Dallas groups rally against Wal-Mart

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DALLAS — The national chain of public protests against Wal-Mart’s labor practices added another link Aug. 20 at the Kennedy Memorial in downtown Dallas. In 100-degree weather, a crowd of more than 100 people gathered to listen to representatives of unions and community groups in North Texas denounce the anti-worker merchandising giant.

Two locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers union organized the rally.

Leaders of the American Federation of Teachers and of the statewide Teamsters freight union were among the most prominent speakers, but many smaller unions from the AFL-CIO were well represented. The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) also had a strong presence.

The Dallas coalition against Wal-Mart has recently been strengthened by the addition of United Voices for Immigrants. President Margarita Alvarez addressed the group on behalf of Wal-Mart’s immigrant workers, who are among the lowest paid and who often work under the most difficult and unsafe conditions.

Participants signed the “Wake-up Wal-Mart: Back-to-School Pledge” to buy their school supplies somewhere else. Literature and the speakers accused the giant transnational corporation of unfair labor practices, discrimination against women and misuse of government benefits. The company was also hit for its financial contributions to sundry right-wing and anti-worker political causes.
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