Updated 8 October 2014
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Associated Press 10-7-2014
Triangle
Shirtwaist inferno redux a century down the road:
Bangladesh
killer inferno was Wal-Mart sweatshop
Harold
Meyerson / Washington Post / November 28, 2012
3-25-1911: New York Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146, including 132 girls
Hope
you enjoyed a happy Thanksgibleting.
Now dust off your picket signs and go to work!
TWO RENO WAL-MART BLACK FRIDAY DEMONSTRATIONS
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| Gary and Linda Williams opposing the northwest Reno Wal-Mart before the Reno City Council in 2000. |
Wal-Mart
files charges against UFCW, Black Friday strike still on
Reuters / 11-16-2012
The
Twinkie Defense
Call
to action
from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
UFCW
settles with Raley's. Contrary to Raley's PR, this was not their first
strike
Barbwire
by Barbano / Expanded from the 11-15-2012 Daily Sparks Tribune
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Wal-Mart campaign lets workers defend store Wal-Mart
Stores Inc., fighting attacks by politicians over what it pays
workers, said it will begin a "voter education" program
that supplies employees with information to counter criticism.
Wal-Mart said it sent Iowa employees 18,000 "fact check"
letters and plans to deliver 47,000 more to workers in South Carolina,
New Hampshire and Nevada, where early presidential primaries
and caucuses are likely to occur. Wal-Mart is starting the campaign
as a union-funded group called Wake-Up Wal-Mart conducts
a five-week bus tour hosting political candidates including Sen.
Joseph Lieberman and Senate candidate Ned Lamont
of Connecticut, who have criticized the company's labor policies. Eye
on Election, Democrats Run as Wal-Mart Foe |
|
Editor's
Note: Many of the news links on this site are from Nevada dailies.
In late 2006, the Reno Gannett-Journal began nuking much of
its archive. If you encounter any broken links, I encourage
you to contact them
and send me a
copy. On the one hand, they want to build their web traffic
in order to increase the price of ads. On the other hand, they
are killing that very traffic. Far be it from me to reconcile
the Dilbert-style motivations of an outfit for which a 38 percent
net profit is not enough. If you can explain it, please enlighten
me. (Before
you e-mail me anything complicated, please read this bulletin
— AB)
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Wal-Mart
stymied in Reno's North Valleys UPDATE
4-24-2006 — The Reno Northtowne
Wal-Mart has posted notices that read: "Attention WAL-MART
Guests Contrary to reports by the local media, the Northtowne
store WILL NOT BE CLOSING in January when the new store on Pyramid
Highway opens..." (Does that mean they'll close it in February
or March?) Wal-Mart
intends to build more Reno area stores on Indian land across
from the Reno Hilton on US 395 at E. 2nd. (Less
than two miles south of Northtowne.)
The
Wal-Mart Solution |
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|
Contractor
sues over Reno Wal-Mart
NORTHERN NEVADA BUSINESS WEEKLY (4-28-2004) — Wal-Mart's controversial superstore in northwest Reno opened in January and builders are still waiting to get paid for much of their work on it.
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After
six years of lies and denials, Wal-Mart finally announces Reno Northtowne
closure
From the New York Times of Jan. 13, 2004.
Here's the most chilling quote from the above : "Verette Richardson, a former Wal-Mart cashier in Kansas City, Mo., said it was sometimes so hard to get a break that some cashiers urinated on themselves. Bella Blaubergs, a diabetic who worked at a Wal-Mart in Washington State, said she sometimes nearly fainted from low blood sugar because managers often would not give breaks."
AARGH! The same Reno judge (Steve Kosach) who stuck northwest Reno with K-Mart overruled the city council and plunked a Wal-Mart SuperBox a mile away; citizens are livid.
Angry Renoites blast Judge Kosach's Wal-Mart decision
Judge promises rapid decision on northwest Reno Wal-Mart superstore
Wal-Mart contributes to Carson City fiscal woes
Man dies under custody of Las Vegas Wal-Mart guards
Public demand causes KNPB TV-5 to re-air "Store Wars — When Wal Mart Comes to Town"
Wal-Mart hit with largest sex discrimination class action suit in U.S. history
Wal-Mart makes S. Nevada Interfaith Council for Worker Justice employer book of shame
CAPITAL BIG BOX BRAWL -- CARSON CITY ACTIVISTS FILE INITIATIVE PETITION TO SAVE FUJI PARK, ASK FOR HELP
6-15-2001
Hello Mr. Barbano:
Yesterday, we, The Concerned Citizens for Fuji Park and Fairgrounds, filed an Initiative Petition with the Carson City Clerk's office. The wording of the Initiative Petition is, "The People of the City of Carson City, State of Nevada, do enact as follows: That Fuji Park and Carson City Fairgrounds (Carson City APN 9-303-2, 3, 5, & 7; Douglas County APN 13-210-01) be maintained and improved in not less than its present size as a park in perpetuity."
We have six months to collect signatures from only registered Carson City voters. Then it goes to the Supervisors who have 60 days to enact or reject the proposed ordinance with no change in language. If they fail to adopt it, then the ordinance goes to the voters in the next general election, which is Nov., 2002.
