How a Small Change at Walmart Could Send 9 Million Students to College
Is it a good idea for America to send qualified, yet underprivileged and lower-income students, to college? The answer is indisputable: yes.
Is it a good idea for America to send qualified, yet underprivileged and lower-income students, to college? The answer is indisputable: yes.
By Molly McGrath and Brad Markell
This article was originally posted by the Retail Justice Alliance.
Walmart spokesperson David Tovar told Bloomberg this week that Walmart was “looking at” its position on the proposed federal minimum wage hike. A different company spokesperson quickly corrected the story, telling Reuters that Walmart’s position hadn’t changed at all and that the company remains “neutral” on the issue. Of course, two of the major business groups connected to Walmart—the National Retail Federation and the Chamber of Commerce—have voiced strong opposition to the measure, but Walmart maintains that it’s neutral, and Walmart and the Waltons’ history of political giving shows a preference for politicians who vote against raising the minimum wage.
Tomorrow, Doug McMillon will become the fifth CEO of Walmart and the youngest to have the job since Sam Walton himself. Before him will be the monumental task of steering the retail giant back on course and into public favor.
On Saturday, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill) went on CNN to respond to a Walmart executive’s claim that she was misinformed about wage levels at the company. Needless to say, Rep. Schakowsky was not having it.
Over the weekend, Salinas Valley community supporters joined Walmart workers at a demonstration in front of the Laguna Seca Raceway in California during the annual Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The demonstration took place while Walmart Board Chair, and heir to the Walton family fortune, Rob Walton raced two of his multimillion dollar racecars worth more than $16 million. The purpose of the protest was to bring attention to the disturbing fact as well as the reality that Rob Walton and his familyengage in lavish and expensive hobbies while the family increases its wealth by pushing certain Walmart worker costs onto taxpayers.
Walmart director and Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer has just been named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. We know one way she could use that massive influence: to advocate for the brave Walmart associates and supply chain workers who are standing up for respect on the job.
This year, thousands of activists stood up to the Walmart 1% across the country. It was a busy year for the one percent—and for the rest of us. There was the news of alleged bribery and corruption in Mexico, Walmart leaving ALEC under pressure from the public (here’s hoping the Walton Family Foundation follows their lead next year), forced labor at Walmart suppliers, warehouse worker strikes, and a Black Friday to remember when Walmart associates went on strike over the company’s retaliation and attempts to silence those who spoke out for improvements on the job.