Years of
research studies and the personal experiences of affected communities have
clearly demonstrated that large supermarkets and big box stores are bad for
communities, workers and the environment. The continued expansion of large-scale
retail outlets leads to the closure of local businesses and the destruction of
more jobs than the new stores create. The profits that the big box corporations
earn from their new market share get funneled straight to their national
headquarters, rather than staying in communities to help infrastructure and
local public programs grow.
The big
boxes source their products from known sweatshop factories and fields, and have
proven to be unwilling to change their policies in order to respect workers’
rights. A new
report from ILRF has recently shown Wal-Mart’s involvement in child labor
and sweatshop factories in China. Chain supermarkets and big boxes are also bad for American workers. Few employees of these stores receive a living wage, and the corporations are known
to frequently employ union-crushing tactics in blatant opposition of workers’
right to organize.
The big
boxes’ environmental records don’t hold up to scrutiny, either. The companies
have shown a disturbing lack of concern for environmental protection at their
production sites, and their need to distribute products over a large
geographical area means that they leave a similarly large carbon footprint
wherever they expand. In short, big boxes are bad for business, bad for people
and bad for the world around us!
In
response, people around the world are taking a stand. November 17th
will see a parade in Salt Lake City, a letter-writing campaign in London, film
screenings in Argentina and other exciting, dynamic chances for people to educate themselves on these
important issues and to let the big box corporations know how they feel. It
doesn’t have to stop there, however: There’s still a chance for ILRF supporters
to get involve.
You can:
1. Download anti-Wal-Mart postcards that you can give to family,
neighbors or even your local Wal-Mart shoppers at laborrights.org/projects/corporate/walmart/postcardcolor.pdf (color)
or
laborrights.org/projects/corporate/walmart/postcard.pdf
(grayscale).
2. Emergency Contraception Action at
Wal-Mart sponsored by the National Organization for Women. Download
action materials at www.now.org/issues/wfw/walmart_bigboxday_main.html.
3. Host a movie night and order a copy of "Wal-Mart:
The High Cost of a Low Price” at www.walmartmovie.com.
4. Deliver a letter to Wal-Mart in support of sweatshop workers in
the Dominican Republic.
Sign up at http://www.unionvoice.org/laborrights/events/nov17/details.tcl.
5. Quarantine Wal-Mart is a fun action that is sure to
bring media attention. A Quarantine Action Kit includes all the hazmat suits, caution tape and other props you will need to
quarantine the Wal-Mart in your neighborhood.
Click here to visit the Day of Action website, learn more, and sign up to
make your voice heard!