Following strikes at the Port of Los Angeles, fast food restaurants and Inland Empire warehouses,
Southern Californians Plan Massive Demonstration After Walmart Failed to Meet the Labor Day Deadline
CONTACT: Elizabeth Brennan at 213-999-2164, Elizabeth.brennan@changetowin.org
Allison Mannos at 323-706-8320, Amannos@laane.org
LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, September 5, hundreds of Los Angeles supporters will join Walmart workers in a nationwide day of protests calling for better jobs at the country’s largest private employer. Following strikes at 60 fast food restaurants, warehouses in the Inland Empire and other low-wage worker protests, Southern California Walmart workers will lead a large march and demonstration through Downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 5.
WHO: Local community supporters
WHAT: Local residents participate in national day of protests for Walmart to improve jobs, raise wages
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. September 5 (note corrected time)
WHERE: March starts in Pershing Square, S. Olive and W. 6th St., Los Angeles
From Pershing Square the march will proceed through Downtown Los Angeles to culminate in a mass rally at N Broadway Ave & W Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, California 90012. Chinatown is the proposed site of a Walmart store in Chinatown.
The growing protests come after Walmart failed to respond to a Labor Day deadline set by tens of thousands of Americans calling on Walmart to commit to provide full-time work with a minimum salary of $25,000, reinstate workers who were fired for striking and agree to stop all retaliation against workers calling for better jobs.
Many Walmart workers are struggling to support their families and contribute to their local economies because of low wages, insufficient hours and ongoing efforts to silence workers who are speaking out for better jobs.
BACKGROUND:
The Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart)—a national organization of Walmart associates speaking out for a stronger company and economy—has been calling on the nation’s largest private employer to create better jobs. Rather than providing good jobs that American workers need and deserve, Walmart is trying to silence workers who are standing up with their co-workers to live better and spending its time and money trying to deny workers a decent day’s pay.
Since the prolonged strikes in June when 100 striking workers effectively had their concerns heard by thousands of shareholders, Walmart has illegally disciplined nearly 80 workers, including 20 worker-leaders who have been fired. In August 2013, the group gave Walmart a Labor Day deadline to change its ways.
For a full list of nationwide actions, visit www.makingchangeatwalmart.org. For photos and video of strikers and their community supporters, visit http://changewalmart.tumblr.com. Or follow the conversation and see photos on Twitter at #Walmartstrikers.
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