Walmart workers plan to strike on Black Friday

11/15/2012 Nativegrl77

Walmart has responded to workers voicing legitimate concerns with harsh retaliation.

Demand that Walmart’s Board meet with workers and improve working conditions:

Retail workers at Walmart stores nationwide recently went on strike — for the first time in the megastore’s 50-year history.¹

Unless Walmart takes immediate steps to improve basic working conditions, workers throughout the company’s vast operations — from factories and warehouses to retail stores — will participate in a massive walkout on Friday, November 23. “Black Friday” is traditionally the most important shopping day of the year for retailers, comprising upwards of 20-40% of their annual sales.²

Black workers comprise nearly 20% of Walmart’s workforce. By supporting Walmart workers in the fight for good jobs and a decent working environment, we can help raise the standard for the entire retail industry and show Walmart executives that there’s a price to pay for exploiting its workforce.

Please stand with Walmart workers fighting for humane working conditions: tell Walmart’s Board of Directors to put an end to endemic retaliation, wage discrimination and worker abuse.

Walmart is the largest retailer in the world and claims to be the largest employer of Black workers in the United States.³ With Black unemployment at 14.3%,⁴ many in our communities are increasingly reliant upon Walmart for employment — particularly where the retail giant has actively worked to price out smaller competitors.

Yet landing a job at Walmart is hardly a guarantee of a steady paycheck. More often, Walmart jobs serve to keep members of our community in poverty. Wages averaging $8.81/hour add up to just $15,576/year for a full-time employee.⁵ And even this level of remuneration is out of reach for many — Walmart routinely keeps workers from getting enough hours during the week, and arbitrarily switches up available hours to prevent workers from seeking supplemental employment elsewhere.⁶ It’s no accident that Walmart consistently has the largest number of employees who rely on public assistance.⁷

For over a year now, workers have been calling on Walmart to reform the company’s notoriously exploitative practices with regard to wages, scheduling, benefits and workplace safety. Walmart’s response has been ruthless. Workers brave enough to speak up have been slapped with retaliatory disciplinary actions including cutbacks on hours and even firings, while the company and Walton family continue rake in massive profits off the backs millions of low-wage workers.⁸

Privately-held Walmart has made the Waltons extraordinarily wealthy — this one family controls a fortune equal to the wealth of the bottom 42% of Americans combined.⁹ Yet the Waltons have refused to take even the most modest steps to address the yawning inequality driven by Walmart’s labor practices. Walmart could take action today to raise wages to $12/hour¹⁰ — substantially improving the lives of its lowest-paid hourly workers, 72% of whom are women¹¹ — if there were political will to end the company’s culture of worker abuse.

What happens at Walmart has ramifications far beyond the walls of any of its stores. To date, Walmart has set the standard for driving down wages and maximizing profits. Instituting positive change at Walmart could effectively transform the retail industry and improve working conditions for millions of Americans.

Please join us to demand that Walmart’s Board meet with workers, and take immediate steps to implement fair pay and working conditions. And when you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same.

Thanks and peace,

— Rashad, Matt, Arisha, Aimée, Kim, Johnny and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
November 15th, 2012

References

1. “Walmart Strikes Mark New Chapter In Labor’s Fight With Mega-Retailer,” Huffington Post, 10-15-12
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/walmart-strikes-_n_1968095.html

2. “Holiday FAQ,” National Retail Federation, accessed on 11-13-12
http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=Pages&sp_id=1140

3. “Will Black Friday Be Blue for Wal-Mart?,” The Root, 10-13-12
http://www.theroot.com/views/why-black-friday-might-be-blue-walmart

4. “Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex, and age,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11-02-12
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t02.htm

5. “Fact Sheet: Wages,” Making Change at Walmart, accessed on 11-14-12
http://makingchangeatwalmart.org/factsheet/walmart-watch-fact-sheets/fact-sheet-wages/

6. “Some Walmart workers want better wages, affordable benefits,” USA Today, 06-08-12
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2012-06-05/walmart-workers-air-complaints/55450634/1

7. “Hidden Taxpayer Costs: Disclosures of Employers Whose Workers and Their Dependents are Using State Health Insurance Programs,” Good Jobs First, 01-18-12
http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/corporate-subsidy-watch/hidden-taxpayer-costs

8. “Wal-Mart punishes its workers,” Salon, 07-26-12
http://www.salon.com/2012/07/26/walmart_plays_dirty_again/singleton

9. “Walmart Worker Speaks Out: Raise the Minimum Wage to Get My Vote,” Huffington Post, 08-03-12
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcus-edgerson/walmart-worker-speaks-out_b_1734556.html

10. “Living Wage Policies and Big-Box Retail,” UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education, 04-01-12 (.pdf)
http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/retail/bigbox_livingwage_policies11.pdf

11. “Everyday Discrimination: Why the Wal-Mart sex-bias lawsuit is the most important case the Supreme Court will hear this year,” Slate, 03-28-11
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2011/03/everyday_discrimination.html

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Union of Concerned Scientists

11/15/2012 Nativegrl77

WANTED
A Few Good Engineers

The United States is moving toward a clean energy economy and we need engineers to help educate policy makers, the media, and the public about the progress we’re already making and how we can continue moving forward.

Right now, Union of Concerned Scientists staff are meeting and talking with engineers at the annual meetings of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).

Are you an engineer? If yes, let us know!

Do you have friends who are engineers? Forward this message to them.

Not an engineer? Your voice is still critical to addressing the impacts of climate change, cutting our oil use, and bringing cleaner sources of energy online. Read more about our work on global warming, clean vehicles, and clean energy.

