Riot Police Arrest Walmart Warehouse Workers On Strike Against Abysmal Working Conditions

By on October 2, 2012 in News 39

Via Buzzfeed, activist Daneyvilla took an snapped photos as a veritable army of riot police cracked down on a demonstration by several hundred completely peaceful, largely middle-aged Walmart warehouse employees. From the workers’ website, the reason for the strike:

No one should come to work and endure extreme temperatures, inhale dust and chemical residue, and lift thousands of boxes weighing up to 250lbs with no support. Workers never know how long the work day will be- sometimes its two hours, sometimes its 16 hours. Injuries are common, as is discrimination against women and illegal retaliation against workers who speak up for better treatment.

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  • I_abide

    Riot gear and a Humvee against a group of middle age people performing a sit in?  Do they need a tank if they have a championship celebration riot?  

    “Gotta watch our for those downtrodden workers they’re shifty… Oh god lookout they’re leaning right at us!  Open fire!

  • I_abide

    Riot gear and a Humvee against a group of middle age people performing a sit in?  Do they need a tank if they have a championship celebration riot?  

    “Gotta watch our for those downtrodden workers they’re shifty… Oh god lookout they’re leaning right at us!  Open fire!

  • http://www.sacredgeometryinternational.com/ Camron Wiltshire

    Yet another in a long list of reasons to boycott  ValDe Mart.

    • Jin The Ninja

      must be my “asperger’s” again,  b/c i found that one clever and funny.

    • Jin The Ninja

      must be my “asperger’s” again,  b/c i found that one clever and funny.

      • Calypso_1

        Jin The Aspie… 

        I really just don’t see it.
        You don’t flap your hands do you?

        • Jin The Ninja

          wildly.but perhaps i’m simply a flamer.

          i also respond to compliments with rather impolitic accusations.

          i think the diagnosis could go either way;)

          • Calypso_1

            HA! Damn you!  I really should not take pills with flaming hot coffee while reading replies.

            …that’s cute html thinks choke is a tag : )

  • Captain Husaskin

    I will never set foot in another Chinamart store.  Their management is despicable.

    • Andrew

      Good for you.  I’ve never set foot in one in my life!

      • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

        But where else can I get a napkin dispenser at 9:30 at night?

        • Guest

          A restraunt?

        • Guest

          A restraunt?

        • Guest

          A restraunt?

        • VaudeVillain

          I’ve found that I can acquire comparable merchandise by squatting and pushing until something comes out.

    • rtb61

       Wallmart is Shitmart.

  • Bender

    This is the kind of thing you hear about in China!  Typical Wal-Mart tactics.  We have one in our town that opened up a couple of years ago.  The workers are much more likely to use social services, the crime rate goes up, police are spread more thinly than ever,  the employees cannot afford health insurance, and the list goes on and on.  This is the workplace for young mothers, laid off middle age folks, and others who for one reason or another cannot find sustainable work.  I was laid off from my job of 20 years at 52 years of age, and was sure I would not get another decent job.  I landed on my feet however and got a pretty good job with nice benefits.  Its good to see folks fighting back and standing up for better wages and working conditions.  Best of luck to them all!

  • Bender

    This is the kind of thing you hear about in China!  Typical Wal-Mart tactics.  We have one in our town that opened up a couple of years ago.  The workers are much more likely to use social services, the crime rate goes up, police are spread more thinly than ever,  the employees cannot afford health insurance, and the list goes on and on.  This is the workplace for young mothers, laid off middle age folks, and others who for one reason or another cannot find sustainable work.  I was laid off from my job of 20 years at 52 years of age, and was sure I would not get another decent job.  I landed on my feet however and got a pretty good job with nice benefits.  Its good to see folks fighting back and standing up for better wages and working conditions.  Best of luck to them all!

  • Anarchy Pony
  • Anarchy Pony
  • alizardx

    Police intervening on the side of management against strikers? As we saw with Occupy Wall Street, it’s illegal to dissent against corporations who know which politicians and bureaucrats to buy.

    • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

      It is also illegal to box in their Executives’ limos in traffic and firebomb them.

      Just sayin…

      • Anarchy Pony

        I wish I knew you personally.

        • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

          Well, if you ever find yourself in Florida (North Fla, at the moment but generally the Tampa area), let me know. I’d be delighted to have dinner or some bourbon with just about anyone.

          That goes for BuzzCoastin too, but he’d have to wear a patch or something over that big eye of his, otherwise it would just creep me out the whole time.

          • Anarchy Pony

            Reverse if you are ever on the southern Oregon coast.

          • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

            Thank you.

            I used to get to Reno NV pretty regularly, but my affairs there are almost entirely concluded.

            I do travel more than average though, so I may find myself out that way within the next few years. If I do, I’ll be sure to give you a heads-up.

          • Anarchy Pony

            alright.

          • Anarchy Pony

            alright.

          • http://buzzcoastin.posterous.com BuzzCoastin

             Thanks Dude, if I ever get down that way again I’ll stop by, but you gotta take off that Jason mask or I’ll bring a patch.

          • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

            I’ve been told the mask is an “improvement”, but if you insist.

  • dumbass

    Seems legit

  • Calypso_1

    I can see Jesus in the hearts of those riot police. 

    • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

      When I finally get around to those cops, I’ll let you know what I see in their hearts.

      Depending on the lighting it’s generally just a distorted reflection of a cheap novelty hockey mask…

  • Heath

    Perhaps if the protesters were funded through social services, Walmart would be a little more lenient?

  • http://buzzcoastin.posterous.com BuzzCoastin

    On my last two visits to Dr Homeland after being away for years
    I noticed that the cops had become militarized and ubiquitous.
    I live in China, commonly thought of as a Police State,
    compared to the US, they’re all Barney Fife,
    no guns and not around unless you call them.
    When it comes to stuff like this they’re the same,
    but on a daily basis they’re not around.

    I don’t think the Chinese people would easily bear the oppression of US cops and
    I don’t think Chinese cops even dream of the unbridled power US cops have. 

  • Shaytan

    In the future, Wallmart distribution centers will become corporate prisons for Debtors…

  • Killingjoke36

    Truly the high cost of low wages.

  • Killingjoke36

    Truly the high cost of low wages.

  • Nick

    Let’s face it, Wal-mart works deal with a lot.  In the warehouses, having electric forklift parts handy would be a treat.