News for today's 2018

Walmart workers to strike in 15 cities tomorrow

9:24 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIr_LUtNeDF5EhqZekWEY7Zj6FL6zJXrnOok0o7_x-29EOzkS8o2MWKKRQsEgTmAcnx2GgboryAjSip4xoMMmKUCqp7_bxCuIGw8ugCO4q6__Kuy7xesee5TXQdMf6QLgOELCCtcFuzFT/s1600/walmart+real+wage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIr_LUtNeDF5EhqZekWEY7Zj6FL6zJXrnOok0o7_x-29EOzkS8o2MWKKRQsEgTmAcnx2GgboryAjSip4xoMMmKUCqp7_bxCuIGw8ugCO4q6__Kuy7xesee5TXQdMf6QLgOELCCtcFuzFT/s320/walmart+real+wage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tomorrow is shaping up to be another big day of action among low-wage workers as Walmart employees prepare to mount widespread protests and walkouts. <a href="http://forrespect.org/" rel="nofollow">OUR Walmart</a> organizers are hoping the day of action will be the biggest since last year's <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2012/11/wal-mart-strikes-in-100-cities-46-states.html" rel="nofollow">Black Friday strike</a>. <br /><br />Josh Eidelson at <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175995/protesting-activists-firings-walmart-workers-plan-biggest-mobilization-black-friday#"><em>The Nation</em> reports</a>:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">This week’s rallies follow an August 22 civil disobedience action at which the campaign announced a Labor Day deadline for Walmart to raise its wages to at least $25,000 per year, and reverse the terminations of twenty workers who participated in a June strike.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Thursday’s actions will include a march through downtown Los Angeles to the site of a proposed Walmart in Chinatown, and a demonstration in Washington, DC, where all sides are awaiting word on whether Mayor Vince Gray will veto a bill (passed by City Council in July but formally sent to his desk last Friday) that would require “large retailers” like Walmart to pay employees at least $12.50 in total hourly compensation. Thursday actions are also planned for cities in the East, West, South and Midwest: Baton Rouge, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando, Sacramento, San Francisco and Seattle.</blockquote>Walmart protests tomorrow follow strikes last week involving low-wage workers in the <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/LA-port-drivers-strike.html">port trucking</a> and <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/fast-food-strike-sweeps-naton.html">fast-food industries</a>. Walmart workers are fighting back against management retaliation against OUR Walmart supporters, and they are part of a growing movement to raise wages and standards for America's growing population that is trying to survive on poverty wages.<br /><br />Eidelson adds:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Thursday’s rallies will have the largest total turnout by Walmart employees, and the biggest overall number of participants, of any Walmart mobilization since the one-day November 23 strike last year, in which organizers say 400-some workers walked off the job and thousands of supporters turned out to support them. Since then, organizers say hundreds of workers took part in collective confrontations with local management over scheduling on April 24, and over a hundred participated in the longer June work stoppage, which included a week of protests in and around Walmart’s Arkansas hometown. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">The OUR Walmart campaign has asked the <a href="http://nlrb.gov/" rel="nofollow">National Labor Relations Board</a>, whose pace and penalties labor has long charged are insufficient for protecting workers, to seek an injunction to more quickly address Walmart’s recent alleged retaliation.</blockquote>Last week, <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/la-port-strike-ends-with-return-to-work.html" rel="nofollow">port truck drivers staged a historic one-day strike</a> in their drive to become Teamsters and raise standards at the Port of Los Angeles. <br /><br />While corporations in retail and other low-paying industries are rolling in record profits, low-wage workers represent the fastest-growing segment of American workers and the country's expanding income gap. <br /><br /><a href="http://makingchangeatwalmart.org/" rel="nofollow">Making Change at Walmart</a> wrote in a <a href="http://makingchangeatwalmart.org/2013/09/03/walmart-workers-supporters-plan-for-largest-mobilization-since-black-friday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=walmart-workers-supporters-plan-for-largest-mobilization-since-black-friday" rel="nofollow">statement</a> yesterday:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Economists, labor market experts and others have been increasingly voicing concern about the growing income inequality and its impact on the economy. Walmart, the largest company on the Fortune 500 list, made $16 billion in profit last year, and the majority of owners of the company, the Waltons, have the combined wealth of nearly half of American families. Meanwhile, many Walmart workers continue to earn on average poverty wages of $8.81 an hour.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Rather than providing good jobs that American workers need and deserve, Walmart is trying to silence workers who are standing up with their co-workers to live better and spending its time and money trying to deny workers a decent day’s pay. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Since June, Walmart has illegally disciplined nearly 80 workers, including firing 20 worker-leaders. More than 100 Unfair Labor Practice charges have been filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Walmart.  </blockquote>Not only do Walmart and other low-wage workers represent a growing part of the labor force, they represent a huge upsurge of collective action against corporate greed and the fight to save the middle class.<br /><br />Teamsters and supporters everywhere are encouraged to stand in solidarity with Walmart workers tomorrow. Visit the <a href="http://corporateactionnetwork.org/campaigns/stand-with-the-walmart-60" rel="nofollow">Corporate Action Network</a> website to find a protest in your area.<br /><br />SOLIDARITY!

