Photo: Chuck Parker
In a beautiful celebration of unity, courage, and determination, Walmart associates from all over Southern California gathered together at a dinner at the AME Zion Church in the heart of Los Angeles on May 16 to announce their Ride For Respect caravan to the Walmart stockholders’ meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas on June 7. They brought their families and supporters from their communities. Everyone listened to their fellow workers tell their stories about how they came to the conclusion that they had to stand up to the abuse, low pay, and dangerous working conditions that they have endured in silence for many years. The crowd, which was 70% Latino with the rest evenly divided between white and black workers, was happy to be acting together — with some moved to tears of joy.
On May 30, they kicked off the Caravan with a strike at the store in Pico Rivera, CA at 8 a.m. Then, at 10 a.m. they moved to the store in Paramount, CA in support of Carlton Smith, who was fired there after working for 17 years, and the workers who were arrested during the rally of over 1,000 supporters on Black Friday, 2013. They then went to the Regional Headquarters of Walmart in Irvine, CA. to meet with the head of human resources. At 2 p.m. they joined the Warehouse Workers in Mira Loma, CA who have their own organization, Warehouse Workers United, which has been fighting for safe working conditions and such basic human needs as drinking water. The day of action concluded in La Quinta, CA with a strike, which included over 100 people marching through the entire store chanting and singing. The Southern California caravan then left for actions in Phoenix, AZ and New Mexico on their way to Arkansas, where they will meet caravans from all over the country. Their demands are to end retaliation, make more workers full time, and provide stable and transparent schedules.
For more information go to MakingChangeWMT on Facebook.
