April 2012
37 posts
3 tags
The New York Observer: If Walmart Is Bad for the... →
We bet all Walmart wants to do right now is sink down into one of its faux leather recliners and watch some stupid rom-com on a $199.98 flat screen. It’s been kind of a rough weekend for America’s favorite mega-retailer.
First, there was the New York Times story about executives hushing up a vast Mexican bribery conspiracy to win market dominance. And now, in celebration of Earth Day, a local...
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Capital New York: A Walmart-bribe story set in... →
Local opponents of Walmart are seizing on allegations that the company paid bribes in Mexico for building permits and other government approvals to bolster their argument that opening a store here would be bad for New York.
The union representing retail workers, RWDSU, issued a statement in response to yesterday’s Times story about the alleged bribes.
Minutes later, Public Advocate Bill...
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New York Post: City pols in Wal Mex vex →
Reports that Walmart bribed Mexican officials gave new ammunition yesterday to local mayoral hopefuls opposed to the chain coming here.
“The corporation’s tactics of bribery, scheming and corruption are the latest in a litany of despicable business practices,” said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer called again for...
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Wal-Mart Accused Of Bribing Its Way Into... →
According to the NY Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Barstow, Wal-Mart paid millions of dollars in bribes to Mexican authorities to expedite the company’s rapid growth in the country, then conducted an internal investigation that served as a cover-up. Wal-Mart’s policy on ethics states, “Never cover up or ignore an ethics problem,” but presumably...
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New York Times: Vast Mexico Bribery Case Hushed Up... →
Former Walmart executive Sergio Cicero Zapata, who resigned from Wal-Mart de Mexico in 2004, said the growth strategy in Mexico was to build hundreds of new stores so fast that competitors would not have time to react. Bribes, he explained, accelerated growth. They got zoning maps changed. They made environmental objections vanish. Permits that typically took months to process magically...
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For Immediate Release: Walmart Accused of...
NYT Reports Pay-Offs, Followed by Cover-ups, at Retailer’s Highest Levels In Mexico and U.S.
Walmart Free NYC Says Latest Allegations Prove Walmart Can’t Be Trusted To Play By the Rules; Urges New York Lawmakers to Conduct Sweeping Investigation Into Retailer’s Practices, including Charitable Contributions
New York- Following major breaking news that Walmart de Mexico...
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Wal-Mart's CEO paid $18.1 million in 2011 →
CEO Mike Duke earns $18 million. With this kind of money, @Walmart can certainly afford to stay out of NYC! Read more.
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DC Coalition Contributes to Delay of Multiple...
Walmart announced that the company will delay construction on five of the six proposed stores in the District of Columbia. This news is a direct response to the hard work of the Respect DC campaign, which has been tireless in its efforts to raise awareness in D.C. about Walmart’s poverty jobs and broken promises. The trend of victories for local community groups seems to have continued into this...
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Eco Brooklyn: No To Walmart in NYC →
Eco Brooklyn says they do not want Walmart in New York because “Walmart’s business model is not conducive to the small neighborhood shopping experience that makes New York and Brooklyn so special.” All the more reason to keep NYC Walmart-Free! Read more.
California: Quartz Hill claims victory in fight to... →
After a six-year court battle, the town of Quartz Hill in southern California declared victory in blocking a proposed Walmart store. The efforts were led by a community group called Quartz Hill Cares. This should serve as an important reminder that Walmart will never back down – and that we can’t afford to be complacent. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to make real, lasting change at...
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Celebrate Walmart at 50: Tell us why YOU think...
As Walmart celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we will paint the true story of Walmart and how they undermine our values and re-write the rules of our society. Now, more than ever, Walmart must change. It’s up to us to share our stories and set the direction for next 50 years.
The multi-faceted, interactive “50 Years of Walmart” website (walmartat50.org) will highlight people from across...
Walmart (and Pathmark) branded WORST grocery... →
Walmart and Pathmark have placed last in a new ranking of the best supermarkets in America.
Three-quarters of the 24,000 shoppers polled by Consumer Reports reported at least one major complaint about the worst-performing chains.
Read more.
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Newsday: Woman, 73, sues Walmart, alleges age bias →
A 73-year-old South Setauket grandmother has filed a discrimination complaint against the mega store Walmart, alleging her supervisors there fired her because of her age.
Anne Squatrito said for the past eight years she was continually pressured to retire from her job at the chain’s East Setauket store, and was asked to do heavy manual labor that was not in her job description as a...
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L.A. council votes too late to block Chinatown... →
The council votes to draft a law temporarily banning large chain stores from opening in the neighborhood. But the firm had obtained permits a day earlier. The near-miss in LA should serve as a reminder for us all to act quickly when a new Walmart is proposed in our neighborhoods.
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Discrimination at Long Island Walmart? →
An ailing 73-year-old Long Island grandmother filed a discrimination complaint against retail giant Walmart — claiming she was fired after she failed to move a heavy truckload full of goods on her own at the Nesconset store. “It’s outrageous,’’ said her lawyer. “They were just trying to get rid of her. It’s blatant age discrimination.” Read more.
March 2012
22 posts
2 tags
Sales Momentum Continues at Wal-Mart →
Now that Walmart is seeing significant growth, they don’t really need to come to NYC anymore now do they? :)
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New York Observer: Walmart Calls for Community... →
There’s laundry list of meetings that Walmart and Related Companies have skipped around the city, according to the Walmart Free New York coalition:
Walmart skipped multiple public hearings held by the New York City Council in 2011
Related Companies agreed to discuss its Gateway II proposal with the East New York Community Board, only to cancel 20 minutes before the meeting was slated to...
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Walmart warehouse workers fired en masse in what... →
A Walmart distribution center in Mira Loma, California, has laid off a group of Inland Empire warehouse workers. Workers say the decision was made because they’re trying to gain higher wages and safer working conditions.
It’s the latest dispute at a facility that’s become the focal point for labor complaints in the warehousing business. Read the full story.
This retaliation is yet another sign...
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“We have tried to begin a constructive dialogue with Walmart by reaching out to...”
– Walmart Free NYC’s statement to Walmart board member M. Michele Burns. Upon attempting to deliver this letter, Walmart has chosen to sit behind locked doors and refuse the sincere requests of Walmart Free NYC and OUR Walmart members to open a dialogue
