As the world's biggest company, Walmart impacts communities as far away as Bangladesh and as close as our hometowns. Hear from workers representing multiple points in the Walmart supply chain -- from the factory floor, to the distribution warehouse, to the big box store.
Featuring Kalpona Akter, Executive Director of Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity with a warehouse worker from Inland Empire and a Walmart Associate from the Bay Area.
KALPONA AKTER started working in garment factories when she was 12 years old. She worked 14 hours a day for $6 a month. After learning about her labor rights, she was fired and blacklisted for organizing at the sweatshop factory where she worked, and then joined with other former garment workers to launch a grassroots organization to protect the human rights and labor rights of workers and children in Bangladesh. This organization, the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity, is now internationally known and respected. In 2010, Walmart's subcontractor filed a false criminal complaint against her, which resulted in her arrest and imprisonment. Following 30 days in police custody, an international activist campaign succeeded in getting her released on bail. She continues to face the fabricated charges which, if not dismissed, could result in her being sent to prison for years. Read more about her case and take action here. [1]
Sponsored by Making Change at Walmart, International Labor Rights Forum, SweatFree Communities and Jobs with Justice
For more info: Gordon Mar, 415-994-2496 or gordon@jwjsf.org