News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinecabal-elitecorporatewalmart — Viewing Item


Walmart locked janitors in stores

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/7858391.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/7858391.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

Posted on Mon, Feb. 02, 2004

Suit alleges Wal-Mart locked janitors into stores

STEVE STRUNSKY
Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. - A civil rights suit filed against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. by Mexican immigrants has been expanded to include plaintiffs from Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and to accuse Wal-Mart of locking its janitors inside stores during their shifts.

A lawyer for Wal-Mart denied the allegations.

Monday's amendment to a suit filed Nov. 10 in U.S. District Court in Newark comes as a federal grand jury in Pennsylvania weighs evidence to determine whether America's biggest retailer will face criminal charges in the use of illegal immigrants to clean its stores.

On Oct. 23, INS agents raided Wal-Mart stores across the country in a sweep that resulted in the arrest of hundreds of janitors on immigration charges.

Among those arrested then were the 17 named plaintiffs in the civil suit, including 11 Mexican immigrants who were working in stores in New Jersey and Texas and made up the original plaintiffs, plus the six Eastern Europeans amended to the list of plaintiffs.

All but one of the janitors named in the suit have been released from INS custody pending deportation hearings, and remain in the United States, including nine in New Jersey, two in Texas, one in Alabama, two in Florida and two in Virginia, said Gilberto Garcia, their immigration lawyer. Garcia said one janitor voluntarily returned to his native Czech Republic.

Another lawyer for the plaintiffs, James Lindsay, said more than 100 people have signed onto the suit, though most are not named. In addition, Lindsay said, the suit seeks class-action status through which Wal-Mart could be liable for damages to "thousands" of other janitors allegedly treated the same way.

The suit alleges that employees were locked in stores with warnings from managers not to use emergency fire exits for anything but a fire, or they'd be fired. Lindsay said he and other lawyers decided to re-interview their clients then amend the suit after reading a report in The New York Times last month that contained a separate allegation that janitors were being locked in.

The original suit claimed some workers were forced to work seven-day, 70-hour weeks, for $1,500 a month.

The suit is being brought under the federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, typically invoked by federal prosecutors to fight organized crime. It charges that Wal-Mart tried to shield itself from liability under labor or immigration laws by using independent contractors to employ the immigrants.

David Murray, a lawyer for Wal-Mart, said the allegations were "absolutely incorrect."

Murray said that concern for workers' rights was the reason the chain eliminated the use of cleaning contractors in 80 percent of its stores. Wal-Mart has 3,500 stores nationwide with 1.2 million employees.

Murray acknowledged that doors were kept locked, but insisted that a manager with a key was always present.

"This was simply an effort to keep the employees safe and keep the merchandize secure," Murray said. "Obviously, the company is troubled by allegations that any outside contractors were treating their workers unfairly. But none of the workers were mistreated by any Wal-Mart associates."




Activist takes million from walmart for mlk memorial { March 24 2006 }
Americans say walmart is bad for america
Canadian store near union contract will be closed by walmart
Class action sex discrimination lawsuit against walmart
Council sellsout black chicago community to walmart { April 21 2004 }
Ehrlich urged to return walmart money { May 4 2005 }
Empire of bargains remakes working world { November 23 2003 }
Executives knew walmart employees were illegals { November 8 2005 }
Foes dig in as walmart aims for new york city { February 10 2005 }
Germanys walmart goes for world conquest { April 26 2004 }
Gocery store windixie dies out to wal mart
Grocers treat employees like walmart employees
Grocery unions battle to stop invasion of giant stores { November 25 2003 }
Hacktivists piss off walmart
Heir john walton dies in plane crash
How costco became the anti walmart
India protests western style stores like walmart
La voters suburb reject wal mart supercenter
Legislature proposes special tax on walmart
Lobbyists hired by walmart to topped benefits bill { November 18 2005 }
Los angeles council hampers walmart plans
Los angeles fights walmart to protect jobs { April 2 2004 }
Los angeles voters send wal mart packing { April 7 2004 }
Maryland forces healthcare for walmart employees
Mexicans protest walmart near ruins
New pyramid mexican walmart threatens ancient treasures { November 5 2004 }
No walmart in chicago [jpg]
Pelosi says wal mart arrests terrorizing
Protesters bash wal mart attempts in two cities { May 2 2004 }
Scouring the globe to give shoppers 8d polo shirt { November 24 2003 }
Stymied by politicians walmart turns to losangeles voters { April 5 2004 }
Teens charged with bombing walmart in maine
Two walmart stores in quebec receive bomb threat { February 11 2005 }
Virginia town joins against walmart
Wal mart economic disease
Wal mart facing rising resistance { May 4 2004 }
Wal mart interested in acquisitions in brazil { August 25 2004 }
Wal mart invates mexico and mexico gladly surrenders { December 6 2003 }
Wal mart raids 300 illegal workers
Wal mart screws labor force { November 6 2003 }
Wal mart threat fuelds new urban politics { May 20 2004 }
Wal mart violated labor laws { January 13 2004 }
Wal marts benefits come under fire
Walmart bank threatens financial system says lawmakers
Walmart bank { January 7 2003 }
Walmart buys brazil supermarket chain
Walmart CEO goes offensive on critics
Walmart china inventory hits 18b this year
Walmart costs state taxpayers for workers { August 3 2004 }
Walmart customers overcharge problems { April 3 2004 }
Walmart cuts prices ahead of holidays to boost sales { November 21 2006 }
Walmart dependent on welfare for employees { November 7 2003 }
Walmart economy was keeping down inflation
Walmart forces jobs overseas
Walmart ge morgan banking system { May 23 2003 }
Walmart gets bigger
Walmart in offensive to boost image { September 8 2004 }
Walmart in queens scrapped due to protest
Walmart involved in congressional black caucus fundraiser { May 15 2005 }
Walmart locked janitors in stores
Walmart nation race to the bottom { February 18 2004 }
Walmart on fire [jpg]
Walmart operates intelligence spying network
Walmart pays ceo more and employees less than costco
Walmart recommends king for planet of the apes
Walmart reopens after arson fires { December 24 2004 }
Walmart threatens to double china outlets by 2006
Walmart to begin phased rfid tag
Walmart to use more partimers cheaper labor
Walmart uses extreme tactics to stop unions { May 2 2007 }
Walmart violates clean water act { May 12 2004 }
Walmart violates labor laws to stop unions { May 1 2007 }
Walmart wins warnings on future investigations { February 12 2005 }
Walmart
Walmarts wants stores throughout europe { May 24 2004 }
Winndixie cuts 326 to compete with walmart
Workers from indonesia nicaragua etc sue walmart
Zoning rules block kansas walmart supercenter

Files Listed: 78



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple