Walmart Bans American Flags



	Kansas WorkBeat Issues Attack on America Walmart Bans American Flags

Public Outrage Forces Walmart to Allow
Workers to Wear American Flag Stickers
	Walmart Refuses to Apologize to Workers
	No Manager Disciplined or Reprimanded
	Walmart Senior VP Insults Workers by Calling It “Confusion”
Las Vegas, September 21, 2001: Employees at the Sam's Club in Las Vegas Nevada are claiming victory today after Wal-Mart reversed a store policy banning American flag stickers on name badges. [Go to first story] The company had ordered employees to remove the stickers which were provided to the workers by the United Food & Commercial Workers Union. A massive internet email based campaign was launched on September 17 after Sam's Club store #6382 managers began forcing all of its employees to remove small American flag stickers that were passed out by a Union to whomever wanted one. "I was outraged to learn that Wal-Mart employees working at store #6382 were forced to remove flags from their name badges!" said one email letter to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott from Andrea Goldberger in Albany, NY "Although your company markets itself as good for America, I wonder where your allegiance truly lies." The email campaign resulted in massive amounts of emails being sent to both H. Lee Scott CEO of Wal-Mart and the store manager Greg Roberts from customers nationwide. Some of the letters are displayed on the workers website located at www.walmartworkerslv.com The incident affected not only the workers but also military veterans and active duty personnel. "Please support me in my hour of need by letting me come home to a country that is proud of me," said James M.P.Hansen, a U.S. Navy Petty Officer serving overseas in his email to the Wal-Mart CEO "Just please sir, let me come home to a proud country." Jay Allen, Senior Vice President of Wal-Mart corporate affairs issued a statement today stating "In light of the terrible tragedy that recently struck our country, we have communicated to our associates that as long as their names are visible; they may wear American Flags anywhere, including their badges, to display their patriotism." Wal-Mart has not issued any apology in written or verbal form to any of the employees of the store affected, and no managers at the location have been disciplined. This is the third victory for the employees at the Sam's Club. Previously they forced the company to reverse a policy that made them unable to wear any pins besides company provided ones. Workers in the store recently filed for a Government election for union representation.

WAL-MART FORCES WORKERS

TO REMOVE AMERICAN FLAG STICKERS

Las Vegas, September 17, 2001: While Wal-Mart boasted record sales of American flags from its stores, workers at Sam’s Club 6382 (a Division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) in Las Vegas, Nevada were forced by managers to remove American flag stickers from their name badges because the stickers were given to the associates by a Union.

“I can’t believe Wal-Mart would be so insensitive and unpatriotic during this crisis” said Linda Gruen, a six-year employee with Wal-Mart and store 6382, “ it made me sick to my stomach when they were telling people to take their flags off”

The actions of the managers on September 17 th not only made the employees deeply upset but also angered customers in the store who were shocked and appalled to see employees being forced to peel off American flags.

“We wouldn’t have had to remove our flags if Sam Walton was around” said Alan T. Peto a seven-year Wal-Mart employee.

Associates and customers can express their opinions regarding the actions by Wal-Mart by emailing the CEO, Lee Scott, at hlscott@walmart.com and mentioning the store ‘Sam’s Club 6382’ . They can also contact the store manager, Greg Roberts, by calling 702-253-1249 (or 253-0072) or by emailing gkrober.s06382@clubs.us.wal-mart.com. (please send a copy of your letter to us at 6382@walmartworkerslv.com )

The Wal-Mart Workers Las Vegas campaign was founded in October of 2000 by Las Vegas Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club associates to seek Union representation. Its website can be found at www.walmartworkerslv.com.

The stickers were passed out by representatives of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union. Sam’s Club employees had asked the Union for assistance in helping co-workers demonstrate solidarity with the victims of the terrorist bombings, especially the hundreds of union firefighters, police officers, construction and hotel workers injured, missing and dead at the World Trade Center disaster, and the unionized pilots and flight crews of the four downed jetliners.

The Union has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board alleging management ordered the removal of stickers because the Union had provided them to any employee who requested one.

Previously, the store had confiscated ballpoint pens that the Union had provided employees after Sam’s Club began charging workers for the pens they use in their work, and had ordered employees not to wear union-provided lanyards for their identification badges.

READ LETTERS FROM THE WORKERS AT THE STORE