Tagged as warehouse workers united

Walmart Calls Out the Riot Police on Peaceful Protest for Walmart Workers

Oct 03, 2012

Photo Credit: Dawn Littman

This week, 38 Walmart warehouse workers and supporters from faith and community groups rallied in front of an Elwood, Illinois Walmart distribution center to protest the horrendous working conditions workers there endure. The workers have been on strike since mid-September.

Much like the Mira Loma workers who protested a couple weeks ago, the subcontracted workers spoke out this week, against insufferable heat, exposure to chemicals and unhealthy air, unstable working hours which sometimes require them to work up to 19 hours a day, and heavy lifting up to 250 pounds without any support or equipment. Despite all of these offenses, these warehouse workers’ wages aren’t enough to even make ends meet.

Source: Buzzfeed

But instead of facing the workers, or attempting any sort of resolution, Walmart called riot police on the peaceful gathering. The police streamed into the area in full riot gear, as though they were preparing to do battle with a vicious, angry mob rather than a peaceful group of spiritual leaders and community supporters. With batons at the ready, the militarized forces stood inches from each placid protester as they sat down in the road, singing songs and chanting for solidarity and justice.

However ludicrous Walmart’s reaction to the rally was, workers and supporters together succeeded in drawing attention to the unfair treatment of Walmart’s subcontracted warehouse workers, like their brothers in sisters did in southern California. We are seeing more and more groups come together to support one another in the fight for fair treatment and workers rights, as demonstrated by the support of the warehouse workers by the Chicago Teacher’s Union, which of course recently were on strike as well.

To see video of the protest, including the arrival of the riot police, click here.

Community Partnerships, Corporate Responsibility, Packing and Processing, Retail, UFCW Industries, UFCW Values, Walmart, Workplace Safety & Health

Warehouse Workers’ 6-Day Pilgrimage Culminates in L.A. City Hall Rally

Sep 19, 2012

Yesterday, the 6-day long journey taken by striking Walmart warehouse workers, in protest of working conditions, came to a close as they reached their 50 mile destination in Los Angeles. The trek went out with a bang, as the more than 30 workers were joined by hundreds of supporters in front of L.A. City Hall.

At the rally, warehouse workers, exhausted from the journey and the 103-degree heat, took the opportunity to express to the crowd that, although the pilgrimage was tiring and hard to endure, it was nothing compared to the conditions they are forced to work in at the Inland Empire warehouse, a subcontractor of Walmart.

These warehouse workers are not protected by a union, and, by taking a stand to highlight the abuses they have endured, they have risked everything. But the risks are worth it to these workers, who work in 120-degree warehouses with no fans, which often results in vomiting and nosebleeds. Not only is the heat unbearable, but they are no given clean water or regular breaks, and the equipment they use is unsafe. Does Walmart, who controls the working conditions of the sub-contracters, think that putting workers in terribly unsafe environments and then not paying them enough to make a decent living, is okay?

It simply isn’t.

The strike has brought well-deserved attention to the unacceptable conditions at Walmart warehouses, and drawn many supporters to the workers’ cause. Warehouse Workers United, health professional volunteers, and countless supporters have helped in the effort, and speakers at the rally on Tuesday included Rep. Judy Chu, California Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, City Councilman Ed Reyes, National Farmworkers Association co-founder Dolores Huerta, California Secretary of Labor Marty Morgenstern, and LA County Federation of Labor secretary-treasurer Elena Durazo.

Despite widespread community support for workers, Walmart and its sub-contractors haven’t offered to meet about improving the situation at all. In fact, a Walmart spokesman has claimed that Walmart officials regularly tour the locations of their subcontractors, and the conditions are “ambient.”

Despite the lies and blatant denial of those responsible, workers have taken a stand and a national spotlight is shining on the unjust treatment they receive. Once they return home, the warehouse workers plan to continue to picket outside the facility in Mira Loma where they work, in the hopes that even more workers will take a stand to decrease the amount of worker injuries due to unsafe working conditions, to fight for respect, and to force corporations like Walmart to be responsible.

For more information on the warehouse workers’ pilgrimage, and to see great photos from their journey and the rally, click here.

Organizing, Walmart, Workplace Safety & Health

A Message and Video from Marta Medina, Striking Walmart Warehouse Worker

Sep 13, 2012

Yesterday, courageous workers at a Walmart-contracted warehouse in California came together to take a stand against unlivable working conditions and ongoing retaliation by their employer. They went out on strike. They are calling for safe working conditions and demanding that Walmart take responsibility for working conditions in its contracted warehouses. Today we bring you a message from warehouse worker Marta Medina. Check out her story – and an inspiring video – below.

Dear Friends,

After five years lifting heavy boxes every day in the warehouse my body aches. I am 31. Walking is difficult, lifting my son is nearly impossible, and I frequently have very painful back spasms. I finally left my job at the warehouse after I seriously hurt my back.

But I had to fight for medical attention. The managers of the warehouse didn’t care about my health or safety. They tried to prevent me from seeing a doctor. I fought and I won medical care, but I have seen a lot of my coworkers fired for similar injuries. They leave the warehouse hurt, with no job and no healthcare.

We move goods for Walmart, but we are treated like we are disposable. To this day it makes me angry, that’s why I am joining with other workers and people who support us to end these inhumane working conditions.

Watch our video and then join with us to help make our jobs better:

Will you stand with us and tell Walmart to take responsibility for its warehouses?

Together, we can improve the lives of the thousands of people who live with these conditions on a daily basis. Support warehouse workers and sign our letter to Walmart. We will deliver it to Walmart executives when we arrive in Los Angeles at the end of our march.

Thank you for your support,

Marta Medina
Warehouse Worker
San Bernardino, California