This petition can be signed any Tuesday, from 11am to 1 pm, in front of Carson City Hall where we protest. People are welcome to join our protest. We will have a booth (#191) at the Mills Park Pavilion at the city-wide garage sale June 23, where people can sign, buy "Save Fuji Park & Fairgrounds" shirts, bumper stickers, or give contributions.
We will have other signup stations; I will keep you posted. If you know of any groups that we can contact, to speak to and take their signatures, please let me know.
Thank you for your help.
(775) 882-7599
UPDATE — Fuji ballot demand petitions filed. Supervisors unsure what to do next.
WAL- MART IN RENO COURT AND ON NATIONWIDE TELEVISION EXPOSÉ
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WAL-MART WHINES (June 10, 2001) -- Tomorrow, the City of Reno is due to file a response to Wal-Mart's lawsuit. The world's largest retailer wants Judge Steve Kosach to overturn the Reno City Council's November, 2000, 5-2 denial of a superstore in northwest Reno. (Story below, links at right.)
A t 2:00 a.m. PDT this Tuesday, KNPB TV-5 will air "Store Wars -- When Wal-Mart Comes to Town," a real-life late night horror movie.
Set your VCR's and call (775) 784-4555 to lobby the station to re-air it at a more opportune time for northern Nevada and eastern California viewers. Ask for Pat Miller or Barbara Harmon.
The program will be cablecast on Cox Cable 10 in Las Vegas at 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. PDT, also on this coming Tuesday, June 12. KLVX TV-10 does not broadcast over the air from midnight until 6:00 a.m. but the national PBS network feed is picked up by Cox Cable in the wee hours.
To request rebroadcast at KLVX in LV, contact Lee Winston at (702) 799-1010.
WAL-MART EXPANDING THROUGHOUT NEVADA
TO: Anyone opposed to the export of U.S. jobs to the likes of Communist China
The following describes a chronic local problem and an increasingly familiar international one — another lament on the legendary depredations of Wal-Mart.
America is now about halfway into what may be termed
a home economics version of drug addiction.
The great majority of households still earn below
what families did in 1973, the all-time benchmark year of the first Arab
Oil Embargo. (Energy crisis? What
else is new?)
|
Wal-Mart
expanding in Nor. Nevada region |
Follow the bouncing ball:
American workers need lower-priced goods and services
because we're working for less moneybecause big business
(with the fullest possible cooperation from all levels of government)
has been exporting our best jobs
to third- and fourth-world countries
which now make increasing volumes of cheap goods
to sell back to American workers
who pay for same with constantly diminishing paychecks.
Aaargh.
If you and your family feel increasingly tired and frustrated from working more and more hours (and paying higher taxes on your earnings), you're not alone.
If you are subject to an occasional vague, dull, growing anger because you can't seem to get ahead, you've got good reason. You're being sold out by those who are selling to you — in that sense, there's no difference between pro-WTO/NAFTA/GATT politicians and Wal-Mart itself. Everybody's rolling back prices on the wages of American workers.
Here's one chance to FIGHT BACK while the major-party apostles of job export wrangle over who gets to manage the next four years' worth.
THE BATTLE AGAINST WAL-MART IN NORTHWEST RENO
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY —The Reno City Council will finally decide whether or not northwest Reno gets stuck with a Wal-Mart big box superstore. Show up at Reno City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. PST. If you can't make it, tune in Sierra Nevada Community Access Television for live play-by-play and later rebroadcasts.
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CALL, WRITE, TELL A FRIEND. If you have time, please call or write the Reno City Council and tell them to turn thumbs down on Wally World. They already have ample evidence on the record which will stand up in court. Just the increased traffic alone is grounds to kill this alien like Sigourney Weaver in a bad mood.
CLICK HERE to access hot links to Reno City Hall e-mail addresses and phone/fax numbers.
DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THIS MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATE BEHEMOTH. Wal-Mart has been stuffing bags with solicitations and pushing employees to show up and sing their corporate praises. The links above tell a quite different story.
DON'T UNDERESTIMATE YOUR OWN POWER. Please attend and make your feelings known. There will be a winner and there won't be any recounts.
Be well. Raise hell.
Northwest Reno advocate Mike Tracy gets the Reno City Council to back down and allow public input at final hearing on northwest Reno Wal-Mart bigbox superstore
RENO (Nov. 27, 2000) — Northwest Reno activist Mike Tracy today criticized Reno City Attorney Patricia Lynch's advice to the Reno city council that public input regarding Wal-Mart may be disregarded at Tuesday's council meeting.
"At Monday's council caucus meeting, Lynch advised four city council members and the citizens present that public testimony may not be considered legal as part of the body's decision making on the proposed northwest Reno Wal-Mart superstore," Tracy said.
"Lynch noted that the public may comment on any item on the agenda, but added that the Wal-Mart issue represents continuation of a hearing which was closed. Because of that, Lynch said, while public comment might be presented Tuesday, it may not be considered as part of the council's decision-making process for approval or denial. According to Lynch, proper notice of a hearing was not given," Tracy stated.
