Massachusetts Walmart workers and supporters protest illegal retaliation plus low wages

11:35 AM |

Massachusetts Walmart Workers, Supporters Protest Illegal Retaliation, Low Wages

Rally to highlight the case of Chelmsford worker, David Coulombe

CHELMSFORD, MA -- Hundreds of community members plan to rally today Saturday, September 7^th at 11am at the Chelmsford Walmart to show their support for David Coulombe, a local Walmart worker who has faced retaliation for his workplace organizing. This protest is part of a nationwide week of action to call on the company to reinstate illegally fired and disciplined workers, improve jobs and end the company’s aggressive violations of their rights.

On May 28^,2013, 150 Walmart workers, including Coulombe, participated in an unfair labor practice strike to protest Walmart’s continued attempts to silence the voices of workers who spoke out about higher wages and respect in the workplace. Since June, Walmart has illegally disciplined nearly 80 workers, including firing 20 worker-leaders. More than 100 Unfair Labor Practice charges have been filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Walmart.

“Our jobs should not be at risk when we speak out about improvements that would help our families and Walmart customers,” says Coulombe, who has worked at Walmart for 5 years. He was disciplined by his manager after participating in the May strike. “Many of Walmart’s 1.3 million employees are like me – not making enough to support our families even though we work at the country’s largest private employer.”

This protest rides of the back of last week’s fast food workers strike, when dozens of Boston workers walked off the job to demand higher wages.

“This is part of a growing movement of low-wage workers who are standing up for their right to earn a living wage,” says, Russ Davis, Executive Director of Massachusetts Jobs with Justice. “Workers like David are fed up with being paid poverty wages, while corporations like Walmart and McDonald’s rake in record profits.”

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In solidarity,

Mary Hewey

Massachusetts Jobs with Justice

3353 Washington St.

Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Office: (617) 524-8778

Cell: (207) 756-5462

www.massjwj.net

From: Russ Davis [mailto:russdavis@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2013 2:02 PM
To: Reginald Zimmerman
Cc: Mary Hewey; Melonie Griffiths; Edwin Argueta; Gillian Mason; Darrin Howell; Silvia Fabela; Evan Yeats; Derrick Plummer; Daniel Schlademan; Bertha Guillen; Andy Lemus; Mike Belanger
Subject: Re: Boston Mayoral Candidates Letter

I think we are going to hold this until next week, hand it out tonight and make a last attempt to get Conley.

Mary is going to do a release on Chelmsford today, if you can forward that would be great.

Russ

From: "Reginald Zimmerman" <reggie@massuniting.org>
To: "Russ Davis" <russdavis@comcast.net>
Cc: "Mary Hewey" <Maryh@massjwj.net>, "Melonie Griffiths" <melonie@massjwj.net>, "Edwin Argueta" <edwin@massjwj.net>, "Gillian Mason" <Gillian@massjwj.net>, "Darrin Howell" <Darrin@massuniting.org>, "Silvia Fabela" <sfabela@ufcw.org>, "Evan Yeats" <eyeats@ufcw.org>, "Derrick Plummer" <dplummer@ufcw.org>, "Daniel Schlademan" <dschlademan@ufcw.org>, "Bertha Guillen" <bguillen@ufcw.org>, "Andy Lemus" <archangel3578@gmail.com>, "Mike Belanger" <mbelanger.productions@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, September 6, 2013 9:46:06 AM
Subject: Re: Boston Mayoral Candidates Letter

Russ - From a press standpoint, I would attach it to the press advisory that you folks plan to release today. Also, in addition to this letter I would attach the letters signed individually by the candidates. Let me know if you need any help sending it out. Please be aware that the Herald got copies of the letters last week.

Reggie

On Fri, Sep 6, 2013 at 8:19 AM, Russ Davis <russdavis@comcast.net> wrote:

Here it is, missing Wyatt and Conley, let's decide how we want to release it today. Russ

Open Letter From Boston Mayoral Candidates Against Retaliation

by Walmart and Fast Food Companies

We, the undersigned candidates for Mayor of Boston, insist that employers who do business, or wish to do business, in the City of Boston refrain from illegally retaliating against workers who are exercising their rights under the National Labor Relations Act and the First Amendment.

In early June, more than 100 Walmart workers held a strike to protest Walmart’s unfair labor practices and illegal attempts to silence them. These courageous individuals left their communities behind, boarded buses, and took their concerns directly to Bentonville the company’s annual shareholder meeting. We have been deeply disturbed to receive reports that since then, Walmart began illegally firing or disciplining workers who participated in that strike. We understand that, already, more than 80 Associates have been disciplined or fired since the strike including two from Massachusetts.

Nationally, fast food workers have also been exercising their right to strike for a living wage and the right to organize. In numerous cases employers have refused to let workers return to work or otherwise threatened or harassed them for engaging in legally protected workplace activity.

As Americans, we believe in speaking up when something is wrong – and the right to act together to make it right. The suppression of a worker’s freedom of speech by their employers WILL NOT be tolerated in our city.

As more and more low-wage workers stand up for their rights, an employer’s time would be better spent trying to work to address the concerns of their workers, so that we can have an economy where all workers have a fair wage and decent benefits.

Sincerely,

Felix G. Arroyo

John Barros

Charles Clemons

John R. Connolly

Robert Consalvo

Charlotte Golar Richie