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Walmart workers in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, India, Nicaragua, South Africa, the UK and the US are holding coordinated protests today to demand Walmart pays its 2.1 million global workforce a fair wage and treats them with dignity. Walmart workers across the world are drawing a line in the sand and saying enough is enough: Walmart must change its path from economic cynicism and greed to one of sustainability and inclusivity.

The Walmart Global Day of Action follows the launch of the UNI Walmart Global Union Alliance in October and the historic strikes in the US which spread to 1000 Walmart stores and factories culminating in “Black Friday” and which are still on going. ‘Our Walmart’ in the US, a worker run organisation supported by the Alliance, is demanding an end to retaliation against employees who are speaking out for better jobs and decent working conditions.

At the protests across the globe, workers are holding a moment of silence to honour the victims of the factory fire in Bangladesh that tragically claimed the lives of 112 workers. According to the New York Times, reports show that Walmart “played a leading role in blocking an effort” to have global retailers pay more for apparel to help Bangladesh factories improve their electrical and fire safety.”

UNI Global Union General Secretary, Philip Jennings, said, “The Walmart workers may come from different cultures and continents but they are united in their opposition to Walmart’s cynical and systematic squeezing of its employees to maximise profit, be it the US dollar, the South African rand, the Indian rupee, the Argentine peso or any other currency. Walmart has gone too far. The Walmart workers of the US have had enough and they are fighting back as we saw on Black Friday and every day since. The Alliance is standing with them not just in solidarity but in strength and in action.”

He added “Members of the Alliance in South Africa, India and Latin America are on the frontline against the invasion of the US Walmart model. In South Africa, the Courts have created a fund to off-set the negative effects of Walmart on the local economy and ordered the reinstatement of more than 500 workers fired when Walmart bought Massmart. Earlier this week India’s government announced its to investigate Walmart over its lobbying practices. In Latin America, despite 60% of Walmart workers being unionised, there are reports that victimisation of union members are on the increase. That is why this Alliance is so united. Together we will change Walmart for the better and secure decent work for the two million plus Walmart workers and families. ”

In Argentina the union will be holding demonstrations at Walmart stores and the company headquarters; in Brazil unions will be demonstrating at a store in Sao Paulo; in Chile Walmart unions will march through Santiago; in India UNI affiliate the National Hawkers federation with 1.2 million members is organising protests across the country; in Nicaragua leaflets will be distributed to workers and customers nationwide; in South Africa Massmart workers will hold demonstrations in several stores; in the UK workers will deliver a letter outlining global demands to the ASDA head office (ASDA is owned by Walmart); and in the US ‘Our Walmart’ workers will hold a demonstration at the company’s global offices in Miami.

"We are inspired by OUR Walmart members who are standing up for a better future for all of our families," said DarlingtonNdlovu a worker from South Africa. We will continue to stand up with our brothers and sisters in the United States until Walmart starts listening to the workers that keep the store running," he added.

The Alliance which is made up of Walmart workers and unions from many of the countries where Walmart operates is calling on the company to:

· Stop retaliating against workers who speak out for change.

· Allow workers to organize and join a union without fear of retaliation.

· Pay living wages and provide decent working conditions.

· Sign a Global Framework Agreement with UNI Global Union that guarantees Walmart workers’ rights around the world.

Editors:

Richard Elliott, UNI Global Union Communications Director Richard.elliott@uniglobalunion.org +41 79 794 9709