Support Walmart worker organizing in North Carolina

Join the OUR Walmart labor forum in Raleigh (9/5)

Organization United for Respect (OUR) Walmart will host a labor forum about Walmart worker organizing in Raleigh North Carolina on September 5, followed by an action at a local Walmart store. September 5th will be a nationwide day of solidarity with Walmart workers.

Let us know you'll be there to support Walmart workers on September 5th.

What: OUR Walmart Labor and Community Forum
When: Thursday, September 5, 2013 from noon to 2:00 PM
Where: Teamsters Local 391 union hall, 6317 Angus Dr, Raleigh, Nc 27617
Notes: Attendees get a FREE lunch, but please RSVP!

Register for this event here.

Panelists at the forum will include OUR Walmart members, North Carolina State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer MaryBe McMillan, Director of the Workers Rights Project at the NC Justice Center Carol Brooke, and NC State University Professor David Zonderman. Lunch will be provided.

Download the flyer for this event.

Come for lunch, stay for the action

NC State AFL-CIO affiliate UFCW Local 1208 (Smithfield) will lead an action immediately after the forum's conclusion at 2:00 PM. Transportation to the action site will be provided. If you need to skip the forum but take part in the action, just be at the Teamsters' hall by 2 o'clock to get prepped.

For questions, please contact Heysoll at [email protected]; 347-331-3537 or Sarah at [email protected]; 252-342-6621.

Grab the flyer for this event

Walmart workers arrested at sit-in protest of illegal firings, retaliation

Ten current or recently fired Walmart workers were arrested in Washington, DC on Thursday for peaceful civil disobedience near Walmart's downtown office, including Cindy Murray, who told Dave Jamieson at Huffington Post they wanted to send a message:

"We stood our ground. We felt Walmart needs to know how we truly feel about what we're doing," said Murray, 57, of Hyattsville, Md. "Our demands were that they take back what they did to our 60 workers, and we're giving them until Labor Day to do that."

The company has fired or disciplined more than 70 workers. Now workers say that if Walmart does not reinstate the illegally fired workers and publicly commit to pay a decent wage by Labor Day, the company will face some of the most intense actions it has seen to date. In an online petition asking for public support, striker Brandon Garrett of Baker, Louisiana says he owes it to his mother to take a stand for what's right:

I was raised by a strong single mother. I owe everything to her. She taught me how to work hard and stand up for what is right. We’re not backing down. Today, we peacefully demonstrated in front of Walmart’s office in Washington, DC calling on the company to reinstate the illegally fired workers. Instead of listening, Walmart had me and 11 other people arrested (10 of us workers and 2 activists). It’s time to draw a line in the sand. Let’s send Walmart a clear message: If you fail to act by Labor Day, actions will intensify around the country.

Sign Brandon's petition that Walmart respect workers' rights and pay a living wage.