Stand with Daniel Lopez: Tell Walmart to Stop Abusing Warehouse Workers
On February 24, Daniel Lopez is going to lose his job. Daniel works in a warehouse in Mira Loma, California, moving goods for Walmart day in and day out. With what he is paid for unloading hundred pound boxes from containers in the broiling heat, Daniel supports his four young children, two daughters and two sons. He works extremely long hours, usually six days a week, yet still is paid only poverty wages for this grueling work. He has no holidays, sick days, or health insurance.
Before mid-March, the Harper government is expected to release its next budget — a budget that finance minister Jim Flaherty says will focus on "economic growth and jobs." Unfortunately, the Harper record indicates that "growth" will mean growing profits for corporations. As for "jobs", the focus there will be on slashing public service jobs to add to the real unemployment rate that is now at least 10.6%, and almost double that at 19.7% for young workers.
On January 21st, thousands of union activists, labour leaders, and local politicians gathered in London, Ontario for a massive rally against U.S.-based Caterpillar's lockout of 465 workers at the city’s Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) plant.