All photos courtesy of Elizabeth Brennan, Communications Director, Warehouse Workers United. Copyright 2012. No reproduction or use thereof without the permission of WWU.
Over bridges, hills and through the streets the Walmart warehouse workers continue their march for safer working conditions at Walmart warehouses. Today marks the fourth day of their six day, 50 mile march that began on September 13 in Ontario California, and will end on September 18 in Los Angeles with a rally on the West Step of the Los Angeles City Hall.
The marchers are being joined today by UFW President Arturo Rodriguez, as well as dozens of farm workers coming all the way from the Central Valley of California and the City of Oxnard, California to join their “warehouse brothers and sisters” in their march for safer working conditions. Two of those farm workers-Alfredo Zamora and Hugo Custodio – have committed to walk all the way from Riverside County to Downtown LA in support of this cause.
Upon their arrival at Los Angeles, the marchers will meet with Southern California Walmart executives to discuss improving the working conditions at Walmart warehouses in Southern California. The marchers will also be presenting their petition at that time (http://takeaction.walmartwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6549) calling for Walmart executives to “…sit down with us to learn about our experience moving your goods and to figure out how you can ensure all of Walmart’s contractors and suppliers to follow the law and live up to your own standards.”
Santos Castaneda, a Walmart warehouse worker from California’s Riverside County, describes in the video below (‘Voices from the Warehouse’) how warehouse workers risk their lives daily to ensure Walmart’s stores are stocked. He alleges that in the warehouses the health and safety of the warehouse employees is not a priority.
The Los Angeles Beat will continue to provide its readers with coverage of this historic event as it unfolds, leading up to and including full coverage of the September 18, 2012 rally of the ‘WalMarch’ marchers and their supporters on the West Step of the Los Angeles City Hall. A map and entrance instructions to the LA City Hall can be found HERE: http://bpw.lacity.org/PAO/City%20Hall%20Directions%20Map%20color.pdf
The Los Angeles City Hall. Los Angeles, California. The ‘WalMarch’ marchers will arrive here on September 18 to hold their rally and to meet with Southern California Walmart executives, the news media and the community.
