Standing Up To Walmart

5/29/12

My name is Angela Williamson, and last week I was fired by Walmart.

The company claimed that I had taken too many sick days, even though my absences for my own illness and to care for my ailing grandmother had been approved by my manager.

Unfortunately I am not alone. Walmart also just fired one other worker and disciplined a third, giving him his final warning. It turns out, we all have one thing in common – we’ve been speaking out publicly about uniting our co-workers across the country for fair wages, full time hours and most of all, respect and dignity at Walmart - America’s largest private employer.

While I am told I am being fired for taking time off to care for my sick grandmother, CEO Mike Duke and Chairman Rob Walton still have their jobs despite reports of their involvement in a reported bribery scandal and a high-level executive cover-up of the incident.¹

It’s time to put an end to Walmart’s double standard.

Sign the petition below and tell Walmart you've had enough of their double standards that penalize workers and protect CEOs.

I will present the petition at Walmart's shareholder meeting on Friday.

In solidarity,

Angela Williamson
A member of Jobs With Justice and an ally of National People’s Action

Dear Walmart Board of Directors:

I am deeply troubled that Walmart recently fired two workers and disciplined a third who were speaking out in favor of improved working conditions and better business practices at Walmart. What’s worse, your top executives have been handsomely rewarded with promotions and bonuses, instead of being punished for the reported bribery of public officials and the cover up of the scandal.

Walmart’s own Ethics Statement calls on all employees to “follow the law at all times” and “reveal and report all information truthfully, without manipulation or misrepresentation.” Your actions to punish hard-working Associates and protect executives involved in the bribery scandal and cover-up has exposed a disturbing double standard at Walmart.

This double standard is causing the company to lose the public trust and is dividing our country. We should all play by the same rules – hourly Associates and rich, powerful executives. I call on you to immediately:

1) Demand the resignation of Walmart Chairman S. Robson Walton and CEO Mike Duke due to their role in the bribery and cover up scandal; and,

2) Reinstate the jobs of Angela Williamson and Wessa Milien and discontinue your disciplinary actions toward Carlton Smith. Workers’ fundamental civil right to speak out for better working conditions must be protected.

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Source:

¹ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/30/business/wal-mart-bribery-scandal-complicates-us-expansion-plans.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

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