Walmart workers plan biggest Black Friday protest yet

Walmart workers with the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) are planning a national strike to protest the giant retailer's retaliation against its workers.

Rosa Valenzuela, victim of Walmart retaliation

The group plans to strike on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving  often referred to as the “Superbowl of retail.” You can support workers as they fight to defend their right to speak out by signing up to attend a protest, or hold your own event at a Walmart near you. To hold your own event visit BlackFridayProtests.org.

Here's just one example of how Walmart treats its workers:

Rosa Valenzuela was terminated just a month short of her 20-year anniversary with the company. After giving Walmart nearly two decades of her life, the company created excuses to discipline the 67-year-old, even citing an incident where she was said to have clocked out 2 minutes late.  

“I worked for Walmart for nearly 20 years and they fired me for speaking up for all of our rights. I was a stone in their shoe, so they got rid of me. I feel betrayed,” Rosa said. “I’m out here today so Walmart knows that we won’t be scared into silence. We’re going to keep standing up for our rights until they start to respect us.” 

Add caption

Unfortunately, Rosa’s story is just one of the many incidents of retaliation against workers who dare to risk the small bit of security they have for a better Walmart.

Rosa has been joined by other Walmart workers over the past year who pressured the company to change its pregnancy policy, provide access to more hours and phase out its minimum wage jobs. Walmart struck back when workers’ calls for change started to gain momentum. They retaliated against vocal workers standing up for better wages and worker conditions. 

The Teamsters support Walmart workers any way we can. Click on www.BlackFridayProtests.org to see if there's a Black Friday action near you.

Or you can just do what Tom Morello did: Take a selfie with a sign:
Morello also supports striking port truck drivers -- he walked the picket line with them last summer.