DC Coalition Contributes to Delay of Multiple Walmart Stores in Nation’s Capital

Posted on April 10, 2012 by jway


The trend of victories for local community groups seems to have continued into this week. Walmart announced that the company will delay construction on five of the six proposed stores in the District of Columbia.

Walmart has only received building permits for one of its six proposed stores. This store is scheduled to open by the end of 2013. Five other stores (some of which were scheduled to open by the end of 2012) now have no scheduled open dates.

According to the Washington Post, resistance from local activists has been one of the major factors in delaying construction.

This news comes as a major victory for Living Wages, Healthy Communities (a DC coalition of grassroots-based organizations, pastors, workers, environmentalists, parents, students and community members). The coalition released the following statement under their Respect DC campaign:

Walmart’s announcement that it will delay the opening of five of six planned stores in the District of Columbia is further proof that the company has not won over city residents. Our coalition talks to community members every day, and they express concerns and reservations about Walmart opening stores without signing a legally binding Community Benefits Agreement, or CBA.

As city residents ourselves, we worry about Walmart’s potential impact on existing small businesses. We are asking the company to commit in writing to support local small business and hire local residents at a living wage.

Walmart would not be altering its original timeline if company executives did not believe it needed more time to convince District residents that low-wage poverty jobs that can force workers to rely on public assistance are what D.C. needs.

While Walmart pointed to a number of factors as delaying construction, the Washington Post quoted company spokesman Steven Restivo as saying, “While construction time lines are fluid and driven mostly by the developer, we’re using the extra time to further engage with the neighborhoods that surround our stores and build even more support for Walmart.”

Comments

  • Anonymous

    it is time for Walmart Join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union for all Walmart Cashier Workers and for all Walmart Produce Workers and for all Walmart Deli Department Workers and for all Walmart Bakery Department Workers. and it is time for Walmart join the Teamster Union for all Walmart Truck Drivers Workers and for all Walmart Maintenance Workers and for all Walmart Stock Person Workers and for all Walmart Hardware Department Workers and for all Walmart Gardening Department Workers and for all Walmart Customer Service Desk Workers and for all Walmart Courtesy Association Workers and for all Sam’s Club Truck Drivers Workers and for all Sam’s Club Forklift Drivers@Stock Person Workers and for all Sam’s Club Maintenance Workers and for Sam’s Club Cashier Workers and for all Sam’s Club Meat Cutter@Meat Wrapper Workers and for all Sam’s Club Produce Workers and for all Sam’s Club Cafe Workers and for all Sam’s Club Bakery Department Workers and for all Sam’s Club Membership Desk Workers and for all Sam’s Club Cart Attendant Workers. and it is time for Walmart Join the United Healthcare Workers Union for all Walmart Pharmacy Workers and for all Sam’s Club Pharmacy Workers. and it is time for Walmart join the Communication Workers of America Union for all Walmart Electronics Workers and for all Sam’s Club Electronics Workers. and it is time for Walmart join the United Auto Workers Union for all Walmart Tire@Lube Express Workers and for all Sam’s Club Tire@Car Battery Installment Workers right of away and right now. by make Walmart give all Walmart Workers and all Sam’s Club  Workers a Living Wage With Affordable Health Care right of away and right now please without close down all the Walmart Store and without close down all the Sam’s Wholesale Club 

    Thank You Very Much United Food And Commercial Workers Union And Teamster Union And Making Change At Walmart And OUR Walmart And Employee Free Choice Act For Trying Make Walmart A Better Please to Work For All Walmart Workers And for All Sam’s Club Workers From Tom P Noonan