Walmart Free NYC

Happy 50th Birthday, Walmart?

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:37:40 -0400

This week is Walmart’s 50th birthday. While the champagne may be flowing at Walmart HQ, for the rest of us, Walmart’s anniversary is hardly cause for celebration. There’s a real cost to those “low prices” Walmart promises — and our communities are paying the price.

Walmart lives and dies by its public image. So, to commemorate its 50th birthday, SomOfUs.com created an infographic for you to share with your friends, to help spread the word that Walmart’s business model is bad news for our communities and our world.

Unhappy 50th Birthday, Walmart!

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:46:01 -0400

Unhappy 50th Birthday, Walmart!:

After losing her job in advertising when her small-business employer folded during the recession, Marie Kanzer-Born, 54, found herself turning in desperation a year ago to a night shift job stocking shelves at a suburban Chicago Walmart. But she wasn’t happy with what she calls “the weird culture of fear” that its hovering, hectoring supervisors created, the inadequate staffing that forced everyone to work faster and at risk of injury, the erratic scheduling, the refusal to pay for overtime work, and the retaliation aganst anyone who was not subservient—often through cuts in hours of work.

Today, Kanzer-Born is far from home, joining an anticipated 10,000 protesters in the Chinatown section of Los Angeles, many of whom will be telling Walmart that they don’t want its stores in L.A. Kanzer-Born has her own message from “associates” like her to the corporat execs in Bentonville, Arkansas: “They need to listen to us. We know what’s going on at the stores. And second, we would like to be treated with more respect.”

You could call it wishing Walmart an unhappy birthday. Next week Walmart is officially celebrating its 50th anniversary. As a counterpoint, Saturday’s demonstrations in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and other cities are calling attention to the flawed record of the world’s largest retailer—labor rights abuses in stores, suppliers, warehouses and all along the company’s vast logistical network, devastation of small businesses and communities, environmental degradation (despite many “green” initiatives that cut Walmart costs), and the political and economic mis-use of its vast power.

Though many groups are involved, two projects supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union have taken the lead. One is Making Change At Walmart, a public education campaign. The other is Organization United for Respect, or OUR Walmart, an association of associates, which is not a union but a looser, member-run group that is strongly dependent on Internet communication but also sponsors meetings and protests in real time and places, including the workplace.

Read the full story from Working In These Times.

Wayward Walmart--a regular news spotlight on the company's missteps and misdeeds

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:59:28 -0400

Wayward Walmart--a regular news spotlight on the company's missteps and misdeeds:

Check out the latest edition of Wayward Walmart—a regular news spotlight on the company’s missteps and misdeeds. View the newsletter online here.

Walmart: End Forced Labor by Suppliers

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:54:19 -0400

Walmart: End Forced Labor by Suppliers :

Tuesday, June 19, 2012
6:00pm

Striking guestworkers from Louisiana-based C.J. Seafood, a Walmart supplier, are holding a vigil at the home of Walmart Board Member Michelle Burns to protest brutal working conditions they’ve endured. Michelle Burns has the power – and duty – to stop abuses by Walmart suppliers. But instead of intervening, Burns has continually looked the other way on labor abuses, and refused to even meet with workers to hear their grievances. Show solidarity with guestworkers as they invite Michelle Burns to meet with them and ask her to stop the abuses.

The vigil will be held on Tues, June 19 at 6PM at Michelle Burns’ apartment building located at 8 Spruce St, NYC, near PACE UNIVERSITY.

NY1: Walmart Silent On Potential NYC Expansion Plans

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:25:17 -0400

It’s been more than a year since Walmart started to aggressively lobby for a New York City location. After fierce political opposition and a bribery scandal, the mega retailer has gone radio silent. NY1’s Courtney Gross filed the following report.

Last summer, Walmart was handing out checks to City Hall for summer jobs. A year later, there’s silence.

After years of flirting with opening a New York a city store, has Walmart gotten cold feet?

“(We last heard from them) five or six months ago,” said East New York community leader Gloria Cooke. “And we haven’t heard anything since.”

“(They) offer us jobs, offer us economic relief back into the community,” said Vanessa Hughes of the Breukelen Houses Tenants Association. “But then all of a sudden now it stalls. We are right back at step one. Right back to where we were before.”