Sincerely,


Megan Rising National Field Organizer Climate & Energy Program Union of Concerned Scientists	Rachel Cohen National Field Organizer Clean Vehicles Program Union of Concerned Scientists

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Now South Korea wants to kill whales

11/15/2012 Nativegrl77

The South Korean government is considering a proposal on December 3 to start its own ‘scientific’ whaling program

Tell the Prime Minister of South Korea that there is no place for the needless slaughter of whales.

South Korea’s name might be added to the short list of countries who needlessly slaughter whales.

On December 3, the South Korean government will consider a proposal to establish a ‘scientific’ whaling program. If they do, the first harpoons could be fired in less than six months. It’s up to us to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Tell the Prime Minister of South Korea that there is no place for the needless slaughter of whales in the 21st century and to block his country’s plans to establish a ‘scientific’ whaling program.

South Korea first announced plans to start a ‘scientific’ whaling program of its own in July at the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The plan was strongly opposed by the anti-whaling nations, but it was supported by pro-whaling countries like Iceland, Norway and Japan.

A media storm followed the announcement with thousands of critical articles appearing all over the world. Soon there were reports that South Korea had changed its mind. The reports were wrong.

Backed by what remains of its old whaling industry and countries like Japan, South Korea’s fisheries ministry is pushing hard to resume whaling. But this is the Prime Minister’s call and government sources have indicated that “other issues” will be considered before making the decision. That means global political pressure.

We only have three weeks to generate enough global public outcry to stop South Korea’s plans to resume commercial whaling. Help us send 45,000 messages to the Prime Minister by December 3 and take action today.

Greenpeace and other organizations have been working hard to transform the IWC and end whaling once and for all. We’ve made a lot of progress — winning reforms that make it harder for countries like Japan to buy votes and pushing to create a whale sanctuary in the Southern Atlantic.

However, if South Korea starts a ‘scientific’ whaling program, the IWC has no power to stop it. The time to stop this plan is now. We have people working in South Korea, but they need your support. Let’s not allow South Korea to take us backwards.

Tell the Prime Minister of South Korea to say ‘no’ to whaling.

For the whales,

Phil Kline
Greenpeace Senior Oceans Campaigner

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

No Faking it

11/15/2012 Nativegrl77 2 Comments

By ThinkProgress War Room

Obama Rejects Fake Tax “Compromise”

As the fiscal showdown begins in earnest, Republicans have been trying to at least sound like they’re open to a real compromise on taxing the wealthy. But a closer look at what they’re actually proposing shows that it is no compromise at all. In fact, it’s almost identical to the tax plan none other than Mitt Romney just ran on — and lost.

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) said the president should find common ground by adopting policies “just like Romney suggested.” This ridiculous argument has been echoed by numerous other Republicans, including Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

What Republicans are proposing is to lower tax rates for the wealthy, close some unspecified loopholes, and then through magic expect to get more revenue. Republicans relied on this same sort of magic math to suggest that the Bush tax cuts would result in massive job growth and enough revenue to completely pay off the national debt by 2010. Instead we got massive deficits and the worst job growth in decades.

During a White House press conference today, the president rejected this kind of magical thinking on taxes. Obama derided “dynamic scoring” — the revenue increases that conservatives claim will occur after tax cuts — saying he would oppose any efforts to only “sorta-kinda raise revenue”:

What I will not do is to have a process that is vague, that says we’re going to sorta-kinda raise revenue through dynamic scoring or closing loopholes that have not been identified. And the reason I won’t do that is I don’t want to find ourselves in a position six months from now or a year from now, where low-and-behold, the only way to close the deficit is to sock it to middle-class families.

Watch it:

BOTTOM LINE: We have to address our fiscal problems using math, not magic. President Obama received a mandate from voters to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. Instead of trying recycle and repackage their failed plans, it’s time for Republicans to stop holding middle class tax cuts hostage and start making a deal.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

Romney tells donors that Obama only won because of “big gifts” to blacks and Latinos.

UN declares access to contraception a “universal human right.”

Is it game over for Grover Norquist?

Weeks after giving $100,000 to American Crossroads, coal company lays off workers.

Failure to extend unemployment insurance could cost 400,000 jobs.

Nancy Pelosi might be Speaker Pelosi again if not for the GOP’s extreme gerrymandering.

Romney co-chair says he would’ve “absolutely” won Wisconsin if the state’s voter ID law hadn’t been struck down.

How the tragic death of an Irish woman who was denied an abortion could become the norm in the U.S.

Most Americans support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Black History

CONGRESS: the Republicans/House : the Democrats/Senate

11/15/2012 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convenes: 9:00amET November 15, 2012

Following the prayer and the pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
The filing deadline for second degree amendments to S.3525, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 is 9:10am on Thursday.
At 9:15am, the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.3525.

9:20am The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.3525, Sportsmen’s Act of 2012; Invoked: 84-12

———————————————————-

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on November 15, 2012.

10:00:27 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:37 A.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>The Speaker designated the Honorable Blake Farenthold to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:50 A.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 6118 and H.R. 6131, without amendment.
10:01:10 A.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
10:50:38 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:21 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of November 15.
12:00:25 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Alan Keiran, Office of the United States Senate.
12:01:38 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:01:44 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mrs. Biggert to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:02:36 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:24:30 P.M.	H. Res. 808	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 808 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6156) to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to products of the Russian Federation and Moldova and to require reports on the compliance of the Russian Federation with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization, and for other purposes.”
12:24:44 P.M.	H. Res. 808	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 808.
1:25:26 P.M.	H. Res. 808	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 808, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McGovern demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day.
1:26:04 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

5:05:49 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of November 15.
5:06:06 P.M.	H. Res. 808	Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 808 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6156) to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to products of the Russian Federation and Moldova and to require reports on the compliance of the Russian Federation with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization, and for other purposes.”
5:33:26 P.M.	H. Res. 808	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 605).