More than 200 events planned in cities around the country leading up to Walmart shareholders meeting June 1st

Posted on June 1, 2012 by jway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2012
CONTACT press@ufcw.org

 

Walmart associates, customers and community leaders nationwide

calling on Walmart to change

WASHINGTON – As shareholders gather in northwest Arkansas for Walmart’s annual shareholders meeting, communities across the nation are calling for Walmart to change to rebuild America at more than 200 events. These events will highlight what 50 years of Walmart has meant for this country and why changes are needed so the company is more accountable to workers, customers and the communities where it operates. Walmart is holding its 50th anniversary this year against the backdrop of a high-profile scandal involving reported bribery and a cover-up among top executives.

Events are happening in multiple locations around the country, including (all times are local):

Wednesday, May 30th
LOS ANGELES: 10 a.m. Send-off for OUR Walmart members heading to Arkansas for the Walmart shareholders meeting (Delta Airlines Terminal 5 Departures at LAX)

Thursday, May 31st
WASHINGTON, D.C.: 11 a.m. Parade from proposed Walmart site (801 New Jersey Ave) to Walmart’s Washington, D.C. headquarters in Chinatown

Thursday, May 31st
BOSTON: 11 a.m. Press conference in front of Walmart offices at 51 Franklin St

Friday, June 1st
BOSTON: 11 a.m. Press conference celebrating 50 years without Walmart in the parking lot of the Haley House (12 Dade Street, Dudley Square) in the heart of Roxbury, Mass.

This week’s events are happening as major Walmart shareholders, including Walmart associates who own Walmart stock, and advisory groups call for the removal of key Walmart board members and new transparency on executive pay through proposal #6. Proposal #6, which calls for greater disclosure about incentive pay, was introduced by four current Walmart associates who collectively have over 60 years of service with the company. A petition created by Walmart associate Venanzi Luna calling for the resignation of Walmart CEO Mike Duke added 10,000 signatures in its first week.

The bribery scandal has given new momentum to the efforts of Walmart Associates to join together in OUR Walmart (Organization United for Respect at Walmart) to address serious problems in the workplace that the company has created.

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Making Change at Walmart is a campaign challenging Walmart to help rebuild our economy and strengthen working families. Anchored by UFCW, we are a coalition of Walmart associates, union members, small business owners, religious leaders, women advocacy groups, multi-ethnic coalitions, elected officials, and ordinary citizens who believe that changing Walmart is vital for the future of our country. The UFCW and OUR Walmart have provided technical assistance to the four shareholder sponsors of Proposal #6, and we continue to support their efforts to campaign on its behalf.

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