H Post: Walmart-Contracted Warehouse Workers Strike Ahead Of Black Friday

[Omaha Steve]

Video: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/walmart-strike-black-friday_n_2130389.html

Posted: 11/14/2012 12:32 pm EST Updated: 11/14/2012 5:46 pm EST

Workers at a Walmart-contracted warehouse in Southern California went on strike Wednesday to demand better conditions at their facility, according to Warehouse Workers United, a union-backed group representing the employees.

The walkout is apparently part of a broader strike expected to hit the Walmart supply chain in the run-up to the holiday shopping season, as workers and labor activists try to pressure the world's largest retailer into raising standards in both its stores and its contracted warehouses. Associates at Walmart stores have threatened to strike on Black Friday, potentially disrupting the megaretailer's plans for what is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year.

The workers in Southern California are employed by a temporary labor agency called Warestaff, which contracts with a warehouse run by the logistics company NFI. Although none of the workers are employed directly by Walmart, the goods that pass through the NFI facility are destined for Walmart stores throughout the U.S.

Kathleen Hessert, a spokeswoman for NFI, disputed the scope of the strike. Hessert said the first shift of the day was only missing two workers, although Warehouse Workers United said two dozen workers from all shifts had joined them on a picket line and agreed not to work.

FULL story at link.

[Sherman A1]

1. My best to them!

I really, really hope this is the start of something much larger for Wal Mart that brings them to the realization that they need to talk to their workers and not talk at them.