Walmart Workers Reportedly Being "Kicked" and "Slapped"

[One Sweet World]

Can America's No. 1 retailer get away with using sweat shop labor?

Walmart's hometown newspaper the Arkansas Democrat Gazette is reporting that a nonprofit that advocates for workers rights in developing nations is reporting horrendous, shameful, sweatshop-like conditions in Walmart factories.

"SweatFree Communities says its report 'Sweatshop Solutions: Economic Ground Zero in Bangladesh and Wal-Mart's Responsibility' is based on interviews with more than 90 workers. Those workers, the report states, cite instances of co-workers being kicked or slapped for minor infractions, including one claim that a pregnant woman miscarried after being kicked by a line supervisor.

"When Wal-Mart inspects the plant, the report contends, factory managers know ahead of time and workers are coached on what to tell the inspectors."

I can't say I'm surprised. I’m doing some work with WakeUpWalmart.com and they’ve released reports finding that 70% of Walmart's goods come from China.

This is the same China that throws students into jail for researching "civil rights" on Yahoo! – forget organizing for better working conditions – and dumps raw chemical discharges into rivers.

Sam Walton used to have a "Buy America First" policy, but the Walmart of today is turning a blind eye on Chinese sweat-shops at best and encouraging this Chinese slave labor at worst.

[snappyturtle]

1. Sam Walton is probably rolling over fitfully in his grave. It seems to

me the huge influx of items made in China appeared after he died when the relatives took over. Do you know? I'm just curious.

[Wilber_Stool]

2. Yup. I believe you are right.

As I remember it, he was a "buy America first","look for the Union label" kind of guy. It changed a couple of years after his death.

[louis-t]

3. Shortly after his death, there was a scandal

involving "Made in America" signs on all of the clothing racks. Problem was, none of the clothes were made in America. A reporter went undercover to one of the factories in Malaysia or wherever, and found children working for pennies an hour and giving most back to employer for room and board. Owner of factory told the reporter (who was pretending to be a buyer) that he could put whatever label the guy wanted on the clothes. If he wanted it to say made in America, he could do that. I decided right then that I would never set foot in a Wal-Mart and I haven't. I would rather starve and wear rags.

[snappyturtle]

4. Thanks for the scandal report.....I thought there was more to it, I couldn't remember

which isn't unusual these days! HA!

[One Sweet World]

5. Yea, to answer all of your questions

Sam Walton build Walmart on a reputation of "Buy American First" and by and large he upheld that mantra. He was a decent man.

But when he died, his spawn started ruthlessly cutting out American manufacturers and turning to the dangerous and poisonous factories of China.

Unfortunately, the Walmart of today gets 70% of its products from communist China.

[mauvesubmarine]

6. Can you please direct me to a better choice of store?

I have yet to find out if it's so much better to shop at Target. I heard that they don't have unions, either, so it would seem to me that they are committing similar violations. And even department stores may not be unionized, along with selling the same sweat-shop stuff, but marked up so even higher profit margins. Ugh. What to do and where to go? And what about dollar stores?!