IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2009

CONTACT: Meghan Scott
(202) 721-8014


WALMART’S CHINESE EMPLOYEES MORE PROTECTED THAN ITS AMERICAN WORKERS


On April 10th, Walmart announced that they would restructure their workforce in China affecting 1,400 employees and eliminating mid-level executives. Today, however Chinese state press is reporting that the All China Federation of Trade Unions has blocked the move. Executives who were told they would be laid off have reportedly returned to work.

“There’s something wrong when Walmart’s Chinese employees have more job security than its American employees,” said Meghan Scott, Director of WakeUpWalMart.com. “If Walmart decided they wanted to do the same thing here in America, those workers would sure still be out of a job today.”

While this is certainly good news for the 1,400 workers in China who would have otherwise lost their jobs, it also highlights the lack of protection Walmart’s employees are afforded here in America. In February, 2009, Walmart announced to 800 layoffs at its home office in Bentonville, Arkansas. Unlike the Chinese restructuring, however, those 800 employees had no protection and are now out of a job. The different outcome of these two similar situations is stark and disturbing.”

Walmart has historically been vehemently anti-union, using propaganda, strong-arm tactics, coercion, intimidation, even spying to stop workers from unionizing. If Walmart can function alongside a union in China they can do it here.”

“The disparity between protection of Walmart’s employees here and in China should be a wake-up call. It is simply shocking that Walmart’s Chinese employees are protected on the job while their American counterparts have no such protection.”