A worker found a company checklist with Walmart’s logo on it that shows a lot of equipment is broken and even dangerous. The document is dated Aug. 8, but workers report that problems noted in the document still have not been fixed.
Here’s what Walmart spokesperson Dan Fogelman had to say: “Workers’ claims were ‘either unfounded, or if they are legitimate, have been addressed.’” (Los Angeles Times, Sep. 17)
Read the two-page document, and send an email to Walmart and NFI, the warehouse operator, and tell them they have been caught red handed.
I was once almost killed on a piece of faulty equipment. If a company knows that something is faulty, and does not address it promptly, then it is negligent. It is putting employees in danger needlessly. It is committing a crime.
It’s all about cutting corners for more profit. The employees don’t count. Their replaceable.
What is being overlooked, and not mentioned, is that Walmart has no incentive to fix these things, because if you get injured on the job, or killed, they have insurance on you that will add to their profits. I saw an article about this not too long ago, and was appalled. Families are destroyed, but WM get richer, and then fights to not pay for these damages.
Shame on you Walmart! One of the richest corporations in the world that treats the people who made you so like if they were garbage.
Has OSHA been notified of this situation? I know they have been gutted during the previous administration but it’s worth a try. You might also try the local code enforcement and Fire Marshal’s office
I would definitely alert the local Office for Building Codes and the Fire Department as well as OSHA. All of these can FORCE COMPLIANCE with Safety Codes.
I bet they pay OSHA AND THE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE OFF, I CAN’T PROVE IT. BUT IF THEY DON’T WHY IS IT NOT FIX AND TAKEN CARE OF
The workers will be retaliated against if they tell on Walmart to the usual proper authorities like OSHA, FIRE MARSHAL’S, Office for Building Codes. They may or may not force compliance but the bully’s who are the enforcers in the warehouses will definitely take their revenge on the workers and do nothing. Their hatred and evil egos are boundless and very frightening.
This is utterly disgusting! I hope that this is reported to OSHA and that Walmart receives history’s largest fine!
This is amazingly callous and dangerous, especially coming from one of the richest corporations in the world. You have no shame. I have never shopped your stores and refuse to do so until and unless you allow your workers to form a union and you address safety, health and income issues.
You are vermin on this country already with your extraordinarily low wages and virtually forcing out of business so many small businesses with your sprawling and obnoxious stores but, to be putting your work force in such dangerous situations while you simply deny there is a problem is entirely uncalled for.
Tim, I would recommend that you continue to boycott Walmart indefinitely. See “WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price: at http://www.walmartmovie.com/. You will see that Walmart is a despicable company & should be avoided. I might spend more at Target, but my conscience isn’t worth the pennies I’d save.
I definitely will not shop at Walmart but also will not be shopping at Target. They are just as bad as walmart. Look what they are doing in Canada.
I saw that movie, and was appalled at the callousness of wally world’s higher-ups. I am still appalled, and I try to dissuade people from shopping there.
It is most definitely a SHAME, a CRYING shame Wal-Mart cares so little about their contracted as well as their own employees as to NOT provide them with the safest places to work. Mrs. Walton and all the kids have more money that they could ever need and all the top execs have been made millionaires as well as the shareholders have been well compensated, so it is time this corporation started to take care of their direct as well as indirect employees. And not only when it comes to their physical safety but also their mental safety by paying them a living wage and affordable Health Insurance. This company has been failing their “Associates” for several years, decades even and Sam would not like the direction his company has taken. Sam prided himself is stocking only those goods Made in America, not everything seems Made in China or imported from some non-American corporation, right down to the fruit and veggies in their grocery sections.
These top people have all the best yet many of their employees qualify and rely on Food Stamps to put food on the table. This company has HUGE ISSUES all around the company and at every level.
This is why unions were formed in the first place, also for a decent living wage
Call OSHA. Call the Fire Department. Call Labor and Industries. Call your Representative. Call the Governor. Call First Lady Michelle Obama. Keep up the fight for safe working conditions. Excellent job. The world is listening and hears you.
Thank you. Good advice. FYI, Cal/OSHA is investigating: http://www.warehouseworkers.org/striking-warehouse-workers-seek-investigation-of-high-injury-rates-at-southern-california-warehouse/
Just a hint, Memphis, the California state government is not very responsive to the warehouse workers or to the field workers. They let the lawbreaking corporations Walmart get away with murder. Probably literally. Everyone should go ahead and walk in the shoes of workers who have no union to protect them, plus all the rest of the horrors of being undocumented and working in California.
