With 1.4 million Americans working in its stores, Wal-Mart bears a unique responsibility to its workers and our communities--which is why as Labor Day approaches, SEIU is part of a coalition of labor, environmental, consumer protection, and community groups led by UFCW that are challenging Wal-Mart to start practicing common-sense core American values like workers' rights, corporate responsibility, equal opportunity, quality jobs and environmental stewardship.

No other private, profit-making enterprise in the history of our country has had the economic scope and impact of Wal-Mart. "When a company gets to be as big as Wal-Mart and employs so many workers - more than any other private enterprise in the world - it is no longer a 'private' entity," said Neal Lichtenstein, author of The Retail Revolution: How Walmart Created a Brave New World of Business. "[Wal-Mart] sets the wage and benefit standard for every other mass retailer and influences the business practices of just about every firm in America's huge service sector. So Wal-Mart is part of this country's debate: on health care, wages, equal employment, and the role of trade unionism in our democracy."

Wal-Mart needs to change. Here's a simple breakdown of reasoning behind this campaign to hold Wal-Mart accountable for those challenges, and to the ideals it puts forth in its advertising:

Wal-Mart is America's store.

Wal-Mart is America's workplace.

Wal-Mart is America's town center.

Wal-Mart must reflect America's values.

Hard work should bring pay and benefits that can support families.

Workers have rights that even the largest employer must recognize and respect.

There are two new "Common Sense Economics" TV ads to go along with the launch of the American Values Agenda for Change at Wal-Mart. Watch them here (Ad #1, Ad #2):

   

SEIU's Walmart Watch recently joined WakeUpWalmart.com to hold America's largest private employer accountable. Learn more about how you can help challenge Wal-Mart to embrace the American Values Agenda for Change at WakeUpWalmart.com.

Read the American Values Agenda for Change here.

Wal-Mart has a longtime record of harassing and intimidating workers who have called for union representation; the giant corporation has even gone so far as to shut down stores where workers voted for a voice on the job. It's bad enough Wal-Mart fights workers' efforts to organize...now they're trying to stifle freedom of speech too?

It appears that way - Wal-Mart has filed an injunction against a website critical of its Canadian business practices, and their "legal basis" will outrage you. Wal-Mart wants to stop WalmartWorkersCanada.ca--a popular website dedicated to helping Wal-Mart 'associates' understand and exercise their rights as workers in Canada--from using the word "Wal-Mart" either "alone or with other words... in a color scheme of blue, white and gold." Even more ridiculous, the company wants to restrict the usage of circular shapes on the group's website! Says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley:

"This injunction request is an over the top assault on freedom of speech and on our ability to effectively communicate with Wal-Mart workers," "It's a kneejerk response by Wal-Mart to the idea of its employees trying to understand their options as workers, and trying to share experiences with other 'associates'."

Walmart's response to the success of www.walmartworkerscanada.ca is just another outrageous example of how the largest retailer in the history of the world will use its bottomless legal budget to manipulate the collective bargaining process and do just about anything to discourage its 'associates' from joining the union."

If Wal-Mart has its way, "an oval, circular or semi-circular design" will be off limits to those who aren't on board with the largest retailer in the world's corporate practices. Seriously--if you are a group that's critical of Wal-Mart's business practices, they better not catch you using anything that remotely resembles their yellow smiley face logo! It's a legal scenario simply too bizarre for words.

You can take a stand against Wal-Mart's censorship threat and stand up for internet Democracy. Tell Walmart to respect free speech: sign UFCW's petition today.

If we let Wal-Mart set the standard for free speech online, there is no telling where the company's absurd demands will end. Can you imagine a world where Wal-Mart has exclusive rights to blue, white, gold, and abstract geometrical shapes? Please take a moment to show your solidarity for the activists at WalmartWorkersCanada.ca.

Help stop Walmart's war against the freedom of expression online.

Wal-Mart has a longtime record of harassing and intimidating workers who have called for union representation; the giant corporation has even gone so far as to shut down stores where workers voted for a voice on the job. It's bad enough Wal-Mart fights workers' efforts to organize...now they're trying to stifle freedom of speech too?

