Walmart workers fight for a better way at annual shareholders meeting

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Bentonville, Arkansas – June 8, 2015 – Activists, protesters and social justice allies joined Walmart workers and international labour representatives to rally against Walmart at the retailer's annual shareholders celebration in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Workers called on Walmart CEO Doug McMilion and the Walton family to end the retaliation against individuals employed at Walmart speaking out for changes, as well as to publicly commit to pay employees a living wage and access to full-time hours.

This latest rally comes on the heels of a series of demonstrations held recently in major U.S. cities,  including Los Angeles, where two dozen Walmart workers endured a 24-hour fast to highlight the hunger many Walmart workers and their families go through due to the company's low wages and insufficient hours.

Earlier this year, Walmart announced it would raise wages for 500,000 of its U.S. employees – increases that Canadian Walmart workers will not receive. The company also made headlines last month when it abruptly closed five stores of its U.S. stores and laid off more than 2,000 workers, citing "plumbing issues".

Workers at the corporate giant called for change and accountability at the annual shareholder's meeting and worker shareholders presented two resolutions intended to focus on executive compensation and better sustainable investment such as fair wages and benefits for workers.