Wal-Mart Workers in 12 States Stage Historic Strikes, Protests Against Workplace Retaliation

DemocracyNow.org - Wal-Mart workers have launched historic labor protests and strikes across 28 stores in 12 states, the first retail worker strike in the company's 50-year history. According to organizers, employees are protesting company attempts to "silence and retaliate against workers for speaking out for improvements on the job." We go to Bentonville, Arkansas, to speak with Mike Compton, a Wal-Mart worker protesting outside the company headquarters today just days after taking part in a successful strike at a Wal-Mart supply warehouse in Elwood, Illinois. We're also joined by Josh Eidelson, a contributing writer for Salon and In These Times who broke the story of the Wal-Mart store strikes last week.

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• Category

  News & Politics

[WillyStroker6969]

treehuggerdude? your name says enough about you

[treehuggerdude4]

He is telling you his company is exploiting him and THATS how you respond? Try to be compassionate. Just like that worker in China, he deserves to be paid fairly and given benefits. And he deserves your respect.

[treehuggerdude4]

I support you guys! I hope you guys get better wages and benefits. Lord knows those wealthy executive shmucks at Walmart can afford to give you benefits and better wages. Protests worked for the Teachers Union in Chicago. They were going to continue to be exploited until they went on strike and collaborated with their union. I know you guys at Walmart can achieve better wages too. It just requires protest. You can do it! Many people like me are all for your cause. So keep up the good work!!

[treehuggerdude4]

Even if you think he is wrong, he deserves respect the same way you deserve respect. Instead of name calling, focus on the issues. We are talking about capitalism, worker rights, and corporate greed. Name calling is evasive in the sense that it moves away from intelligent discourse and moves towards a useless (childish) waste of time. At capitalism's core is maximizing profits. Worker rights are seen as a cost in economic sense so the wealthiest companies ( like Walmart) oppose them.

[treehuggerdude4]

I think the Australian is right. You dont have to be American to speak out.Sometimes, we are blind to the realities going on in our nation because our media does not do a good job of accurately covering the issues. The media in other countries does a better job at informing the public, especially in regards to the welfare of other nations. So... what Im saying is that even if he is an Aussi, he probably knows more about USA than any fox news watching pro-business person. Dont criticize him.

[treehuggerdude4]

Dont listen to that WillyStroker guy. Not all Americans are like him. I agree with what you said. Corporate irresponsibility is a hallmark in USA because of the cut throat capitalism that is a core of this nation. Workers are being exploited and communities are being poisoned only because of corporate greed and irresponsibility ( not to mention classism and racism.) Many americans are against these corporations but unfortunately, there are alot of right wing republicans who obstruct progress.

[treehuggerdude4]

The poor cant afford to leave. Only the rich can afford to pack their bags, buy a home else where, buy a plane ticket and leave. Capitalism makes it so that the rich can do whatever they want and the poor can only suffer the consequences.

[westons44]

I support the workers and think it's time for Wall Mart to pay up. With all the good paying manufacturing jobs outsourced by congress where else do working people work? This is the service and retail jobs Clinton told everybody would be so good. We pay one way or another. Our nation is going bankrupt subsidizing these people. I support their right to organize and fight for a living wage.

[WillyStroker6969]

You're not even American, you fucking moron. Stop pretending you know anything about America and go back to jerking your little Australian twit penis to humping kangaroos.

[AUSSIEDAVEROCKS]

Ask yourself this, what is it that made America so great?

If you didn't pick "the people" then you're wrong.

The greatest resource in the US is it's population and society because without them there is no America.

Turning a blind-eye to corporate greed because it doesn't effect you directly is not only callous, but it's selfish and cowardly as well.

You're a true patriot who loves America and it's only your fellow americans you don't really care about. - I'm guessing "Republican supporter?"