash donations for the Charlotte...
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Take Action! End the Cover-Up at Walmart →
A new website—6degreesofwalmart.com—is looking to change Walmart’s behavior by targeting the company’s political spending for right-wing causes, calling on the company to disclose its political spending and allowing citizens to directly challenge Walmart on political spending.
Among those leading the efforts to reform Walmart are company employees like Venanzi Luna, who created this...
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NYTimes: Wal-Mart’s U.S. Expansion Plans... →
Wal-Mart has worked hard in recent years to polish its reputation and give elected officials, community groups and shoppers a reason to say yes to their stores, especially as it pushes aggressively into big — and historically hostile — cities. Now, the revelation of a bribery scandal involving the retailer’s Mexican subsidiary is giving critics a new reason to say no. Read the full story.
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NYTimes: New York Pension Funds to Challenge... →
In light of the recent bribery scandal, leaders of NYC pension funds say they would vote AGAINST the re-election of five Walmart board members at the shareholder meeting next month. The list of five includes CEO Mike Duke! Read the full story.