Tomorrow is shaping up to be another big day of action among low-wage workers as Walmart employees prepare to mount widespread protests and ...

Fast food strikes in 58 cities in continuing wave of labor unrest

7:14 AM Tukiyooo 0

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtGnNICGbHzqy4GT2cb3b5vNd3-HXdcOnRj5ZlAiHYKNVrTfLCz8SYxwGjfmrBzUPOfZhxQWooCcAM-ldA6uZ_23HgXX6mYssU0P2U_eR8OmwR8aKvV8aq0qBGvmc4Os9uuaFq8M0ALPH/s1600/ATL+fast+food+strike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtGnNICGbHzqy4GT2cb3b5vNd3-HXdcOnRj5ZlAiHYKNVrTfLCz8SYxwGjfmrBzUPOfZhxQWooCcAM-ldA6uZ_23HgXX6mYssU0P2U_eR8OmwR8aKvV8aq0qBGvmc4Os9uuaFq8M0ALPH/s320/ATL+fast+food+strike.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlanta Teamsters today marching on a McDonald's<br />in support of strikers.</td></tr></tbody></table>UPDATES graf 3 to CORRECT Eidelson story at Salon, sted Nation<br /><br />The biggest fast food strike in history is taking place right now as thousands of workers in 58 cities walked off the job at restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell. They are protesting retaliation by their employers for trying to form a union.<br /><br />The fast food strikes follow the first-ever <a href="http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/15529/wave_of_low_wage_worker_strikes_hits_la_ports/" rel="nofollow">one-day strike by L.A. port truck drivers</a> seeking to join the Teamsters. More labor unrest is expected in the coming weeks as American workers are fed up with <a href="http://www.ips-dc.org/reports/executive-excess-2013" rel="nofollow">predatory CEOs </a>who loot the profit from corporations while their workers' wages stagnate or decline.<br /><br />Josh Eidelson at <a href="http://fast%20food%20workers%20today%20plan%20to%20mount%20one-day%20walkouts%20against%20nearly%20a%20thousand%20stores%20in%20over%20fifty%20cities%20%E2%80%94%20the%20largest-ever%20mobilization%20against%20their%20growing%2C%20low-wage%2C%20non-union%20industry%2C%20which%20until%20last%20fall%20had%20never%20faced%20a%20substantial%20u.s.%20strike.%20the%20work%20stoppage%20comes%20four%20weeks%20after%20a%20four-day%2C%20seven-city%20strike%20wave%20in%20which%20organizers%20say%20thousands%20walked%20off%20the%20job.%20%20today%2C%20the%20strikes%20%E2%80%93%20which%20started%20with%20a%20single-city%20november%20work%20stoppage%20in%20new%20york%20%E2%80%94%20are%20expected%20to%20hit%20several%20cities.%20in%20each%20city%20%E2%80%93%20from%20los%20angeles%20to%20peoria%20%E2%80%93%20workers%20are%20demanding%20a%20raise%20to%20%2415%20an%20hour%2C%20and%20the%20chance%20to%20form%20a%20union%20without%20intimidation%20by%20their%20boss.%20%20%E2%80%9Ci%E2%80%99m%20not%20a%20kid%2C%E2%80%9D%20raleigh%2C%20north%20carolina%2C%20little%20caesar%E2%80%99s%20worker%20julio%20wilson%20told%20salon.%20rather%2C%20he%20said%2C%20%E2%80%9Ci%20am%20a%20single%20father%2C%20i%20have%20a%20daughter%20with%20special%20needs%20that%20needs%20attending%20to%20on%20a%20daily%20basis.%E2%80%9D%20he%20said%20many%20of%20his%20co-workers%20and%20their%20families%20%E2%80%9Cneed%20to%20be%20compensated%20to%20be%20able%20to%20live.%E2%80%9D/" rel="nofollow">Salon</a> reports:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Fast food workers today plan to mount one-day walkouts against nearly a thousand stores in over fifty cities — the largest-ever mobilization against their growing, low-wage, non-union industry, which until last fall had never faced a substantial U.S. strike. The work stoppage comes four weeks after a four-day, seven-city strike wave in which organizers say thousands walked off the job. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Today, the strikes – which started with a single-city November work stoppage in New York — are expected to hit several cities. In each city – from Los Angeles to Peoria – workers are demanding a raise to $15 an hour, and the chance to form a union without intimidation by their boss. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">“I’m not a kid,” Raleigh, North Carolina, Little Caesar’s worker Julio Wilson told Salon. Rather, he said, “I am a single father, I have a daughter with special needs that needs attending to on a daily basis.” He said many of his co-workers and their families “need to be compensated to be able to live.”</blockquote>Teamsters and union members are extremely supportive of the strikes. In Atlanta, Teamsters from Local 728 marched on a McDonald's in solidarity with the workers. Here are some comments from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/teamsters?ref=hl" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Kevin Abate</b> Local 194 New Jersey{ Retired }Good Luck It's worth it. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Mike Hopson </b>Railroad workers are behind you! Mike from BLET </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Sam Gay</b> Steamfitters local 486 are behind you. Hold the line! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Jamil Burgos</b> Teamsters local 63 "Good luck!" </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Jon Richardson</b> Good luck guys Teamsters Local 89</blockquote>Solidarity!<br /><br /><br /><br />