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MIKE TRACY ADDRESSES THE RENO CITY COUNCIL AND A STANDING-ROOM-ONLY CROWD. |
"Citizens have been allowed to provide comments for consideration by the council at the two previous continuations for this project," Tracy said. "We should be allowed to add relevant comments regarding the ever-changing conditions of this proposal. This is the third continuation of the matter and never before has the city attorney weighed in with such remarks," Tracy said.
"We cannot rightfully be shut out of the process. Our concerns should be addressed by our elected representatives, and we must be given equal time to comment on new items or new informationpresented by the applicant and city staff.
"Otherwise, the only fair thing is not to consider new information at all," Tracy said. "For example, the design of the proposed traffic roundabout at Sierra Highlands Ave. and W. Seventh Street, and therefore its effect, has not yet been part of any public discourse. The neighborhood does not know what to expect since city staff has not defined it. This lack of forthcoming with even basic details leaves us wondering who the staff works for — the taxpayers or the developers. City staff has spent a lot of time working for the developer. Who is helping the residents of the northwest?" Tracy asked.
With members of the Northwest Reno Advisory Board, Tracy has been working against the Wal-Mart project since last March. Tracy ran for the northwest Reno (Ward 5) city council seat earlier this year. He carried northwest Reno against Ward 5 incumbent Dave Aiazzi on November 7, but Aiazzi was narrowly re-elected by winning in other areas of town in the at-large voting.
UPDATE -- Reno Gazette-Journal: City Hall caves to Tracy demand, will allow public inputs
GUEST EDITORIAL FROM NORTHWEST RENO RESIDENT VICTORIA FORD
Reno Gazette-Journal, Monday, Nov. 27, 2000
Copyright © Victoria FordCity ignores issues on proposed Wal-Mart
On November 9th, Northwest Reno residents lobbied the Citizens Traffic Advisory Committee (CTAC) to prevent a Wal-Mart 24-hour superstore from bringing traffic problems that will ruin our quality of life. The project, planned for the lot between Seventh Street and Mae Anne on North McCarran, now has 40 conditions to meet in order to attain special use permits. Although the majority of residents in our area oppose this project, issues we raised were ignored except for one — traffic calming on Sierra Highlands Drive.
VICTORIA FORD ADDRESSES THE RENO CITY COUNCIL BEFORE A PACKED HOUSE.
The following were not resolved:
1. North McCarran between I-80 and Mae Anne is already a traffic trap. However, it is NOT on a list to be widened until MAYBE three to five years from now. Even then there are no guarantees it will become a priority or that money will be available.
2. In city council meetings and this CTAC meeting, engineering "models" — mere formulas — were given more credence than citizen input. Models are just guesses, while our concerns for the safety of children, travelers, and pedestrians were dismissed in talk of re-striping additional turn lanes and predicting where the models say people will "want" to travel. Typical solutions discussed included one that moved the traffic problems to Seventh Street instead of Mae Anne and McCarran. Right now, the Reno Police Department rates Seventh Street as the more hazardous intersection.
3. Wal-Mart's track record for building new superstores and then closing their other, nearby discount stores — such as the Northtowne Wal-Mart — was ignored because there is "no knowledge" of that plan. No one even asked "Wal-Mart, what is your POLICY? What is your long-range plan for Reno."
You can bet they have one!
What we heard was, "It would be hard to predict" how much traffic would come from Northtowne Wal-Mart if it is closed.
4. In spite of flaws in the traffic studies, CTAC members were assured that, in some cases, the traffic would be "better than it is now." How many times has that ever happened in Reno? For example, the Northtowne Wal-Mart traffic was UNDERESTIMATED by 30 percent. Yet, when we say traffic counts for this project are also underestimated, that is one more issue ignored.
5. Fear of being sued, as in the N. McCarran Super K-mart case, appears to take precedence over common sense reasoning that this project DOES NOT FIT into an existing residential neighborhood. Residents have expressed over and over what we want — a good restaurant and high-quality shops, just like our neighbors in the southwest. And that's just the short list. Seems no one is listening.
Neighbors in the Northwest, we are fighting for our quality of life! We can still do two things. Write letters and call all your city council representatives. Give them solid reasons for denying these special use permits.
Don't let them say we didn't care when the real story is they aren't listening and they aren't addressing the issues we raise. Come to the Reno City Council meeting on November 28th. Speak out!
READ MORE ABOUT IT: To order Al Norman's book "Slam Dunking Wal-Mart," call or write Raphel Marketing, 12 S. Virginia Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401; (609) 348-6646, Fax (609) 347-2455; e-mail info@raphel.com
To read the sad story of how the American middle class has been sold down some third-world river by your friendly Democrat and Republican public officials, get two-time Pulitzer Prize winners Donald Barlett & James Steele's America series from a bookstore or library. ("America: What Went Wrong?", Andrews & McMeel, 1992; "America: Who Really Pays the Taxes?", Touchstone Books/Simon & Schuster,1994; "America: Who Stole the Dream?", Andrews & McMeel, 1996)
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