FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 17, 2019
CONTACT: Taylor Campbell, 202-854-9571, [email protected]
ASSOCIATE REACTS TO NEWS OF SEX DISCRIMINATION AT WALMART
NATIONWIDE — Today, following the news that the EEOC found Walmart likely discriminated against 178 female Associates by denying them promotions or paying them less based on their gender, Walmart associate of 19 years and United for Respect member Cyndi Murray issued the following statement:
“I’ve worked at Walmart for nearly two decades. It’s time for the largest corporate employer of women in the U.S. to make women Associates whole by finally paying us a fair wage. Hourly associates and members of United for Respect have put forth shareholder resolutions twice calling on Walmart to disclose if women or people of color are paid less than white men at Walmart. Both times, Walmart refused. Why? Because they don’t want you to know if women have been telling the truth! Walmart should commit to equal pay and a living wage.”
While competitors like Amazon, Costco and Target have publicly committed to raise wages to as much as $15/hour, Walmart’s base pay is still only $11/hour. Nearly 100 women in the U.S. Southern District of Florida sued Walmart in February for gender-pay discrimination, in a long series of gender discrimination cases against the corporation. Walmart shareholders are concerned about the potential risk of discrimination and harassment at the company and the impact on long-term interests for investors and Associates. Influential shareholder advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services even urged Walmart investors to support a major proposal on the corporation’s 2019 proxy statement to strengthen Walmart’s sexual harassment policies. Unsurprisingly, Walmart opposed the proposal.
If you’re covering Walmart and would like to speak to Cyndi Murray or another woman who has experienced gender discrimination, please contact Taylor Campbell at (202) 854-9571 or [email protected].