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
October 10, 2013 Houston, Texas – Over 250 Maximus Coffee Group workers in Houston, a majority of who are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 455, went on strike this morning to protest the company’s plan to reduce wages from 25 to 50 percent per hour, reduce retirement benefits, increase insurance premiums, […] October 7, 2013 Zeynep Ton, an adjunct associate professor at the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management, recently spoke at a TEDx event in Cambridge, Mass., and delivered a provocative analysis of the economic advantages retailers can achieve by investing in their workforce. Drawing on a decade of research, Ton maintains that retailers such as Costco that invest in […] October 7, 2013 Reposted from The Walmart 1% As the government shutdown drags on, many pundits have drawn attention to how gerrymandering has helped give the American people a handful of right-wing Republicans willing to shut down the government as part of their ideological crusade against Obamacare. What has not been widely understood is how Walmart, the nation’s […] October 4, 2013 Over the last year, Walmart workers and members of the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) have called on the retail giant to stop its practice of retaliating against workers who are simply exercising their right to speak out for a better life and improved working conditions. Their calls for change have been […] September 27, 2013 In response to last year’s Black Friday actions, Walmart filed a lawsuit in Washington state court against OUR Walmart and its supporters alleging trespass and requesting a court order to prohibit future OUR Walmart actions inside and outside of Walmart stores. OUR Walmart fought the lawsuit and successfully persuaded the Washington judge to dismiss it […] September 19, 2013 Last week, Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray vetoed the Large Retailer Accountability Act (LRAA) which would have required big box retailers to pay a $12.50 per hour minimum wage. D.C. residents from neighborhoods throughout the city took their calls for fair wages and good jobs to the D.C. City Council today in light of the […] September 12, 2013 Washington, DC — Today, members of Respect DC, a coalition of grassroots-based organizations, pastors, workers, and community members concerned about the quality of life in the nation’s capital, released the following statement in response to Mayor Vincent Gray’s veto of the Large Retailer Accountability Act (LRAA). Gray’s veto comes just two days after the Fair […] September 11, 2013 Workers at Cosmo’s Food Products, Inc., in West Haven, Conn., are celebrating the signing of their first union contract. This victory comes seven months after the workers at Cosmo’s voted to join UFCW Local 371. “I’m proud of the union contract that we negotiated,” said Araceli Flores, Cosmo’s Food worker. “This contract will mean more […] September 9, 2013 At the AFL-CIO 2013 Convention in downtown Los Angeles, UFCW delegates received a warm welcome from the union federation as they took the stage to celebrate the new affiliation with the AFL-CIO in a movement to build a stronger, more unified voice for the rights of workers. “We’re home,” said UFCW President Joe Hansen after […] September 6, 2013 Group Announces Massive 2013 Black Friday Strikes WASHINGTON – September 6 – One hundred Walmart workers and community members were arrested in 11 cities Thursday calling on the employer to reinstate illegally fired and disciplined workers, publicly commit to improve jobs and end the company’s aggressive violations of workers’ rights. Thousands of supporters, including the […] September 5, 2013 Today, Walmart workers and their supporters in over a dozen cities across the country are joining together for a nationwide day of protests—the largest mobilization since Black Friday—to call for better jobs at the country’s largest employer. Many Walmart workers are struggling to support their families and contribute to their local economies because of low […] August 30, 2013 Reposted from Making Change at Walmart It’s been an exciting week and it’s not even Labor Day yet! This week, low-wage workers of all varieties have gone out on strike to stand up for an American economy that works for working people. Earlier this week, port truck workers went out on strike in Los Angeles. […] August 28, 2013 Recently, fast food and retail workers alike have come together into tell their employers that they deserve respect on the job, and that they will no longer stand for wages that don’t allow them to make a living. Going on 1-day strikes in cities across the country, these workers have ignited conversation and action surrounding […] August 28, 2013 Grocery workers from UFCW Locals 21, 367 and Teamsters Local 38 will be joined by co-workers, elected officials, and community supporters in informational pickets held across the Seattle region. Today, workers from Fred Meyer, Safeway, QFC, and Albertsons will hold actions at 38 different grocery locations to draw attention to their fight for fair treatment, […] August 26, 2013 Since the economy collapsed in 2008, everyone from politicians, to activists, to bankers has talked about how to get America back on track. Finally, most are beginning to see that the way to rebuild America’s economy, is to rebuild America’s middle class–not tax cuts for the rich or trickle down policies. However, although more policymakers […] August 23, 2013 This week, ten current or recently fired Walmart workers and members of the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) were arrested in Washington, D.C. for peaceful civil disobedience near Walmart’s downtown office. This action comes after the company fired or disciplined more than 70 workers for participating in a legally protected unfair labor […] August 22, 2013 Bringing Attention to Illegal Retaliation and Low Wages, WALMART WORKERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, CALL FOR BETTER JOBS IN NATION’S CAPITAL Thursday: March for Good Jobs at Walmart DC Office WASHINGTON, DC—Following an aggressive uptick in illegal retaliation against workers speaking out for better jobs at Walmart, a group of current and recently fired Walmart workers […] August 16, 2013 Reposted from Making Change at Walmart Walmart’s second quarter sales report shows the continuation of negative same store sales. In response, OUR Walmart member Larry Born, who has worked at Walmart in Crestwood, IL for over three years, issued the following statement: “Today’s numbers make it clear that Walmart’s labor practices aren’t just hurting […] August 15, 2013 For retail workers across the country, this has been the summer of discontent. Although the retail sector is the largest industry by employment in the United States and has added over 350,000 jobs to the economy over the past 12 months, many of these jobs are low-wage and part-time positions. This summer, retail workers have […] August 7, 2013 Washington, DC- Today, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it has reached a settlement with Walmart on a large number of repeated and serious worker safety violations including a lack of proper training on handling of hazardous chemicals and dangerous conditions related to poorly maintained equipment. In response, OUR Walmart members issued […]Maximus Coffee Workers Strike in Houston to Protest Company’s Plan to Slash Benefits
M.I.T. Professor Advocates for Better Jobs for Retail Workers
How Walmart Helped Lay the Groundwork for the Government Shutdown
As the Holidays Approach, OUR Walmart Members Prepare for Black Friday Actions
OUR Walmart Celebrates Legal Victory and Prepares for Actions Leading Up to Black Friday
OUR Walmart Members and Community Allies Support Living Wage Bill
Statement from Respect DC on Mayor Vincent Gray’s Veto of Large Retailer Accountability Act
UFCW Local 371 Cosmo’s Workers To Sign First Contract
UFCW Members Welcomed and New Affiliation Celebrated at AFL-CIO 2013 Convention
100 Arrested in Eleven Cities Protesting Walmart’s Illegal Retaliation, Low Wages
Walmart Workers and Supporters Hold Nationwide Day of Protests Against Retail Giant
Low Wage Workers Rising
Biggest Fast Food and Retail Worker Stike Yet Expected for Tomorrow Across America
UFCW Locals 21 and 367 Hold Informational Pickets to Advocate for Grocery Workers
Study Shows A Decade of Stagnant Wages Despite Growth
Walmart Workers Arrested in Peaceful Protest
Walmart Workers Call for Better Jobs in Nation’s Capital
Walmart Worker Reacts to Weak Q2 Earnings Report
Retail Workers and the Summer of Discontent
OUR Walmart Statement on OSHA Settlement with Walmart