Media Advisory for Wednesday, May 30 at 10AM
Contact: Caroline O’Connor, L.A. County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO at (213) 400-8401 or coconnor@launionaflcio•org (coconnor@launionaflcio•org) .
L.A. workers provide spirited send-off for Wal-Mart associates
headed to Bentonville, Arkansas for shareholders meeting
Wal-Mart associates urge dismissal of Wal-Mart CEO and Chairman of the Board
in light of alleged Mexico bribery scandal
On Wednesday, May 30 at 10AM outside of Delta Airlines Terminal 5 Departures at LAX, airport and union workers representing more than a dozen L.A. unions from Hollywood to the ports will give a spirited send-off of support for Wal-Mart workers who will be headed to Bentonville, Arkansas for the annual Wal-Mart Shareholders Meeting on Friday, June 1.
Approximately 30 Wal-Mart associates, including five from the Los Angeles area, are going to Bentonville to urge Wal-Mart shareholders to vote against the re-election of Wal-Mart’s CEO Mike Duke and Chairman of the Board Rob Walton in light of recently alleged bribery in Mexico and cover-up by executives. Wal-Mart associates will also offer a proposal that will examine Wal-Mart’s executive bonus plans, put a check on executive pay, increase transparency and base executive bonuses and rewards on performance. Wal-Mart associates traveling to Bentonville are active members of the Organization United for Respect at Wal-Mart (OUR Wal-Mart).
“I am 63 years old and I get paid less than $22,000 a year working full-time at Wal-Mart for seven years. Wal-Mart pays us poverty wages so we have to get our health care from state and federal assistance programs, but executives are paid millions with little accountability to the shareholders,” says Angie Rodriguez, a Wal-Mart associate and OUR Wal-Mart member traveling to Bentonville. “We think it’s time to force Wal-Mart executives to play by the same rules as the rest of us.”
On Saturday, June 30, more than 10,000 Los Angeles community members, workers, Chinatown residents and small business owners will come together in what they are saying will be the largest anti-Wal-Mart demonstration ever held in the U.S. to keep Wal-Mart out of Los Angeles and send the message that Los Angeles will not be bought off by Wal-Mart and the way it does business.
WHAT: Send-off of support for Wal-Mart associates traveling to annual Wal-Mart shareholders meeting
WHEN: Wednesday, May 30 at 10AM
WHERE: Outside Terminal 5 Departures for Delta Airlines, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
WHO: Five Wal-Mart associates and members of OUR Wal-Mart
More than 50 airport and union workers from across Los Angeles
VISUALS: Supporters with signs that read, “Wal-Mart: How the 1% Hurts the 99%”
Supporters handing flyers to passengers on upcoming massive march against Wal-Mart on June 30 in Los Angeles
Chanting, speakers, hugs and farewells
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