WalMart Accused of Denying Lunch Breaks

[proud2BlibKansan]

By DAVID KRAVETS, Associated Press Writer Mon Sep 19, 6:16 PM

OAKLAND, Calif. - Lawyers representing about 116,000 former and current Wal-Mart Stores Inc. employees in California told a jury Monday that the world's largest retailer systematically and illegally denied workers lunch breaks.

The suit in Alameda County Superior Court is among about 40 cases nationwide alleging workplace violations against Wal-Mart, and the first to go to trial. Wal-Mart, which earned $10 billion last year, settled a lawsuit in Colorado for $50 million that contains similar allegations to California's class action. The company also is accused of paying men more than women in a federal lawsuit pending in San Francisco federal court.

The workers in the class-action suit are owed more than $66 million plus interest, attorney Fred Furth told the 12 jurors and four alternates.

"I will prove the reason they did this was for the God Almighty dollar," Furth said in his opening statement.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050919/ap_on_re_us/wal_mart_lunch_breaks;_ylt=Aqp1UxoEviScDKfMdG1Y98UDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[Az]

1. Shocked.... I am shocked I tell you

That an upstanding corporation with ties to the community could do this.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I know what you mean

after all that money they gave to the hurricane relief fund I was assuming they were a benevolent organization.

:sarcasm:

[benburch]

3. ACCUSED? I can tell you for FACT that they do.

I know several workers that that complain of JUST that.

UNIONIZE WALMART

[brainshrub]

4. Amen.

I will not shop at Wal Mart until I see a union logo.

[benburch]

7. Preferably IWW.

Those guys know how to break heads.

[Why Syzygy]

8. Anyone who knows me

knows I do not do WalMart. One friend told me my 'boycott' could not possibly put a dent in their profits. Agreed. But I do have to live with myself. They cannot possibly survive being the slave labor behemoth. I have some faith.

[antmanbee]

5. denied Lunch Breaks

Never worked for Walmart but worked at the Elephant car wash here in Seattle. If I asked manager for lunch break he would look at me like I had just propositioned him. He would give in and let me take lunch but when I got back he would not put me back on the clock.
My brother lives in Arizona and suggested I leave Seattle and move to KINGMAN AZ.
He says..."hey ..you can work for WALMART"
and I say
"I would rather live in the missions and eat pizza crusts from discarded pizza box (been there done that) before I would work for outfit like WALMART. "
WALMART has some other suits pending but they are trying to do legal finagling which would require individuals to sue each individual Walmart separately rather than class action against Corporation.I am in Seattle...don't know where the nearest WALMART is....hope its far away.
GOT COSTCO. LIKE COSTCO.
COSTCO GOOD.....WALMART BAD.

[SeattleGirl]

6. Hey Fellow Seattleite!

Disgusting how some employers treat their employees! I know there is a WalMart in Renton (I'm in South Seattle), but I will not darken their doors. Been in there a few times, but then started hearing about how they treat their employees, especially their injured workers (a population I work with) and decided not to go there any more.

And I agree, COSTCO GOOD!!!!

:hi:

[brainshrub]

9. Yes, COSTCO good.

For a corporation, they aren't that bad.