Join the call for change at Wal-Mart | Guest column

Published 4:21 pm Wednesday, December 30, 2015

When you work for one of the largest corporations in America, you learn a thing or two about how the world works.

Often, for many working people, the world does not seem to be working too well these days. Another thing we’ve learned is that when workers have a voice and stand together with each other and our customers, we can make things better.

And things sure need to get better. Wages are often too low, hours are often cut short, and schedules are often undependable. Bottom line: millions of hard working women and men in America today can’t make ends meet. The hopeful story is that there is a rising call for change. We are proud of be part of that call. Are you with us?

In November Wal-Mart workers, joined by UFCW 21, community organizations, churches and thousands of others stood up for change here locally and across the country . We stood up because Wal-Mart is the nation’s largest private sector employer with $16 billion in profits and owned by the richest family in America. Yet, Wal-Mart workers lack the hours, wages and benefits to support themselves and their families. That’s not right.

At the Federal Way Wal-Mart, we held a food redistribution action the day after Thanksgiving that was covered by a local TV station and the Federal Way Mirror. We were protesting the fact that while the average Wal-Mart worker has less than $5 a day for food, Wal-Mart’s CEO has over $5,000 a day for food by the same measure. There is something very wrong with that picture and our action highlighted this injustice while we gave away over $5,000 in necessary food supplies to over 100 Wal-Mart workers and shoppers.

Want to help? There are two specific actions you can do today:

1. Join the call to allow Wal-Mart workers to use the employee 10 percent discount on ALL food items. Currently, workers are forbidden to use the 10 percent discount on many basic and nourishing food items like bread, milk, eggs and cheese. Go to: iam.colorofchange.org/petitions/walmart-s-employee-discount-needs-to-cover-all-food

2. Check out the national TV ad that is spreading the word for change at Wal-Mart: www.helpchangewalmart.com.

For years now, many in the community and Wal-Mart workers have been calling for change at Wal-Mart. UFCW 21 has been partnering with community organizations such as the Church Council of Greater Seattle, United Church of Christ, Alliance for a Just Society and others who support Wal-Mart workers in this effort to reduce income inequality and make lives better for Wal-Mart workers here and across the nation. By joining together we can and will change Wal-Mart, and the lives of millions of workers, for the better.

Mary Watkines is a Federal Way Wal-Mart associate who was fired after speaking out to make her workplace better. Dee Bolden is a UFCW 21 member who works at Safeway. UFCW 21 is the state’s largest private sector union with over 46,000 members working at grocery stores, retail, healthcare and other industry jobs.