Walmart Moms Go On Strike In More Than 20 Cities To Protest Illegal Silencing of Workers

Female Walmart workers are walking off the job in cities around the country to protest the illegal silencing of Walmart workers who have spoken out about wages and working conditions.

According to workers’ rights group, OUR Walmart, “Walmart moms walked off the job this morning in Orlando (see photo), joining moms who have already walked off the job in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Southern California and the Bay area. More are expected to strike outside their stores in 20 cities today, including Tampa, Miami, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and the Bay area. The National Labor Relations Board’s historic trial prosecuting Walmart – which includes the illegal firing of moms like Barbara Collins – is currently underway.”

A new report from Demos found that giant retailers like Walmart are keeping millions of women and their families in poverty by paying low wages. “Walmart has a unique opportunity to help lift working moms and the families who rely on their income out of poverty,” said Amy Traub, Demos Senior Policy Analyst and author of the report Retail’s Choice. “Our research shows that nearly one in every three women working part-time in retail wants full-time employment, and the rise in erratic scheduling has made it impossible for women in this industry to consistently budget effectively and manage their childcare needs. Walmart could make a tremendous difference for the more than 800,000 women they employ and set a new standard for the industry.”

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The odds of Walmart making the choice to lift hundreds of thousands of women out of poverty by paying a better wage are zero. This is why Walmart has to be pushed into doing the right thing. The Walton family is exploiting taxpayers by forcing them to foot the bill through assistance programs because they refuse to pay their workers any more than starvation wages.

These Walmart workers are taking a brave stand, and they deserve your support. This strike is a good reminder that anyone who shops at Walmart is helping to perpetuate a system that is keeping millions of adults and children in poverty.

Those “always low prices” are possible because of Walmart is intentionally underpaying their workers.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association