OUR Walmart Trip to Bentonville
Three months ago, we traveled to Bentonville to demand change at Walmart.
During that trip, a representative of Walmart made a commitment to us that we would be heard and our issues would be addressed.
Walmart wanted us to believe that the Open Door could work for us – when it hasn’t worked at our stores for so long.
OUR Walmart members gathered in front of Walmart company headquarters, calling on executives for respect.
We came back to Bentonville this week because while we accomplished some important changes in our stores, Walmart has not addressed our main concerns and has not responded to our Declaration of Respect. We stand strong in our commitment to make this change happen.
That’s why we came to Bentonville today to follow up on our first meeting, to get an answer on our Declaration of Respect, and to talk about our concerns with scheduling and staffing at Walmart as the holidays approach.
However, Walmart refused to honor the Open Door and meet with us as a group. What we learned today is that Walmart refuses to acknowledge how their policies and management negatively impact Associates across the country. Walmart needs to understand that we are committed to telling our stories, building OUR Walmart and taking action for change. We will be a voice loud enough that they can’t ignore.
That’s the message nearly one hundred of us Associates, representatives of OUR Walmart nationally, and our allies at Making Change at Walmart and other groups sent to company officials on our second trip to Bentonville, Arkansas.
Stock market investors and analysts from around the world listened as current and former Walmart Associates and managers shared how Walmart’s treatment of employees hurts the company’s sales and customers.
We came representing the 99 percent — the everyday Americans who want respect, living wages and benefits.
On Tuesday, at the first ever alternative analysts meeting of current and former Associates, some of Wall Street’s biggest influencers heard about how cost-cutting, understaffing and heavier workloads are hurting Associates and Walmart’s sales and customer service.
We know that our ideas for change at Walmart—making the company live up to its principles—can make Walmart a better company for everyone, including customers.
OUR Walmart members (from bottom left) Kenny James, Vikki Gill, Ernestine Bassett, Sandy Carpenter, Cindy Murray, and Toby Gamble sat on the alternative analyst meeting panel.
On Wednesday, the same day Wall Street analysts and investors were at Walmart’s annual investor conference, we traveled again to the Home Office to discuss our concerns.
We came to call on Mr. Duke to respond to our Declaration of Respect and to share the concerns of Associates across the country about scheduling and staffing issues at our stores.
At the home office, we came to request an Open Door meeting with Walmart CEO Mike Duke.
Joining OUR Walmart members at the Home Office were Sarita Gupta, Executive Director of National Jobs with Justice and Terry O'Neill, National President of the National Organization for Women (NOW).
Outside Walmart headquarters people honked to show their support for us.
Walmart refused to meet with us today. That shows us that the Open Door is not open to Associates who are serious about change. We are committed to building OUR Walmart, telling our stories and taking action until we make the change we need.
There has never before been a large independent group of Associates like us.
Of, by and for Associates, we’re growing everyday, and making real, positive changes in our stores. And we won’t give up until we reach our goal: respect.
After our delegation went to the Home Office, we came together to create a proposal using the input of Associates nationwide on how to address scheduling, staffing and workload issues at our stores.
We laid out our vision for a better Walmart, and we’re leaving with the strength and purpose to build our organization and take action to improve scheduling, staffing and workload issues for all Associates – but we need your voice!
Help us keep up the pressure to make Walmart a better company. With the support of Associates across the country like you we can build a better future for all us.
Sign the Declaration of Respect
Learn more about joining OUR Walmart
Get Connected
