Labor, Faith & Community Leaders stage local Black Friday rally

GLENMONT, NY (11/22/2013)(readMedia)-- Local representatives from labor, faith, and community will join thousands of people across the country - as part of a national day of action led by Walmart employees and advocacy groups - standing with Walmart workers who are raising their voices against workplace injustice.

Over the past few months dedicated members of OUR Walmart (Organization United for Respect at Walmart) have been risking their jobs and livelihoods - bravely standing up against the poverty wages, discriminatory practices, and oppressive work environments found in Walmart stores across the country.

At a time when our nation's vital social safety net is being cut apart, the Huffington Post and Wall Street Journal revealed that the number one beneficiary of Food Stamp benefits is Walmart - their poverty wages force workers to rely on tax-payer funded services to meet basic needs. Walmart employees account for about 18% of the national Food Stamp Budget, roughly $14 billion dollars.

"Our local labor federation, on behalf of over 100,000 working women and men across the capital district, is here to show our collective support for the struggle of Walmart employees. These people deserve a living wage, the right to organize without fear of illegal firings or intimidation, and respect on the job." said Frank Natalie, Executive Vice President of the Capital District Area Labor Federation and Business Agent for the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 7.

He went on to add, "We're very encouraged by last week's announcement by the new General Counsel at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that they will be moving forward to prosecute illegal retaliatory firings by Walmart against their employees. This should be just the beginning of a larger trend toward better pay and dignity on the job for all service workers."

Sara Niccoli, Executive Director of the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State, emphasized problems with labor practices at the nation's largest retailer, noting "Walmart's business model is built off the exploitation of labor at various levels of the supply chain. At the bottom, workers struggle daily under slave-wages and deadly factory conditions. The faith community is here to stand in solidarity with the workers at Wal-Mart and their counterparts in sweatshop manufacturing facilities around the world."