Press
Press Contact:
Jennifer Stapleton
(202) 466-1576
jstapleton@ufcw.org
Recent Press Releases:
Dutch Pension Fund Dumps Walmart; Cites Repeated Violation of International Labor Standards
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 5, 2011) – Leaders of the Making Change at Walmart campaign hailed the news that one of the largest pension funds in the world has decided to divest from Walmart stores. Algemeen Burgerlijk Pensioenfonds (ABP) announced today that the retirement fund would no longer invest in the retail giant due to the company’s repeated violation of international labor standards. The fund, which has over $300 billion in assets and is the third largest in the world, had over $147 million invested in Walmart as of September 30, 2011.
Current and former Walmart workers hold teach ins to coincide with opening of Crystal Bridges museum; Call for Walmart to restore cuts in health care for employees
(November 11, 2011)—Angered by Walmart’s recent decision to cut health care coverage for employees, current and former Walmart workers are holding teach ins at Occupy Wall Street encampments across the country. The events will highlight the fact that the Walton Family—the Walmart heirs—have made an extraordinary fortune while Walmart’s workers continue to largely make poverty-level wages. Additionally, the Walton family and Walmart have donated money to open the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art while cutting health insurance for full-time and part-time employees.
Employees at nation’s largest employer, Walmart, face benefit cuts and soaring costs during health benefits open enrollment
(October 31, 2011)—At the peak of the health benefits open enrollment season for most private employers, the nation’s largest company, Walmart, is dramatically rolling back health care benefits for its 1.4 million U.S. employees. New part-time sales associates working fewer than 24 hours will no longer be eligible for insurance. Full-time employees will see their premiums rise as much as 60 percent.
Walmart associates, Assemblyman Warren Furutani rally about healthcare
(Los Angeles, CA, October 28, 2011)—At 9 a.m. today, Walmart associates and concerned community allies, including Assemblyman Warren Furutani (55th District), gathered at the Paramount Walmart for a rally around Walmart’s healthcare coverage and scheduling practices.
Walmart Associates and allies applaud California Plaintiffs in Dukes v. Wal-Mart as they continue to fight for justice for women workers En Español
(Los Angeles, CA, October 27, 2011)—Walmart associates and concerned community allies including Assemblyman Warren Furutani (55th District) will gather at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning for a rally around Walmart’s healthcare coverage and scheduling practices.
Walmart Associates and allies applaud California Plaintiffs in Dukes v. Wal-Mart as they continue to fight for justice for women workers En Español
(Washington, D.C., October 27, 2011)—Today, the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) and its allies, including Making Change at Walmart and the National Organization for Women (NOW), stand in support of the California Plaintiffs in the Dukes v. Wal-mart class action lawsuit who filed an amended complaint in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
Walmart’s Low Cost Strategies Hurting U.S. Sales, Long-Term Revenue Growth
(Bentonville, AR, October 11, 2011)—Walmart Stores Inc.’s (WMT) low-cost strategies are hurting U.S. sales and the company’s long-term revenue growth, according to current and former employees who met today with Wall Street analysts at an extraordinary meeting today in Bentonville, AR.
National women’s groups join Walmart Associates to challenge Walmart to create better working conditions for women
(Washington, D.C., October 5, 2011)—Today, national women’s advocacy organizations joined with Walmart Associates to call on Walmart to adopt policy recommendations to improve working conditions for women employed by Walmart.
Walmart’s Business Practices Cause Systematic Economic Harm to Women in the U.S. and Worldwide
(Washington, DC – September 14, 2011) “Walmart’s latest PR gambit is trying to cover up decades of unjust treatment of women, but women know better. Walmart causes systematic economic harm to women in the U.S. and around the world, and that is precisely why Walmart is trying to sell us on a new image.” (En Español)
A Statement from Joe Hansen, UFCW International President Challenging White House: Tell Walmart to Create Good Jobs and End the Poverty Cycle
(Washington, DC – July 20, 2011) “The First Lady’s commitment to addressing childhood obesity in the U.S. is laudable and the UFCW commends her for her enthusiasm for such a worthy endeavor. But with income disparity between the rich and the poor at more extreme levels than during the Great Depression, Walmart must be held accountable for its track record of lower standards for millions of retail workers.”
Making Change at Walmart Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Dukes v. Walmart Case
(Washington, DC – June 20, 2011) In a sharply divided 5-4 opinion today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against women working at the nation’s largest retailer. The court overturned 40 years of legal precedent to rule that Walmart’s policy against discrimination shields the company from accountability against women associates joining together to address widespread gender discrimination claims. This decision, however, does not make any ruling on the merits of the individual discrimination claims against Walmart.