You damn libs just don’t get it. It’s all about maximum profit. Workers are expendable, there’s three waiting for every one that we use up and discard. Why do you think we spend millions on Conservative candidates. They’ll gut OSHA even more and eliminate those pesky environmental and safety regulations. Mitt will do the same! Sure we can make fabulous profits complying, but we make even MORE by owning factories in China, Indonesia, and Latin America and paying slave wages! People are expendable, profits are not. Hey, it’s just business!
@Mike Morris, actually YOU are the one who just doesn’t get it.
You got your rose-colored glasses on, Gretchen?
Hey, even the Chinese are wising up to worldwide economic tactics.
Note how the Foxconn plant that creates the iPhone 5 just shut down due to WORKER FIGHTS!!
Even the CHINESE know how that they could be treated better.
Be American. Fire Walmart – and quit paying $600+ for a new iPhone, too.
Employees would have a better chance by alerting the Fire Marshall and the county and/or state Code Enforcement office than by contacting OSHA. All OSHA does is contact the employer, by phone or letter and tell them of the complaint/s. They then take the employer/s word when the employer says how compliant they are. OSHA drops the ball because they don’t do a physical inspection. My son had to contact OSHA twice… after 8 months the company was finally cited and fined; this was AFTER OSHA “worked with us” (as the employer stated) for 3 months. I tell you, you risk your life even going to work! County, City, State and Federal Governmental agencies are NOT for the employee.. they are for the businesses.
Cal/OSHA has an open investigation at the warehouse where workers are on strike. Monday, workers filed a second complaint. Read more here: http://www.warehouseworkers.org/striking-warehouse-workers-seek-investigation-of-high-injury-rates-at-southern-california-warehouse/
Can I point out that Walmart subcontracts nfi to do their warehousing …… So it’s national freight that’s the scumbags in this situation ….. Walmart is naturally the scumbags either way lol
then there are the dead peasnat policies that pay the company not thefamily should the peasant die. policies in which the corporation punishes fraternizarion among workers, and you should see the child labor in mexico where they were caught bribing officials to set up shop. iris
this is an affront to all working Americans, but think on this WalMart is not alone in treating it’s employees like garbage. Now consider this if Romney and Republicans take the White House and the House of Representatives this is the America we will have. That is the Corps. And the very rich getting richer on the backs of the workers, without giving a thought to those workers and their needs and safety. The Founding Fathers must be crying out in pain to see their beloved nation being turned into a giant corporation, or faciast state. A real shame.
@James L,
Welcome to world history and worldwide reality. Hell, welcome to PLANET EARTH.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low. The rich tread on the backs of the poor, and the poor rise up and revolt and kill the rich. Leaders, even kings and emperors, remain so at the will of the people. We, the poor tax-paying workers of the U. S. A., have had enough. We must begin our revolt against the American corporate autocracy by boycotting Walmart and other major corporations who have chosen to export our jobs overseas, and treat our native workers with contempt.
Let us remind the wealthy people of this world that they have OUR money, and we can separate them from OUR money by several means. Boycott and even armed robbery or murder are no exceptions.
Is making a few more bucks more important than the safety of your employees?
The only way toi get walmart’s attention is to put up union signs outside every store in the country. Hit them everywhere at once so their teams of union busters have more than they can handle. This would plug up their communications. If you hear walmart wants to put a new store some where get all union members out with signs. They would turn and run. One warehouse or one store will not win.
Walmart executives are dishonest and lack integrity.
They are greedy and disrespectful to workers.
Walmart is a bad corporate citizen.
The Walmart associates are organizing for better pay and working conditions. The worker’s organization is OUR Walmart aka Organization United For Respect At Walmart. The motto is– STAND UP, LIVE BETTER, the website is at:
http://forrespect.org/
There is also an activist group for non-associates who want to stand up and back the workers. More info at:
http://makingchangeatwalmart.org/
Thank you for the email address. I have signed up to help. You have a choice to help protest on line or at the Walmart near you. I hope everyone takes this chance to do some good.
WAREHOUSE WORKERS UNITED…………
We want justice. and we want it now
I’ve made it a habit of mine not to shop at Wal-Mart.
Sam Walton would be turning over in his grave at what his children have done to his company and his good name. He cared about the customer, employees and the quality of his mdse.