Walmart Lowers Standards Yet Again with Mass Layoff

by Taylor Leake · 2010-01-26 12:25:00 UTC
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Walmart launched another assault on living and working standards in communities across the country yesterday by laying off more than ten thousand Sam's Club employees.

The announcement came on the heels of ten Sam's Club stores closing just two weeks ago, putting 1,500 workers at risk of losing their jobs. Then yesterday, some 11,000 Sam's Club associates were called into meetings and laid off without warning. Most of those workers handed out samples at Sam's Club stores. But that work will now be taken over by Shopper Events, a company based in Arkansas just a stone's throw away from Walmart's corporate headquarters. Shopper Events is described as "the only authorized in-store event-planning company for Walmart."

And the plan for those 11,000 laid-off workers? Walmart suggested they apply for a job with Shopper Events, since it will be hiring enough people to take on the work the Sam's Club associates used to do. In essence, Walmart has fired more than 11,000 workers and told them they have to apply for their job all over again.

We've been in touch with some of these workers. They tell us that in addition to being fired, they have been asked to sign a waiver promising not to sue Walmart for gender, racial or age discrimination. Signing the waiver is apparently a condition of receiving their severance pay. We think that is particularly deplorable.

One worker we've talked with also suggests that at her store, associates who have been at Sam's Club for a long period of time are being targeted and laid off.

We are extremely discouraged by this large layoff. In particular, we're concerned about the workers affected. What kind of jobs will they have with Shopper Events? Will their pay and benefits be affected? Will they even get rehired?

Walmart and Sam's Club workers seeking additional assistance and answers are encouraged to contact Walmart Workers for Change at 866-587-2299 or log on to www.WalmartWorkersForChange.org.

To read more about Walmart and this layoff, go to www.WakeUpWalmart.com.

Taylor Leake has advocated for workers' rights for years, from running his college chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops to working for the Wake Up Walmart campaign.
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