Making Change at Walmart Stands with Walmart Associates in Bentonville, Arkansas
(Washington, DC – June 16, 2011) Today, nearly 100 Walmart Associates who are part of a new associate-led organization traveled to Bentonville, Arkansas to speak out directly to company executives to ask for partnership in making change in stores across the country. The Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) provides Walmart Associates an opportunity to join together to improve working conditions, their company, their own lives and most importantly, to gain more respect on the job.
Advisory: Bangladeshi Labor Leader to Present New York City Pension Fund Proposal at Walmart Shareholder Meeting
(Bentonville, AR – June 02, 2011) Kalpona Akter, a Bangladeshi labor leader and former garment worker, will deliver NYC Pension Funds’ shareholder proposal on behalf of New York City Comptroller John C. Liu at Friday’s shareholders meeting, calling on the company to require reports on suppliers’ compliance with international human and workers rights standards. Press availability on-site / Photo Opportunity.
Global Union Coalition says no free pass for Walmart as South African Competition Tribunal approves its buy of Massmart
(May 31, 2011) A global trade union coalition today said the decision from the South African Competition Tribunal to approve the merger of global retail giant Walmart with local retailer Massmart is not a free pass for the world’s largest company.
In big reversal, South African Competition Commission calls for conditions on Walmart entry
(Pretoria, South Africa – May 19, 2011) The South African Competition Tribunal hearings, which ended on Monday, offered enough proof to the South African Competition Commission that it reversed its earlier decision to recommend the Walmart deal for Massmart go through without conditions. The Commission now say Walmart should be compelled to reinstate the 503 retrenched workers that Massmart cut in anticipation of the merger. It also recommends a condition stating that existing labor agreements with Massmart must be honored for three years.
Push for conditions on Walmart buy of Massmart
(Pretoria, South Africa – May 16, 2011) The global coalition of trade unions contesting the merger have demanded that if the Competition Tribunal approves Walmart’s entry into South Africa it should only do so with strict, enforceable conditions that promote the interests of domestic suppliers and place the interests of Massmart workers at their core.
Unions, Government resume arguments that Walmart desire to enter South Africa must be met with strong conditions or rejected
(Pretoria, South Africa – May 9, 2011) The South African Competition Tribunal resumes its hearings today on the proposed entry of Walmart into South Africa via the takeover of Massmart. A global coalition of trade unions will present its arguments on why Walmart should only be allowed to enter the South African market if it abides by certain conditions that will safeguard the economy and South African workers.
Making Change at Walmart Statement on Dukes: Supreme Court Must Rule to Ensure Equality in the Workplace
(Washington, D.C. – March 29, 2011) Jennifer Stapleton, Assistant Director of the United Food and Commercial Worker’s Making Change at Walmart campaign, issued the following statement in response to this morning’s Supreme Court proceedings in the Walmart Stores v. Dukes case.
UFCW Applauds White House, Department of Labor Event Celebrating Women Organizers
(Washington, D.C. – March 28, 2011) U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Valerie B. Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, were joined by women who are currently working to organize their workplaces, including Ernestine Bassett, a Walmart Associate from Laurel, Maryland.
ADVISORY: Walmart Organizer Joining White House Women’s History Month Event
(Washington, D.C. – March 27, 2011) Press availability with Ernestine Bassett – a Laurel, Maryland Walmart Associate who is working to organize her workplace, after her participation at Monday’s White House event on women and organizing.
Union coalition welcomes decision by Competition Tribunal to stay proceedings
(Pretoria, South Africa, March 22, 2011) – The proposed entry of Walmart to South Africa via the takeover of Massmart was due to be heard this week by the Competition Tribunal, but in a dramatic reversal, the Tribunal stayed the entire case until May 9.
Global labor coalition to urge South African Competition Tribunal to reject Walmart or set conditions and standards to protect South Africa
(Pretoria, South Africa, March 22, 2011) – South African workers, together with workers’ representatives from around the globe, will assemble outside the South African government’s Competition Tribunal hearings today, demanding that it protects the local economy and reject Walmart’s unconditional entry into the country.
Global Labor Coalition Challenges Walmart Bid at Massmart Shareholders’ Meeting
(Johannesburg, January 17, 2011)—A global coalition of labor, comprising of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), Geneva-based UNI Global Union and the North American United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) attended Massmart’s shareholders meeting. Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart has made a bid to acquire the South African retailer.
