News

Walmart workers in the United States began strike action in 70 stores yesterday evening ahead of the widespread strike action planned for today “Black Friday”. The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the start of the Christmas shopping season and of upmost importance to the bank balances of Walmart’s board members sitting in Bentonville.



UNI is urging its affiliates to support these striking Walmart workers in any way they can. Walmart management are clearly nervous that the Walmart workers rebellion which began last month with the first strike action in US Walmart history, coinciding with the launch of the UNI Walmart Global Union Alliance in Los Angeles, will reach a tipping point on Black Friday. Some Walmart workers who have either taken action or are preparing to do so on Friday have reported retaliation from the management, including a reduction in shifts so that they cannot make enough to pay their rent or take care of their families.



UNI Global Union General Secretary, Philip Jennings, said, “There’s no doubt who Scrooge is in this Christmas story. Walmart better get ready to be visited by the three ghosts; the Past highlighting all the wrongs its committed to its loyal hardworking workforce, including denying them the right to organise, decent pay and a workplace free from intimidation; the Present in the form of the Walmart workers who have the courage to strike and say enough is enough; and the Future, a grim warning that their current practices are unsustainable and at heart immoral. The UNI Global Union family with our 900 unions in 150 countries salute the workers’ bravery and stand in solidarity with them.”



Sign this online petition telling Walmart to stop retaliation against workers who speak out





Our Walmart which is part of the UNI Walmart Global Union Alliance following the worker’s action live on Friday via this webstream.

Watch here.