By Janel Bailey/Interfaith Worker Justice
Walmart’s poverty wages are forcing many of their employees into a situation where they have to choose between food and other necessities. No working person in this nation of plenty should have to go hungry.
This holiday season, we are giving thanks and giving back for those who work so hard at Walmart, yet take home such a tiny share of the earnings. We hope you’ll join us in getting involved to help feed Walmart workers and others in need this holiday season and taking action to call out Walmart and other employers who keep their workers in poverty all year long.
Here’s how you can take action to support worker justice this week:
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen near you or host a food drive to support those who are working hard yet still struggling to make ends meet.
- Deliver a letter to a Walmart manager this Black Friday! Download sample letter here.
- Gather friends, family and neighbors and hold a prayer vigil outside a Walmart store. Download a vigil guide here.
Please note: In Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, and Texas, Walmart has taken legal action to prevent concerned individuals from showing their support for Walmart employees inside their stores or in the parking lots. In these states, we ask that you remain off of Walmart property and instead place calls to the store manager.
Across the country, members of the IWJ family are delivering letters or calling Walmart management, asking them to address the fact that their wages are so low that many of their workers are regularly dealing with hunger.
Click here and let us know how you plan to give back this Thanksgiving so that we can help spread the word to others who might like to join.
If you need any assistance in creating your event, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at jbailey[at]iwj.org. Thank you so much.
Hungry for Justice,
Janel Bailey
National Organizer
Interfaith Worker Justice
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**SAMPLE LETTER TO WALMART STORE MANAGER**
November 27, 2015
ATTN: Store Manager
Walmart Store #________________
ADDRESS ____________________
Dear Walmart Store Manager:
We come to you as (neighbors OR members of _____ Congregation/Organization) and as people of faith who believe that all workers should be treated with dignity and respect. We are very concerned that workers at your store work very hard for very low pay and little respect.
This Thanksgiving Weekend, and throughout the holidays, Walmart associates are expected to work even harder and sacrifice time with loved ones to meet the demands of this period of gift giving and gatherings. Yet many of them will be forced to rely on food stamps and charity to put food on their own holiday table.
These workers are our family, friends and neighbors. Please know that we are committed to stand alongside them as they call for $15 an hour and access to full time hours.
Walmart is one of the richest corporations in the world, yet its employees still don’t earn enough in wages or work enough hours to survive. Walmart has helped legitimize an economy benefiting the interests of a few wealthy executives at the expense of working people.
While Walmart workers struggle to pay bills, the Walton family has a net worth of more than $145 billion. The richest family in America, with more wealth than 42 percent of other families combined, is also one of the largest creators of poverty-wage jobs.
Every major faith tradition affirms the dignity of work, and as people of faith we are called to honor and protect the basic rights of all workers, including the right to provide for their family without fear of retaliation for addressing issues of discrimination, safety at work, status or organizing.
As a store manager, you have the power and influence to treat workers with fairness and dignity. Rather than retaliating against workers who speak out, we encourage you to develop schedules and hours that allow for full time work with benefits.
For the sake of this community, of which you are also a part, we ask that you discuss the importance of these issues with your supervisors. When your workers do better, you and the rest of the community also do better.
Respectfully,
(SIGN HERE)
CC: Doug McMillon, President and CEO Walmart Stores, Inc.
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Comments welcome.
Posted on November 24, 2015