In the wake of a series of unprecedented Walmart retail and warehouse strikes, Walmart workers, labor allies and community supporters have put Walmart on notice for Black Friday: End retaliation and attempts to silence workers or face nationwide strikes and direct action.
On Black Friday—the busiest shopping day of the year—Occupy Wall Street, 99 Pickets, ALIGN, Rev. Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping, Retail Action Project, and allies will occupy a Walmart store in North Jersey in solidarity with these courageous workers. Join us as we clog the checkout lines, take over the store with shopping carts, sing songs, picket the store, and disrupt Walmart's business.
Scheduled Events
N22 Thanksgiving Day
On Thursday, we'll have THANKSGIVING DINNER in Liberty Square, with hot meals also provided to Occupy Trinity, Union Square and Occupy Sandy relief efforts throughout the boroughs. This will be a time to come together as a community and reflect on the struggles of workers and indigenous communities.
N23 Black Friday
- 5AM: We will kick the day off at an early morning "Walmart sales event" and put Walmart on notice that this year, they won't be able to conduct business as usual.
- 12 NOON: The main event. Hundreds of us will be gathering at a North Jersey Walmart store (unannounced, for now) and staying all afternoon to disrupt commerce and stand in solidarity with workers across the country who are fighting for their rights.
Buses are leaving NYC at 11:30AM
If you want to take the bus or are able to drive, fill out the form on 99pickets.org.
About the Walmart Strikes
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08/walmart-black-friday-strike-organized-online-video_n_2094698.html
- http://changewalmart.tumblr.com
- http://www.minyanville.com/trading-and-investing/stocks/articles/Labor-Economist253A-Why-Wal-mart-May/10/19/2012/id/45167?page=full
- http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2012/1023/Walmart-legal-troubles-mount-as-Black-Friday-walkout-looms
The workers are demanding the following from Walmart
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Improve Workers' Lives
Pay a minimum of $25,000/year and guarantee quality, affordable health coverage for all Walmart associates and workers in the company's US distribution chain.
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Rebuild Communities
Sign on to a national community benefits agreement that ensures as Walmart expands into new markets, it strengthens communities, protects the environment and is responsible for the well-being of its employees in its retail stores and US supply and distribution chain.
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Put Its Promises in Writing
Agree to a global labor agreement guaranteeing the fundamental human right of freedom of association for all of its associates and instruct their suppliers to do the same, and recognize and negotiate with OUR Walmart.
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Elevate Global Living Standards
Establish a legally binding global responsible contractor policy requiring contractors and subcontractors to provide living wages, worker safety protections, and respect basic human and labor rights, including freedom of association and freedom from racial and gender discrimination.
How to Get Involved
- Come to the Black Friday Event - Buses will be leaving NYC at 11:30am. Sign-up here.
- Sign up for updates - We'll send you info about logistics for the day-of, Black Friday action meetings and the planning email list. You can also sign up for a spot on a bus.
- Sponsor a Walmart Striker