|
United States: Public outrage forces Wal-Mart to allow workers wear American flag stickers Employees at the Sam's Club in Las Vegas Nevada are claiming victory today after Wal-Mart reversed a store policy banning American flag stickers on name badges. The company had ordered employees to remove the stickers which were provided to the workers by the United Food & Commercial Workers Union. A massive e-mail campaign was launched on September 17 after Sam's Club store managers began forcing all of its employees to remove small American flag stickers that were passed out by to whomever wanted one. "I was outraged to learn that Wal-Mart employees working at store 6382 were forced to remove flags from their name badges!" said one email letter to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott from Andrea Goldberger in Albany, NY "Although your company markets itself as good for America, I wonder where your allegiance truly lies." The email campaign resulted in massive amounts of emails being sent to both H. Lee Scott CEO of Wal-Mart and the store manager Greg Roberts from customers nationwide. Some of the letters are displayed on the workers website located at www.walmartworkerslv.com The incident affected not only the workers but also military veterans and active duty personnel. "Please support me in my hour of need by letting me come home to a country that is proud of me," said James M. P. Hansen, a U.S. Navy Petty Officer serving overseas in his email to the Wal-Mart CEO "Just please sir, let me come home to a proud country." Jay Allen, Senior Vice President of Wal-Mart corporate affairs issued a statement today stating "In light of the terrible tragedy that recently struck our country, we have communicated to our associates that as long as their names are visible; they may wear American Flags anywhere, including their badges, to display their patriotism." Wal-Mart has not issued any apology in written or verbal form to any of the employees of the store affected, and no managers at the location have been disciplined. This is the third victory for the employees at the Sam's Club. Previously they forced the company to reverse a policy that made them unable to wear any pins besides company provided ones. Workers in the store recently filed for a Government election for union representation. |
