More than any other national retailer Wal-Mart is all about the Low-Wage Economy! Wal-Mart indoctrinates new employees, underpays them, makes them work without pay, and call associates working only 28 hours a week full timers. It practices gender discrimination and is the subject of numerous lawsuits resulting from its employment practices. DSA Honorary Chair Barbara Ehrenreich devotes an entire chapter describing her experience as a Wal-Mart employee in her best selling book: Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America.

Typically Wal-Mart comes into less affluent communities and uses its financial strength to force local vendors and Mom & Pop competitors out of business. This highly successful business model enabled it to become the countries leading provider of groceries during a decade of expansion that focused on smaller markets. Now Wal-Mart is beginning to expand into more affluent communities.

Because Wal-Mart symbolizes just what is wrong with today's economy, it is becoming a focus for activist activity. The United Food and Commercial Workers is attempting to organize Wal-Mart employees and has produced a video Wal-Mart's War On Workers. A National Day of Action has been set for November 21st. A class action suit has also been filed against Wal-Mart.

DSA supports these efforts. Links to important Wal-Mart sites including to the video can be found here and will be updated on a regular basis.

Wal-Mart workers around the country are engaged in organizing efforts. They have set up a network of web sites to communicate with and support each other. This listing comes from United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).

• WMWorkers, LV, the site of the in-store organizing committee in Las Vegas;
  
  
• WM Workers, Texas, a site run by former employees in Texas, where there is significant activity;
  
  
• WM Workers, Florida, a site run by a former employee fired for union activity in Florida, where there is also significant activity;
  
  
• The Right to Choose, a site from Lansing, MI
  
  
• Wal-Mart's War on Workers, the main UFCW Midwest site;
  
  
• Wal-Martyrs, the International's site for Wal-Mart workers;
  
  
• Wal-Mart Watch, the UFCW site for community activists.
  
  
• Activist Roll Call, the site for the Nov. 21 Day of Action.

Other Wal-Mart links:

• Philadelphia DSA demonstrates against Wal-Mart
  
  
• Wal-Mart Class Action Suit
  
  
• National Organization for Women: Wal-Mart Facts