Workers Fighting Back: Warehouse Workers Take the Fight to Walmart

www.WarehouseWorkersUnited.org

There is a growing movement of workers fighting for justice and good jobs in the warehouses of California's Inland Empire. On May 14th, they took the fight to America's largest private employer: Walmart.

The warehouse workers of the Inland Empire are fighting back against the national retailers who dominate the goods movement industry in what is the largest concentration of warehouse space on the planet and the distribution hub of the new global economy. These are the workers who need the Employee Free Choice Act because the only hope to improve these jobs is to allow them the freedom to choose to form a union free from fear and intimidation.

The Inland Empire has some of the highest rates of foreclosures and unemployment in the country, but the main industry of the area, warehousing for national retailers, is built on bad, low paying jobs. Most of these jobs are through temp agencies and, in addition to low pay and no benefits these jobs do not allow workers to have any job security. Jobs in the Inland Empire need to be good jobs with a living wage and affordable health care; this is the best way the region has to pull itself out of the Great Recession.

On May 14th, warehouse workers, clergy, community members, and area students staged a nonviolent civil disobedience outside a Walmart warehouse in San Bernardino County. The protest ended with the arrest of 7 people, including 4 clergy members, who had literally put their bodies on the line by blocking the truck entrance to the warehouse.

Over 200 people gathered in front of the Walmart warehouse, carrying signs with messages such as Warehouse Workers Want the Freedom to Form a Union. They were protesting Walmarts vicious anti-worker and anti-union policies and highlighting the need for the Employee Free Choice Act. Past attempt by workers at this warehouse to form a union were thwarted by managements harsh tactics of fear and intimidation.

The Valley Boulevard warehouse is completely dedicated to products destined for Southern California Walmart stores. The facility serves Walmart stores and supplies a significant percent of non-food goods to Walmart stores in the region. The facility operates 7 days a week, with three shifts running 24 hours a day.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• warehouse
• warehouse workers
• warehouse workers united
• Walmart
• Inland Empire
• unions
• labor
• Change to Win
• logistics
• goods movement
• San Bernardino
• Fontana

[conservativedude]

@conservativedude Pistachios.. (sp) how embarrassing. :) Also, thanks unions for tying up much of the Sheriff's Department time and personnel. I'm sure there is a rape, robbery, or murder victim out there who would love to give you kudos.

[conservativedude]

Witness the dinosaurs of our time. Unions... a dying institution. But nice of them to be non-violent... that's the way to be... make your point... but please don't delay my 'Site-to-Store' delivery.... mmm, I just love them pistacious... buy 'em in bulk. :)

[toxicwaste08300]

@IngAza26 This shows how much you know about there situation

[IngAza26]

They want more money and work less. This groups are parasites to society. It's such a shame that they use the weak minds to make disturbs and reach their own benefits. It's sad to see how bad Latin people represent us. But truly this Latin people are the ones that never did nothing for their country and went their illegally so they are not a trustful group. I repeat weak minds.

[kyler187]

Screw your union, your inflated wages, and your thug tactics!

[DarrelfromZeeland]

The cops should've opened fire. Shoot to kill!

[DarrelfromZeeland]

@gumsidebiz If I was President, I would ban all unions, declare them to be terrorist groups, then hammer them with both RICO and the Patriot Act, execute all their members and supporters or send them to Gitmo, and seize all their assets and property.

[FrankeeFraud]

People who work in warehouses are typically morons to begin with, and lucky to have ANY job. Don't like it, then quit!

[Diezelraccoon]

@rvpKellz

WRONG. I work for Walmart Logistics and it's a no fault policy in attendance. If you are just standing in a perfectly safe area and someone who is not following safety procedures hits you, that is not your fault, but if you were standing somewhere you shouldnt and you get hit then it is. Walmart takes safety very seriously and they should.

[phattvids]

@gumsidebiz Unions can't perform miracles. I worked for Chrysler(UAW) for over thirteen years, I wouldn't have wanted to set foot in those plants without Union representation. You think those plants would be as safe a working place, or ergonomically designed/set up if it weren't for the decades of persistence from our predecessors, no way. Don't be so short sited to blame your job loss on the Union, sometimes it happens. I wouldn't have had it any other way. SOLIDARITY FOREVER !