Walmart is widely believed to be eyeing a site in East New York, which is slated to be developed by Related Companies. Officials at the local community board here said they haven’t heard from Walmart or Related in months. A spokesperson for Related said the company doesn’t comment on potential tenants.

Community leaders fear they may have lost their shot to bring low prices to Eastern Brooklyn. Real estate executives echoed those sentiments.

“They have gone completely silent,” said Jeffrey Roseman of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Retail. “I think they have worked on a bunch of different deals and from what I’m told, they have all come to a standstill. Everyone is in the same place, wondering what is happening.”

It’s not like Walmart got a warm reception, as local residents protested against them. More recently, a Mexican bribery scandal reported in New York Times may have set them back even further.

Just this week, Comptroller John Liu sued the megastore, claiming it failed their shareholders.

“Walmart wants to go everywhere,” he said. “And unfortunately, it wanted to get into Mexico so badly that there are reports of bribery of officials.”

For his part, Mayor Bloomberg has supported the idea of Walmart in the city. His presumed successors, however, all blast the retail giant.

As for Walmart, its spokesperson is still touting the same line: they are exploring their options.

New York City Pension Funds Sue Walmart

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:40:30 -0400

New York City Pension Funds Sue Walmart :

New York City’s pension funds on Monday became the latest group to file a derivative lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores based on reported allegations of bribery in Mexico and a possible cover-up by Wal-Mart officials.

The suit, filed in Delaware Chancery Court, alleges that Wal-Mart’s[WMT 67.70 0.17 (+0.25%) ] officers and board of directors breached their fiduciary duty to both the company and shareholders by failing to properly handle claims of alleged bribery and apparently attempting to cover up details of the issue.

Read the full story.

Is Walmart Finished in New York? Greg David Seems to Think So, and That’s Bad for Walmart

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:08:10 -0400

Is Walmart Finished in New York? Greg David Seems to Think So, and That’s Bad for Walmart:

Walmart is in a pickle, and not the kind that can be found in the canned goods aisle. Following the Mexican bribery scandal, pols high and low have reaffirmed their opposition to the store. But they are not the only ones. Even some of the big box retailers staunchest supporters have come out against the company, namely Greg David.

The Crain’s columnist and former editor for three decades of the influential business weekly is a big believer in capitalism and its important role in shaping the city—he just wrote a book about it. To that end, he has long supported Walmart’s efforts to open a store in the five boroughs (14 times at last count). Yet now, in light of the scandal, even Greg David doubts Walmart will ever open in New York. And he believes this is all Walmart’s fault.

Read the full story from the New York Observer.

Wal-Mart is driving down wages for warehouse workers, report says

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:36:19 -0400

Wal-Mart is driving down wages for warehouse workers, report says:

SACRAMENTO —Wal-MartStores Inc.has applied its aggressive cost cutting to logistics, helping to drive down wages and benefits for U.S. warehouse workers, according to a new study conducted by a labor-backed group.

The world’s largest retailer has significantly outsourced its supply chain, hiring third-party companies to operate its warehouses and transport its good to stores. Those firms in turn often rely on poorly paid temporary workers, said a report released Wednesday by the National Employment Law Project, which advocates for low-wage workers.

Read the full story.

It's all Related: Trio dominates development in NYC. Here's how they do it.

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:55:00 -0400

An in-depth look from Sunday’s Crain’s New York Business on how the Related Companies, with $17B worth of projects in the pipeline in NYC alone, took over NYC

Read the full story.

At Annual Meeting, Wal-Mart to Confront Shareholder Unrest

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:06:42 -0400

At Annual Meeting, Wal-Mart to Confront Shareholder Unrest:

ROGERS, Ark. — As Wal-Mart celebrates its 50th anniversary at its annual shareholders’ meeting on Friday, the company is expected to face some of the staunchest opposition in years to the continued tenure of several board members and its chief executive, as well as some corporate policies.

Read the full story.

Today: Pressure on Walmart Board of Directors grows as part of national action

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:38:45 -0400

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 others, are taking place as major Walmart shareholders and advisory groups call for the removal of key Walmart board members and new transparency on executive pay through proposal #6. Also last week, current Walmart board member Michele Burns faced not only a crowd of protestors outside, but tough questions from Goldman Sachs shareholders inside its annual meeting last week in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Burns is also a Goldman Sachs board member.)

