GROUP PROTESTS AT WAL-MART; DEMONSTRATORS WANT CHAIN'S SUPPLIERS REVEALED.Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer Shouting slogans and passing out Christmas lumps of coal, about 100 people held a demonstration at the Panorama City Wal-Mart Thursday, urging store officials to reveal locations, wages and working conditions of factories that produce its goods. ``Wal-Mart is one of the biggest offenders in using sweatshop sweatshop: see sweating system. factories to produce its products,'' alleged Jim Clarke, the executive director of the Southern Californian Americans for Democratic Action Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) is an American political organization advocating liberal policies. The group was established by prominent Democratic Party leaders in 1947 in order to combat what those leaders perceived to be an acceptance of, or even an alliance with, , which organized the vigil. State Assemblyman Scott Wildman Scott Wildman was a California State Assemblyman from 1996 until 2000. That year, he lost a State Senate primary to Dr. Jack Scott, an Assemblyman from a neighboring district. Wildman received 46.7% of the vote. , D-Glendale, was one of the speakers at the demonstration. ``We demand that the government protect workers rights around the world,'' he shouted through a microphone. ``We value people over profits.'' Wal-Mart spokeswoman Alex Clarke said the Bentonville, Ark., company is diligent and has canceled contracts in the last year with more than 100 manufacturers who have not followed its policies. ``Wal-Mart and our suppliers have been working together since 1992 to improve factory conditions around the world through education and training,'' she said. ``Our suppliers work directly with factories to produce merchandise for Wal-Mart. We require our suppliers to ensure every factory conforms to local workplace laws and that there is no illegal child or forced labor.'' The vigil Thursday night was L.A.'s contribution to a three-year campaign for corporate disclosures by the National Labor Committee and the People of Faith Network. The group chose Wal-Mart this time because they believe that forced labor, dangerous working conditions and humiliating hu·mil·i·ate tr.v. hu·mil·i·at·ed, hu·mil·i·at·ing, hu·mil·i·ates To lower the pride, dignity, or self-respect of. See Synonyms at degrade. body searches, among other abuses, take place in Wal-Mart's overseas factories. ``I think that if more Americans knew, they would not want to purchase products that were made under sweatshop conditions with child labor child labor, use of the young as workers in factories, farms, and mines. Child labor was first recognized as a social problem with the introduction of the factory system in late 18th-century Great Britain. , sexual harassment sexual harassment, in law, verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature, aimed at a particular person or group of people, especially in the workplace or in academic or other institutional settings, that is actionable, as in tort or under equal-opportunity statutes. of employees, and employees being paid at 9 cents an hour to produce a product that may sell for $20-$30,'' Clarke said. Wal-Mart is one of the largest retailers in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , with 2,485 stores nationwide and 996 stores overseas. The company made $1.3 billion through Nov. 9, 1999. And it sold $40.4 billion in merchandise through November 9, 1999. |
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