Associated Press
- A Walmart corporate employee on Monday sent a mass email urging workers to go on strike on Tuesday, according to a copy of the email viewed by Business Insider.
- Thomas Marshall, who works for Walmart’s e-commerce division, is calling on workers to strike to pressure the company to stop selling guns in the wake of the El Paso, Texas, shooting that killed at least 22 people.
- "I have no number yet as how many people will either strike all day tomorrow, or walk-out mid-day, but we have gotten a considerable amount of support already," Marshall told Business Insider on Monday.
- Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
A Walmart corporate employee is urging workers to go on strike on Tuesday to pressure the company to stop selling guns in the wake of two deadly shootings at Walmart stores.
Thomas Marshall, a Walmart e-commerce category specialist based in the company’s San Bruno, California, offices, on Monday sent a mass email advocating a strike to the company’s entire e-commerce team, which includes thousands of people at multiple corporate offices across the country.
"In light of recent events, and in response to corporate’s inaction, we are organizing a ‘sick out’ general strike to protest Walmart’s profit from the sale of guns," Marshall wrote, according to a copy of the email viewed by Business Insider.
Walmart "has always placed its associates and customers first," but remains a top seller of firearms in the US and "as associates, we have the power, ability, and opportunity to change this company for the better," he wrote. "Tomorrow, Tuesday 8/6/2019, do not show up to work."
Read more: Walmart says it won’t change gun sales policies in wake of 2 deadly shootings at its stores
Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
When contacted by Business Insider, Marshall confirmed that he sent the email and said he also posted the text of the message on a Slack message board for all Walmart associates.
"I have no number yet as how many people will either strike all day tomorrow, or walk-out mid-day, but we have gotten a considerable amount of support already," he told Business Insider on Monday.
The email cited the shooting that killed at least 22 people at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart on Saturday. Another shooting at a Southaven, Mississippi Walmart earlier in the week killed two Walmart employees.
In the aftermath of the shootings, Walmart has said it has no plans to change its polices around the sales of guns and ammunition.
Read the full email that was sent to Walmart workers on Monday:
I apologize for the mass email, but this is important, and I thank you for your time.
Yesterday, 21 people were murdered at Walmart #2201 in El Paso, Texas.
In light of recent events, and in response to Corporate’s inaction, we are organizing a ‘sick out’ general strike to protest Walmart’s profit from the sale of guns.
Walmart is a company that has always placed its associates and customers first, and we have recently made great strides toward fostering a safe, inclusive, and progressive community. Last year, Walmart raised the minimum age to buy a firearm or ammunition from 18 to 21 and removed products resembling assault-style rifles from its inventory. Walmart is still, however, the single largest retailer of firearms in the United States.
We have made great strides already, but now we must organize to shape this company into a place we can all be proud of. As associates, we have the power, ability, and opportunity to change this company for the better.
Tomorrow, Tuesday 8/6/2019, do not show up to work.
Email or slack your manager the following message:
"Hello,
I am calling in sick.
I will not be returning to work until Walmart stops the sale of and profit from firearms.
We have one demand, and that is all.
I value Walmart and my fellow associates, but I am no longer willing to contribute my labor to a company that profits from the sale of deadly weapons.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)"
Protests, strikes, and walkouts are protected free speech; our jobs are safe under the U.S. Code § 12203.
A protest like this only works when all of us are involved. There is strength in our solidarity with each other and every victim of gun violence. Please tell every associate you can and help us put an end to our part in such tragedies. Even if we only strike tomorrow, our hope is that such a statement to management will be able to begin an important dialogue.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
If you’re a Walmart employee with information to share, contact hpeterson@businessinsider.com.
See Also:
- What experts say that Walmart and other retailers need to do to protect shoppers and workers in the aftermath of deadly shootings that killed 24 people
- Walmart says it won’t change gun sales policies in wake of 2 deadly shootings at its stores
- Walmart worker’s son threatened to ‘shoot up’ a Florida Walmart store and said he was inspired by recent deadly shootings
Source: Business Insider – hpeterson@businessinsider.com (Hayley Peterson)