When a corporation becomes so powerful that it greatly influences the American economy, it’s important to ensure they don’t abuse the financial power they wield. But all too often, that power is abused, and employees of giant corporations suffer the consequences.
- UFCW-supported campaigns like Making Change at Walmart and OUR Walmart are designed to not attack these companies, but ensure they are responsible and treat their workers fairly rather than driving down standards across the industry.
- Work with allies in Congress to make sure current accountability standards remain in place and are enforced.
Recent News
May 23, 2013 Last week, the UFCW submitted comments about a recent EPA action against 23 Tyson plants that use hazardous chemicals. The EPA recently fined Tyson close to $4 million and required the company to take extra steps to improve their ammonia refrigeration safety programs. While the EPA’s action is a step in the right direction, the [...] May 17, 2013 Many people would be surprised to know that garment making is quite possibly the most dangerous job “outside of war zones,” as Washington Post writer Harold Meyerson puts it in a recent article about the dangerous cycle that is the garment industry. The death toll from last month’s building collapse in Rana Plaza, a garment [...] May 13, 2013 Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement issued by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) President Joseph Hansen regarding the decision of H&M and other retailers to sign a legally binding agreement to improve workplace safety in Bangladesh: “The UFCW applauds H&M and other retailers for accepting binding building safety standards at [...] May 13, 2013 Washington, DC- Today, the Making Change at Walmart campaign and its coalition partners announced the launch of a new website www.ReallyWalmart.org. The website, which showcases a number of video interviews of Walmart employees, community activists, environmentalists and others sharing their experiences with and concerns about Walmart, comes on the heels of Walmart launching a new multimillion-dollar [...] May 13, 2013 H&M has accepted binding building safety standards at Bangladeshi garment factories following the recent fire and building collapse that killed more than 1,000 garment workers in Bangladesh. By signing the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, H&M is taking the high road and putting people before profits at their supplier factories. Thousands of [...] May 8, 2013 On April 26, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overturned the results of a union election based on Target’s worker rights violations at their store in Valley Stream, N.Y. during the campaign last year. Additionally, the NLRB found that the company systematically violated the rights of workers nationwide by maintaining illegal work rules designed to [...] May 2, 2013 Los Angeles, Calif. – The National Retail Justice Alliance, in partnership with the UFCW, hosted a hearing today in Los Angeles with Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-Calif.) to highlight the social and economic plight of part-time workers in retail and other service industries. The hearing also underscored the need for the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights [...] May 1, 2013 The Retail Justice Alliance stands with our sisters and brothers in Bangladesh who were told to report to work in a building that had severe structural cracks and lost their lives. As the death toll continues to rise in Bangladesh after the collapse of a building that housed garment factory workers, it’s clear that cheap [...] May 1, 2013 Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement issued by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union: “As the death toll continues to rise in Bangladesh after the collapse of a building that housed garment factory workers, it’s clear that cheap apparel comes at too great a human cost. UFCW members in the U.S. [...] May 1, 2013 Last week, nearly 100 UFCW members and staff from UFCW Locals 1, 342, 464A, 888, 1262, and 1500 traveled to the New York State Capitol in Albany to lobby their elected officials about important issues facing working men and women. The delegation lobbied New York State Assembly Members and Senators in support of offering college [...] April 26, 2013 ONTARIO, Calif. – Javier Rodriguez, a leader for change inside Walmart’s contracted warehouses in Southern California, was fired yesterday from his job as a forklift driver. Rodriguez, along with Warehouse Workers United, filed formal federal charges today to protest the illegal firing. “Walmart is committed to one thing, looking the other way when workers in [...] April 25, 2013 This Sunday, April 28th is Worker Memorial Day, in which we take time to remember and honor those who have lost their lives on the job. With the tragedies of the past two weeks fresh on our minds, this year’s Worker Memorial Day is particularly somber and offers us a chance to rededicate ourselves to [...] April 19, 2013 A group of Guitar Center workers are standing up to Bain Capital to demand their rights to come together with their co-workers to fight for better wages and working conditions. Workers at the world’s largest musical instrument retailer are standing together for their rights in New York City and other areas across the country. Guitar [...] April 19, 2013 This week, two grocery store workers traveled from Richmond, VA all the way to Amsterdam in the Netherlands in the name of workers’ rights. Shaquana Battle and George Miles both work for Martin’s Food Markets, which, along with Giant Food, Peapod, and Stop & Shop, is owned by the Dutch company Royal Ahold NV. The [...] April 18, 2013 The Making Change at Walmart campaign is calling on community supporters for a national day of action on April 24. OUR Walmart workers and allies will be calling on Walmart to keep its public commitment on hours and scheduling. OUR Walmart member Rose Campbell is a grandmother of 14 and has worked at Walmart for [...] April 15, 2013 Republican House Majority leader Eric Cantor is spearheading a bill that has the potential to deny low-wage workers of their overtime pay. It’s being pushed by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), a lobbying firm that represents large U.S. retailers – among them Walmart and Target. The name of the bill — The Working Families [...] April 8, 2013 Last week, a press conference was held by various groups who have united to file a lawsuit against Walmart, in hopes of keeping the mega-corporation out of LA’s Chinatown. Walmart’s track record as a small-business killer is threatening to Chinatown, which has a thriving, tight-knit community of local businesses. Martha Sellars, a Walmart associate from [...] April 5, 2013 Reposted from Warehouse Workers United: Exactly one month ago, on March 4, garment workers in Nicaragua were brutally beaten during a peaceful protest when the company they work for – SAE-A, a Walmart supplier – paid a mob of more than 300 other workers to attack these employees, using scissors, metal pipes, and other [...] April 4, 2013 Walmart has been touting claims about its fresh produce, healthy food options, and great products all around for a while now, but recently, customers have been finding that the selection of great food products available at Walmart is not up to par with all the company claims it to be. A few examples that went [...] April 3, 2013 Duane has worked for Juicy Couture, a high end retailer, for almost four years as a stocker. Darrell was a full-time sales associate for the store for more than two years. At first, they enjoyed their jobs at Juicy’s flagship store in New York City. But recently, things have changed. Darrell was recently fired for [...]UFCW Submits Comments to EPA Against Tyson and Dangers of Hazardous Chemicals to Workers
Time to Take Responsibility
President Hansen on Decision of H&M and Others to Improve Workplace Safety in Bangladesh
Walmart Associates, Community Supporters Launch New Website www.ReallyWalmart.org
H&M Takes Responsibility for Workplace Safety in Bangladesh
Target Violated Federal Labor Law, Workers’ Rights According to NLRB Decision
National Retail Justice Alliance Highlights Struggles of Part-Time Workers in Hearing with Congresswoman Judy Chu
Retail Justice Alliance Stands with Bangladesh Factory Wokers This May Day
Statement by the United Food and Commerical Workers Union Regarding the Tragedy in Bangladesh
UFCW Members Lobby New York Legislators About Middle Class Concerns
Warehouse Workers, Community Organizations Call on Walmart to Stop Retaliatory Firings in Contracted Warehouse
Remembering Those Who Have Fallen
Guitar Center Workers Stand Up for Their Rights to Join RWDSU
A Trip Across the Pond to Protect Workers Rights In America
April 24th National Day of Action on Hours and Scheduling at Walmart
Another Attack on the American Worker
OUR Walmart Members Attend Press Conference Surrounding Fight to Keep Walmart Out of Chinatown
More Worker Abuse at a Walmart Supplier…
Walmart Falling Flat with Not-so-Fresh Foods
High End Retailer Juicy Couture Not Taking Care of its Workers