It appears that way - Wal-Mart has filed an injunction against a website critical of its Canadian business practices, and their "legal basis" will outrage you. Wal-Mart wants to stop WalmartWorkersCanada.ca--a popular website dedicated to helping Wal-Mart 'associates' understand and exercise their rights as workers in Canada--from using the word "Wal-Mart" either "alone or with other words... in a color scheme of blue, white and gold." Even more ridiculous, the company wants to restrict the usage of circular shapes on the group's website! Says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley:

"This injunction request is an over the top assault on freedom of speech and on our ability to effectively communicate with Wal-Mart workers," "It's a kneejerk response by Wal-Mart to the idea of its employees trying to understand their options as workers, and trying to share experiences with other 'associates'."

Walmart's response to the success of www.walmartworkerscanada.ca is just another outrageous example of how the largest retailer in the history of the world will use its bottomless legal budget to manipulate the collective bargaining process and do just about anything to discourage its 'associates' from joining the union."

If Wal-Mart has its way, "an oval, circular or semi-circular design" will be off limits to those who aren't on board with the largest retailer in the world's corporate practices. Seriously--if you are a group that's critical of Wal-Mart's business practices, they better not catch you using anything that remotely resembles their yellow smiley face logo! It's a legal scenario simply too bizarre for words.

You can take a stand against Wal-Mart's censorship threat and stand up for internet Democracy. Tell Walmart to respect free speech: sign UFCW's petition today.

If we let Wal-Mart set the standard for free speech online, there is no telling where the company's absurd demands will end. Can you imagine a world where Wal-Mart has exclusive rights to blue, white, gold, and abstract geometrical shapes? Please take a moment to show your solidarity for the activists at WalmartWorkersCanada.ca.

Help stop Walmart's war against the freedom of expression online.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that more and more Wal-Mart employees want a union. The distorted "big bad Union vs. Company" image of organized labor depicted in the story is typical of the bias that is promoted by mainstream media. But it is not the real story--the real story is the workers on the ground who are desperate for change.

A new documentary by UFCW that tells the story of Wal-Mart's war on their own workers. In the video, ten workers from coast-to-coast detail the company's response to their organizing efforts (hint: it's not exactly warm and fuzzy).

After watching this video, doesn't Wal-Mart's slogan of 'Save Money, Live Better' seems particularly accurate? These workers need your support to affect real change at Wal-Mart.

Spread the word about Wal-Mart employees' collective struggle for dignity at work - tell your friends about Wal-Mart's anti-worker policies and add your signature to the growing list of activists who support rights in the workplace for hardworking Wal-Mart employees.

Interfaith leaders gathered outside of Wal-Mart in Los Angeles to "renew a covenant with workers" and call for Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. Wal-Mart has doggedly pursued anti-worker policies and is currently spending millions of dollars to fight the Employee Free Choice Act. Coalitions of faith, community and environmental leaders are working together in California and nationwide to support this important legislation-- collectively they are advocating for a level playing field for workers seeking to organize.

Bishop Mary Anne Swenson of the United Methodist Church, touted the faith leaders renewed covenant with workers:

For too long, corporations like Wal-Mart have flourished while their workers have languished in poverty without a voice in the workplace. Together we can change that. We can restore the voice and the rights of workers and move them to a shared prosperity. We must urge our elected officials to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

Noted academic and workforce expert Nelson Lichtenstein shared case studies detailing how Wal-Mart's aggressive anti-worker tactics undermine employees' free choice and contribute to the economy's downward spiral.

Read the complete blog by California Labor Federation, director of communication, Steve Smith--

Join the more than 30,000 Californians who have sent hand-written letters to Sen. Dianne Feinstein asking for her support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

It took nearly four years, but unionized workers at a Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec Wal-Mart store have finally won their first collective agreement. Although Wal-Mart has 1.4 million employees, the workers at this store are the only Wal-Mart employees in North America to be represented by a union.

The employees first voted to certify the union in 2005, only to encounter years of resistance in the form of legal challenges, negotiations, and mediation.

"It's time for Wal-Mart to start walking the talk. It describes itself as a socially responsible company committed to environmental sustainability and helping people to 'live better'. Those are important things, but so are workers' rights," said Wayne Hanley, national president of UFCW Canada. "The St-Hyacinthe contract challenges Wal-Mart to truly demonstrate that it's serious about being a community partner and a positive force in Canada and the world."