Event ends: April 4, 2011 – 7:30 pm
As the world’s biggest company, Walmart impacts communities as far away as Bangladesh and as close as our home towns. Hear from workers representing multiple points in the Walmart supply chain. Cynthia Murray is a Walmart associate in Laurel, Maryland; Robert Hines worked until recently at a Chicago-area warehouse that supplies Walmart; and Aleya Akter has been a garment worker since the age of nine and has recently sewn clothes sold in Walmart stores.
Join us at one of these events!
CHICAGO: Monday, March 28th, 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Gage Gallery at Roosevelt University
18 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603
More info: Moises Zavala at 630-254-3100
Download the flier [1]
RSVP optional on facebook [2]
BOSTON: Tuesday, March 29, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Tufts University, Barnum Hall, Room 104
163 Packard Ave., Medford, MA 02155
More info: maryh@massjwj.net [3] or 617-524-8778
Download the flier [4]
RSVP optional on facebook [5]
NEW YORK CITY: Thursday, March 31, 7:00- 8:30 p.m.
New York University, Philosophy Building – 1st Floor Auditorium,
5 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003
Download the flier [6]
RSVP optional on facebook [7]
PHILADELPHIA: Friday, April 1, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Swarthmore College, Kohlberg Hall, Room 226
500 College Ave, Swarthmore, PA 19081
Download the flier [8]
RSVP optional on facebook [9]
WASHINGTON DC: Monday, April 4, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
George Washington University, Gelman Library,
IBT Labor History Research Center, Room 702
2130 H St NW, Washington D.C. 20002
Download the flier [10]
RSVP optional on facebook [11]
Speaker biographies:
Kalpona Akter started working in garment factories at 12 years old, working 14 hours a day for $6 a month. Fired and blacklisted for organizing at the sweatshop factory where she worked, she joined with other former garment workers to launch the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity. Internationally known and respected, the Center is a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting the human and labor rights of workers and children in Bangladesh. In 2010, Walmart’s subcontractor filed a false criminal complaint against Kalpona, which resulted in her being arrested, imprisoned for 30 days and tortured. (Take action to support her case here [12].)
Aleya Akter is a sewing machine operator at a factory in Bangladesh that supplies apparel to Walmart and other brands. She began working inthe factory in 1994 at the age of nine. As a leader of workers at the factory, Aleya is committed to advocating for her rights on the job and for those of her coworkers. She is a member of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity.
Born and raised in Joliet, Illinois, Robert J. Hines, Jr. was a factory worker most of his life before getting a job at a warehouse that supplies Walmart stores. After four months of work, Robert realized he was being cheated out of payment for hours he’d worked. Disillusioned, he finished out the week and then quit. In the summer, Robert runs a landscaping business.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Cynthia Murray is the daughter of a Teamster and a former union member when she worked at United States Steel. She moved to Maryland 21 years ago and started working for the Washington Post as a driver, dropping off bundles of papers to the delivery people. In 2000, Cindy began working for Walmart as a fitting room associate. Throughout her time at Walmart, Cynthia has spoken out against the poverty-level wages and disrespect she and her coworkers experience from Walmart managers.
Sponsors include Making Change at Walmart (a Campaign of the United Food and Commercial Workers), Jobs with Justice, International Labor Rights Forum, United Students Against Sweatshops, SweatFree Communities
For more information, visit sweatfree.org/walmarttour2011 [13] or call 413-586-0974.