fast food strike Fast food strikes in 58 cities in continuing wave of labor unrest

Atlanta Teamsters today marching on a McDonald's in support of strikers. UPDATES graf 3 to CORRECT Eidelson story at Salon, sted Nation ...

Nationwide fast food strike announced for Aug. 29

12:53 PM Tukiyooo 0

fast food strike low-wage jobs Nationwide fast food strike announced for Aug. 29

A national fast food strike involving thousands of low-wage workers will take place Aug. 29, the first national job action since the wave of...

McDonald's to workers: Don't buy gas, heat your house or save for retirement

1:03 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfB1E_eadI9F6TuD9DQ1Byfi8F0l28j8A48y5rVjoZzI7H5b3um5m_Yt9Gc19-6HB7HYgt0uG2F4D9M8J4S6BwEMuGIle702kNgyP1u5Q2_kbZXEGv1xxBEgOfakDo2C9EWN5mFV8D6Vej/s1600/mcdonalds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfB1E_eadI9F6TuD9DQ1Byfi8F0l28j8A48y5rVjoZzI7H5b3um5m_Yt9Gc19-6HB7HYgt0uG2F4D9M8J4S6BwEMuGIle702kNgyP1u5Q2_kbZXEGv1xxBEgOfakDo2C9EWN5mFV8D6Vej/s1600/mcdonalds.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Onion couldn't have done a better job.</td></tr></tbody></table>McDonald's is "helping" its workers by advising them to forgo heat, health care and food. That way, they'll remain mired in poverty while working two jobs if they don't freeze or starve first.<br /><br />The fast-food giant, along with credit-card conglomerate Visa, recently unveiled a much-ridiculed website <a href="http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/mcdonalds/budget/budget2.php">to educate workers about how to manage their money</a>.  With fast food workers across the country complaining about poverty jobs, McDonald's must have thought it was stepped in to save the day with budgeting advice. The company just stepped in it.<br /><br />The McDonald’s website says that jobs are “<a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/careers/benefits.html">a great way to earn extra income for anyone, from students to moms and dads</a>.” The problem is not that minimum wage has decreased about a third in value in the past 60 years, or that half of all minimum wage workers are full-fledged adults struggling to <a href="http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes353021.htm">survive on an average wage of $8.68 per hour</a>. <br /><br />According to McDonald's, they need to budget more.<br /><br />The sample budget assumes workers have two part-time jobs that they work 52.7 hours a week, on an average fast food wage.  The budget includes savings, car payments and a $600 mortgage.<br /><br />What it doesn’t include is groceries.  Too bad -- one of the McDonalds-approved saving methods is <a href="http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/mcdonalds/video.php">eating at </a><a href="http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/mcdonalds/video.php">McDonald's</a>.<br /><br />Healthcare, included in the budget, is supposed to cost $20 a month, the amount the average McDonald's healthcare plan costs per <i>week</i>.  For the minimum wage workers at McDonald's, healthcare is so inaccessible that only 30,000 company and franchisee employees are enrolled in the company healthcare plan. That's less than half the number of new employees <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/careers.html">hired in a single day</a>last month.<o:p></o:p><br /><br />The budget is so out of whack that it doesn’t even account for paying your McDonald’s uniform (or any other clothes).  Or gasoline.  Or heating for your house.  Or non-essential purchases, a decent emergency fund, children, or being sick.<br /><br />But then, <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-12/mcdonald-s-8-25-man-and-8-75-million-ceo-shows-pay-gap.html">McDonalds acknowledges that workers aren’t actually supposed to be surviving off of what they make</a>.  That would ruin their whole profit model.  In the meantime, for struggling workers, McDonald’s offers advice:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">“Everyone has a goal. (For our workers) it is spending less money than you make.”</blockquote></div>