“Walmart board members should leave the protected confines of the boardroom and ‘hang out’ with OUR Walmart members to hear our concerns about what is happening at the company,” said Barbara Collins, a Walmart associate at store #2418 in Placerville, California. “My fellow Associates want to be a part of the solution and fix the problems that exist at Walmart. The company’s executives haven’t been forthright about what is happening inside the company and board members might benefit from hearing new perspectives.”

This week, Walmart Associates and community leaders will confront Walmart board members in multiple locations around the country:

· Wednesday, May 30th – New York City action on Rob Walton

· Thursday, May 31st – Parade to Walmart’s Washington, D.C. headquarters

· Thursday, May 31st – Chicago action on Linda Wolf

· Friday, June 1st – National day of action to coincide with Walmart shareholders meeting

Read the full press release from Making Change at Walmart.

Speak Out Against Walmart NYC! On April 24, 2012, elected...

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:38:14 -0400

Speak Out Against Walmart NYC!

On April 24, 2012, elected officials in New York City joined with Walmart Free NYC in an emergency press conference to speak out about Walmart’s bribery scandal and cover-up in Mexico.

Walmart’s ‘bad neighbor’ actions in South Africa

Tue, 29 May 2012 12:26:22 -0400

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 story in South Africa shows that Walmart’s indifference to workers and the community is constant worldwide. Read the full column by RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.

NY Post: It’s good to be Goldman

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:07:00 -0400

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

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

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 ouster

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

NY Post: Walmart faces call for entire board's ouster:

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

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:42:15 -0400

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 alleged crimes or misconduct in connection with foreign subsidiaries, including Wal-Mart de México.” It was the first public disclosure by the company that the internal inquiry could involve additional subsidiaries, though none was named.

Wal-Mart sued for 'all black people must leave' prank

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:51:40 -0400

Wal-Mart sued for 'all black people must leave' prank:

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 the prank. Donnell Battie’s lawyers claim the megastore was negligent and reckless in allowing the incident to occur, and that he suffered from a number of psychological disorders as a result.

Walmart At 50: Website Serves As A Forum For Critics Of All Stripes

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:27:17 -0400

Walmart At 50: Website Serves As A Forum For Critics Of All Stripes :

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 stories. “Change Walmart to Rebuild America!” the site declares.

But while most of the testimonials are what one would expect on a labor organization’s site (Walmart workers and union members deride the company’s low pay and lack of benefits), the site is also peppered with commentary from shoppers griping about prices and critics of goods made overseas — plus plenty of photos of pets and flowers.
…
Although the activists launched the Walmart at 50 website and the road trip before word of the bribery allegations broke, “[The scandal] affirmed the project in our mind,” Schlademan said.

Along the way, team members have stopped to project their collected videos on the sides of Walmart buildings for as long as store officials have allowed. This weekend, they will work with activist group Walmart Free NYC to broadcast them on the sides of prominent buildings in New York City’s five boroughs. The road trip will hit several more cities before concluding next month in Bentonville, Ark., where Walmart will hold its shareholder meeting.

Severe Human Rights Violations at Food Processing Facilities Result in Global Labor Issues for Walmart

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:47:32 -0400

Severe Human Rights Violations at Food Processing Facilities Result in Global Labor Issues for Walmart:

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 of workers extends well-beyond the US border and signals deeper global issues.

Early reports indicate a series of severe human and worker rights violations, including confiscation of passports and conditions that appear to fit the definition of human trafficking and debt bondage.

In response to these egregious violations, Making Change at Walmart sent a letter to Walmart’s Ethical Sourcing director calling for the immediate defense of migrant workers in the food processing facilities. The letter detailed violations being committed by two separate plants, including one fruit (primarily pineapple) processor and one seafood (primarily shrimp) producer. Phattahan Seafood Factory may be holding as many as 2,000 confiscated passports belonging to migrant workers from Myanmar and Cambodia. A number of the workers have started to illegally flee the plant to return to their country despite lack of documentation.

Excerpt from the letter:

As the largest grocer in the world and the largest importer of shrimp in the United States, Walmart has a responsibility to call for an end to this treatment of workers and do more to ensure that this treatment is not occurring in other supplier factories.

Since the release of Walmart’s Global Responsibility Report on Monday, environmental groups have raised questions about a number of items that may have been overlooked in the report. To be sure, these latest accusations fly in the face of claims of responsible and sustainable sourcing.