US Department of Labor recovers $4.83 million in back wages, damages for more than 4,500 Wal-Mart workers
Here’s some headline news we received from US Department of Labor
“Wal-Mart Stores Inc., headquartered in Bentonville, Ark., has agreed to pay $4,828,442 in back wages and damages to more than 4,500 employees nationwide following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division that found violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime provisions. Additionally, Wal-Mart will pay $463,815 in civil money penalties.”
Link: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/WHD20120801.htm
We are looking for a corporation that is more responsible than Wal-Mart. Aren’t the string of events from the bribery in Mexico to human right violations in factories in Thailand that supply to Wal-Mart enough to make you reflect on what a good company looks like?
Links, Links, Links
Media Post: Walmart Heads For Pacoima, another Los Angeles neighborhood
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/172747/walmart-heads-for-la-neighborhood.html
This isn’t news to us. Wal-mart has openly shared that they want to open up 200 stores in Los Angeles.
Pacoima, we are in solidarity with you!
Huffington Post: Walmart Critics In New York City, L.A. See Opportunity In Alleged Mexico Bribery Scandal
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/walmart-mexico-bribery-allegations_n_1448973.html
It’s a good article to gain a better understanding of how our fight in Chinatown connects nationally.
Los Angeles Business journal Editorial: Chinatown Shouldn’t Be in Market for a Wal-Mart.
Diana from Ai Hoa Market writes about the deadly impacts of a Wal-Mart in Chinatown. We’re a little late to this editorial. We apologize.
We encourage you to write to newspapers or to us at nowalmartinchinatown@gmail.com.
NY Times: Vast Mexico Bribery Case Hushed Up by Wal-Mart After Top-Level Struggle
Article describes “how Wal-Mart de Mexico had orchestrated a campaign of bribery to win market dominance. In its rush to build stores, he said, the company had paid bribes to obtain permits in virtually every corner of the country.”
It’s not a one time thing. The report describes this as something that has happened for years.
It’s interesting how in Chinatown, Wal-Mart shares that it’s going to do right by the community. It says that it has seniors at heart. Are we easily fooled by this multi-national corporation that has again and again been part of lawsuits; and caused the destruction of neighborhoods across the nation?
A little food for thought on a Sunday.
