Mr. Rob Walton, Chairman of the Board
Walmart Stores, Inc.
702 SW 8th Street
Bentonville, AR 72716
Dear Mr. Walton:
It used to be that in America, working hard and playing by the rules would let you earn a paycheck
that could support a family and opportunities to advance and build a better life for your kids. But as
you no doubt know, these days, hard-working people have to juggle their expenses just to stay
afloat in cities and states across the country.
As the largest retailer and employer in our country, Walmart has considerable power to help
rebuild our economy and restore the promise of the American Dream. We are calling on Walmart to
change its business practices and open a dialogue with the workers who keep your stores running
and move goods at your contracted warehouses to help create a stronger country and economy for
all of us – beginning with changes that will improve the lives of workers and their families across
the country.
As the nation’s largest employer, as well as the largest employer of African Americans, Latinos and
women, no other corporation has as significant an impact as Walmart does on our communities.
And that impact on families is not something to be proud of. Take OUR Walmart member Dan
Hindman, for example, a young father who is living with his parents because his irregular work
schedule, sometimes only 12-14 hours per week, keeps him from being able to support his son from
finding other steady work. Making less than $10 an hour, much of Dan’s wages go to the pricey
Walmart health care plan for himself and his son. Or, consider Limber Herrera, a warehouse worker
who came to the U.S. in search of a better life. Although he’s held the same job for four years, Limber
is still considered a “temp” worker and was demoted after standing with his co-workers for better
working conditions like clean water, working equipment, fans in the 100 plus degree temperatures
and an end to retaliation.
Dan and Limber are not alone. Walmart store Associates receive an average of just $8.81/hour,
recently had their health benefits slashed and are struggling to get enough hours – even as the
company continues to hire more new Associates. And, the mostly Latino and African American
warehouse workers who move goods for Walmart in distribution hubs in Southern California and
Elwood near Chicago, IL are employed through a complex hierarchy of contractors. As a result, they
lift heavy boxes (up to 200 pounds), earn low pay, and face toxic chemicals, high temperatures, little
ventilation and intense retaliation if they complain or report an accident.
As front line Walmart workers are facing these hardships, the company made almost $16 billion in
profits, executives made more than $10 million each in compensation last year, and six members of
the Walton Family have more wealth than the bottom 42% of American families combined.
We cannot change the American economy without changing Walmart. That’s why we are standing
up to support workers who are organizing in the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR
Walmart) and Warehouse Workers United (WWU), and joining national community organizations
made up of civil rights, faith, women’s, and neighborhood groups to call for immediate changes.
We call on you to immediately adopt our United Call to Change Walmart and Rebuild America:
Improve Workers’ Lives
Pay a minimum of $25,000/year and guarantee quality, affordable health coverage for all
Walmart Associates and workers in the company’s U.S. distribution chain.
Rebuild Communities
Sign on to a national community benefits agreement that ensures that as Walmart expands
into new markets, it strengthens communities, protects the environment, and is responsible
for the well-being of its employees in its retail stores and U.S. supply and distribution chain.
Guarantee Workers’ Rights
Agree to a global labor agreement guaranteeing the fundamental human right of freedom of
association for all of its associates, instruct suppliers to do the same, and recognize and
negotiate with OUR Walmart.
Elevate Global Living Standards
Establish a legally binding globally responsible contractor policy requiring contractors and
subcontractors to provide living wages, worker safety protections, and respect basic human
and labor rights, including freedom of association and freedom from racial and gender
discrimination.
To rebuild and strengthen our economy, we believe Walmart must meet with OUR Walmart and the
Warehouse Workers United, adopt our United Call to Change Walmart and Rebuild America, and
mediate the reinstatement of unjustly fired workers. Doing so will not only improve the lives of
millions of workers, but will help Walmart prosper, too, with greater customer service, higher
morale and lower turnover.
We ask that you act immediately and take the opportunity to meet with OUR Walmart members and
Warehouse Workers and hear firsthand from these hardworking, dedicated Walmart employees—
who like you want to make the customer happy, but also the workers in your stores and supply
chain.
Sincerely,
NAME, TITLE
ORGANIZATION
CITY, STATE
cc:
Walmart Board of Directors