By Gretschman for Occupy World Writes
In a story published by Reuters on January 15th, more than 60 Wal-Mart supervisors and one corporate officer were named in a National Labor Relations Board complaint. The complaint states that Wal-Mart violated labor laws in 14 states in May and June of 2013. Dozens of employees received verbal and written warnings as well as formal reprimands and other disciplinary action for striking for improved wages and working conditions.
Since May 2013 Wal-Mart has improperly categorized workers’ time spent participating in these legally protected strikes as “unexcused absences.”
If the administrative law judge assigned to this case finds Wal-Mart guilty AND the NLRB panel upholds the judges’ finding, will Wal-Mart bargain in good faith with its’ employees, or will it simply eliminate the positions of the workers it reprimanded, just like it did to the meat cutters who voted to unionize in Tyler, Texas?
Wal-Mart officials seem to believe that no one deserves a living wage except for the thirteen folks who meet in the corporate boardroom in Bentonville and the members of the Walton family, who held five spots in the top ten richest people in the United states until 2005. The fact that these billionaires refuse to pay their employees living wages speaks to an inequality of wealth model that is unsustainable.
Occupy World Writes stands in solidarity with the Wal-Mart employees in their fight for a living wage and just working conditions.
Come on, Wal-Mart! Live up to your corporate slogan and ensure your employees can “Save Money” and “Live Better.” They deserve it.
