http://themilitant.com/2015/7946/794632.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 79/No. 46 December 21, 2015
—ON THE PICKET LINE—
Maggie Trowe, Editor
Militant/Eric Simpson
Roachelle Logwood speaks to supporters at Dec. 3 rally outside Oakland,
California, Walmart demanding her reinstatement. After the protest
management agreed to meet to discuss her job.
Help the Militant cover labor struggles across the country!
This column gives a voice to those engaged in battle and building
solidarity today — including workers fighting for $15 and a union;
locked-out ATI Steelworkers; autoworkers on strike against Kohler; steel
and Verizon workers opposing concessions. I invite those involved in
workers’ battles to contact me at 306 W. 37th St., 13th Floor, New York,
NY 10018; or (212) 244-4899; or themilitant@xxxxxxx. We’ll work together
to ensure your story is told.
— Maggie Trowe
Walmart workers in California, NY and Washington fight firings
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Some 30 supporters of Mary Watkines, who was fired
by Walmart here a few months ago, accompanied her into the store as she
delivered 5,000 petition signatures to management Dec. 5 demanding she
be reinstated. The manager told the delegation to leave, threatened to
call the police but eventually accepted the petitions.
Watkines is a founding member of the workers group OUR Walmart and has
twice been fired for her organizing activity. Participants in the
protest included members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21,
the Socialist Workers Party, OUR Walmart and others.
“I won’t be bullied, I won’t be scared,” Watkines told the Militant. “I
will continue to fight for my job.”
“We won’t stand for intimidation or retaliation,” said Pat Scott, who
has worked at the store here for 17 years.
— John Naubert
ALBANY, N.Y. — Thomas Smith, 52, a worker at the Walmart store in nearby
East Greenbush, was fired Nov. 6 for redeeming $2 worth of empty cans
left in a shopping cart in the entryway of the store. Smith was
terminated for “gross misconduct,” Walmart spokesperson Aaron Mullins
told the Albany Times Union.
Smith, an African-American, has a good work record and has received a
lot of support. This year’s annual Black Friday protest, demanding $15
an hour and regular schedules, was held at the East Greenbush store to
bolster support for Smith. More than $4,400 has been raised in a
GoFundMe online campaign. OUR Walmart, the Capital District Area Labor
Federation and others have launched an online petition to have Smith
reinstated, which nearly 62,000 people have signed.
“Walmart has been getting away with mistreatment of workers for a long
time,” Smith told the Militant in a phone interview. “We need a union.”
— Mindy Brudno
OAKLAND, Calif. — “I’m speaking out for all the employees inside,”
Roachelle Logwood told some 85 workers at a rally in front of the
Walmart store here Dec. 3. Logwood said she was fired from her cashier
job three weeks earlier for attendance issues, but decided to fight back
with the support of co-workers and the labor movement.
Logwood introduced Josie Camacho, executive secretary-treasurer of the
Alameda Labor Council, and California State Assemblyman Rob Bonta. The
three then went into the store to demand Logwood’s reinstatement while
supporters chanted, “Bring back Roachelle!”
Management called the next day and scheduled a meeting the following week.
A few customers joined the protest, which was called by the United Food
and Commercial Workers/Making Change at Walmart. Walmart workers from
several Bay Area stores stood behind Logwood at the rally and some of
her co-workers embraced her as Walmart security looked on.
UFCW Local 5 members from throughout the area turned out, along with
organizers of fast-food workers from the East Bay Organizing Committee,
members of Service Employees International Union Local 1021, the Faith
Alliance for a Moral Economy and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance.
— Eric Simpson
Related articles:
Rail workers in Quebec win support against gov’t frame-up
Russian truck drivers protest crippling tax
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