FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Davie, Fla., May 04, 2013

In the wake of the Rana Plaza collapse in Savar, Bangladesh, over 400 garment workers are dead; more than 1000 are injured; 140 plus are missing.  Workers, outraged, are in the streets by the thousands. The Rapid Response Network (RRN) calls on South Florida consumers, workers, and organizers to stand with Bangladeshi workers, and to demand that retailers, like Walmart, stop making profits off the blood of exploited workers.  A demonstration will take place, Saturday, May 04, 2013 at 11:00AM at Walmart Super Center, Davie – 4301 S University Dr, Davie, Florida 33329. The RRN, alongside Bangladeshi workers, demands a living wage, safe working conditions, and the right to organize for all workers.

Wages in Bangladesh are the lowest in the world. Those who organize for basic rights – a living wage, a safe place to work – are beaten, fired, and even killed. Walmart enforces these foul conditions with their demands for the lowest cost and most fast paced production. Bangladesh ships about $15.6 billion of ready-made garments each year – about 80 percent of its total exports. ¹

In November 2012, 112 garment workers were killed in the Tazreen factory fire in Dahka.  Locked safety exits, barred windows and managers who demanded they get back to work trapped workers inside.  Prior to the Tazreen tragedy, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. shareholders rejected a proposal to require suppliers to report annually on safety issues at their factories, as it “could ultimately lead to higher costs for shareholders and customers and would place Walmart at a competitive disadvantage.” ¹

Garment worker Mongidul Islam Rana told Associated Press: “We want regular salaries, raises and absolutely we want better safety in our factories.”

Walmart makes $15.4 billion annual profit.  In the last 6 months, at least 489 Bangladeshi workers died making clothing for them and other retail brands.  In the U.S. Walmart store employees and warehouse workers suffer low wages, long hours, no benefits, and no union organization.  Walmart cites consumer demand for cheap products as part of the reason for maintaining exploitative and dangerous working conditions around the globe.

Just three days following May Day – International Workers’ Day – the Rapid Response Network rallies on Saturday, May 4^th to connect workers’ struggles internationally, to connect workers with consumers in one unified demand of Walmart: a living wage, safe working conditions, and the right to organize for all workers everywhere.  No more profits off the backs and blood of workers.


¹ Reuters:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/27/us-bangladesh-building-retailers-idUSBRE93Q04H20130427