Media Advisory for Friday, November 29
Contact: Elizabeth Brennan, Warehouse Workers United, 213-999-2164 or Allison Mannos, LAANE, 323-706-8320
Community Organizations and Religious Leaders to Join the Call for Walmart to Publicly Commit to Paying $25,000 a Year, Providing Full-Time Work
LOS ANGELES – In one of the largest mobilizations of working families in recent history, Walmart workers and supporters in Southern California will join thousands nationwide in their calls for Walmart to improve jobs and the economy. Pointing to poverty wages that have forced Walmart workers to rely on food drives even though they work at a company with $17 billion in profits, the protesters are calling on Walmart to publicly commit to paying $25,000 a year, providing full-time work, and ending the retaliation against workers who have been speaking out for better jobs.
Community groups, students, Walmart shoppers, religious leaders, elected officials and Southern California workers will protest at 6 a.m. in Ontario and at 12 noon in South Los Angeles. Workers and supporters have been emboldened by news from Walmart CEO that hundreds of thousands of Walmart workers are paid less than $25,000 a year and are forced to rely on taxpayer dollars to support their families.
“Our community needs good jobs,” said Rev. William Smart. “Walmart can improve jobs – and it must. We are standing together to tell the Walton family and Walmart that our country needs more from our largest employer.”
TWO EVENTS: Southern California Black Friday Protests
6 am – 8 am, Community Protest at the Ontario Walmart
1333 N. Mountain Ave, Ontario, California 91762
12 noon – 1 p.m., Community Protest at the Crenshaw Walmart
4101 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
***To arrange interviews or for any questions on timing please call Elizabeth Brennan at 213-999-2164 or Allison Mannos at 323-706-8320.
Nationwide protests on Black Friday follow revelations last week that Walmart workers don’t have enough money to cover Thanksgiving dinner for their families, as well as the historic federal government finding that Walmart has been violating workers’ rights nationwide. Inspired by actions in recent weeks, including the largest-ever civil disobedience against the retail giant in Los Angeles; strikes in Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Ohio and Dallas; an online petition to President Obama and new web portal where associates can request protests at their stores, workers say they can no longer wait to demand an end to illegal retaliation and better pay.
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For information on Black Friday protests, photos and live-streams of events, visit www.BlackFridayProtests.org and follow the conversation and see photos at @ChangeWalmart, #WalmartStrikers and changewalmart.tumblr.com.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: UFCW and OUR Walmart have the purpose of helping Wal-Mart employees as individuals or groups in their dealings with Wal-Mart over labor rights and standards and their efforts tohave Wal-Mart publically commit to adhering to labor rights and standards. UFCW and OUR Walmart have no intent to have Walmart recognize or bargain with UFCW or OUR Walmart as the representative of Walmart employees.
