Laurel Walmart Flash-Mobbed
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Walmart shoppers in Laurel got more
than they bargained for when a brass band and 70 dancers from the Living Wages,
Healthy Communities Coalition paraded through the center aisle last
Saturday. The
“flash mob” event was a lot of fun – click here for a short video --
but it had a serious message: Walmart needs to Respect DC. "Walmart
wants to open four stores in DC,” said Respect DC organizer Mike Wilson,
“but those stores will not be opening unless Walmart
signs a binding Community Benefits Agreement guaranteeing local hiring,
fair wages, and support for small businesses." The Laurel Walmart was
targeted because it has been a hub of organizing by workers there, many
of whom have spoken out about the need for
change at Walmart and some of whom joined a delegation of nearly 100
Walmart workers from across the county to Walmart headquarters in
Bentonville, Arkansas in late June, where they spoke with
Karen Casey, Senior Vice President, Global Labor Relations,
about their issues and concerns in the workplace while Casey made promises of no
retaliation against those associates who were present. Click
here to find out more
about Respect DC, Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter
@RespectDC.
(updated 7/21)