Wal-Mart

The OSHA Farce or Why Retail Workers Need Labor Unions

The impotence of the federal health and safety law, known as OSHA, is so extreme that it would be comical --- if the consequences weren't so utterly tragic.

After the horrific trampling death of Wal-Mart employee Jdimytai Damour, Brandworkers and many others pointed out the predictable nature of his death: Wal-Mart juices up its customers with marketing tactics to create a door-busting rush on Black Friday yet fails to implement even the most rudimentary plan to deal with the onslaught.

UPDATE on Wal-Mart Trampling Death: Wal-Mart to pay $2M to avoid charges

In November, the Brandworkers blog reported on the death of Jdimytai Damour, a 34-year-old man who was trampled to death by the Black Friday crowds while he worked a temporary position at a Wal-Mart store in Long Island.

Ask Keith Olbermann to Take on McDonald's for Shot Worker Denied Compensation

Nigel Haskett was shot multiple times while working at McDonald's because he chose to stand up for a customer who was being violently assaulted. Nigel miraculously survived but now McDonald's is shirking its legal obligation under the workers compensation system to pay his $300,000 in medical-related expenses.

Last year, Keith Olbermann of MSNBC's "Countdown" admirably and repeatedly shamed Wal-Mart into dropping a malicious lawsuit against a former employee Debbie Shank who was left in a near-vegetative state after an accident.

Please take just a moment to click on the following link and ask Keith to set his sights on McDonald's and demand justice for Nigel: http://citizenspeak.org/node/1492

Statement of Brandworkers on Leaked Retail Conference Call Plotting Against the Employee Free Choice Act

January 29, 2009

"Citizens concerned about the right to join a union free of coercion will be deeply troubled by the retail industry war cry against the Employee Free Choice Act exposed in a leaked conference call.

Wal-Mart to settle 63 class action suits over pay

Whew, it's been a busy week for Wal-Mart!

Last week we blogged about a case in which Wal-Mart settled a $54 million lawsuit in Minnesota. Now, Wal-Mart has settled 63 more lawsuits, again for violating wage and hours laws such as forcing employees to work off the clock.

Wal-Mart to Pay $54 Million in Back Wages

In Minnesota, Current and former Wal-Mart workers recently won a class action lawsuit for back wages. Any Minnesota worker who worked there between September 11, 1998 and November 14, 2008 is covered by the settlemen. A Dakota County judge ruled that Wal-Mart violated Minnesota's wage-and-hour labor laws over 2 million times.

"The Walmart wage and hour class action lawsuit alleged that hourly employees were required to work off-the-clock during training sessions and that they were denied full rest and meal breaks as required by labor laws.

Brandworkers Launches Petition for Investigation of Wal-Mart in Black Friday Death

New York, NY (12/01/08)- An advocacy group for retail and food chain employees has launched an online petition calling for a criminal investigation of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and its senior executives in the trampling death of a store worker on Black Friday. Brandworkers International is urging Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice to assess whether Wal-Mart's recklessness rose to the level of criminality in the killing of worker, Jdimytai Damour.

Call on Nassau Co. District Attorney to Launch Criminal Investigation of Wal-Mart in Black Friday Killing

Dear District Attorney Kathleen Rice,

Wal-Mart's Recklessness Leads to Tragic Trampling Death on Black Friday

Update Brandworkers launches petition calling on Nassau Country District Attorney to Investigate Wal-Mart and its senior executives in the killing. Sign on now: http://www.brandworkers.org/node/45280

UPDATED: Group of Automobile Techs Become Only Wal-Mart Workers in North America Covered by Union Contract

Congratulations to the workers and their union for winning their contract! Predictably, Wal-Mart is already implying it will seek to get out of the government-imposed labor agreement in Quebec. A Wal-Mart human rights official reportedly has threatened to shut down the automotive department. (New York Times)

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