Despite threats to their families, guestworkers in Louisiana went on strike in June 2012 to expose forced labor on the Walmart supply chain. In Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, Walmart supplier C.J.’s Seafood has subjected 40 Mexican guestworkers on H-2B visas to forced labor, stolen wages, unfair labor practices and discrimination—from which Walmart has profited.
Below are copies of official complaints filed on June 6, 2012, on behalf of the workers with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
- Department of Labor Complaint (PDF)
- EEOC Complaint (PDF)
Three federal investigations were opened, by DOL Wage & Hour, OSHA, and the EEOC.
In July 2012, the DOL cited C.J.’s Seafood for multiple serious violations of federal safety and health rules, and fined the company $21,550 (PDF).
In this June 14 Daily Beast story, a Walmart spokesperson tried to make the reporter believe the federal investigations were over, but failed:
Joshua Lamont, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Labor, said his agency is still investigating. ‘We can’t comment on an ongoing investigation,’ he said, ‘except to say there is an ongoing investigation.’
More on Breaking Chains at Walmart
- 2-page campaign backgrounder (PDF)
- Change.org petition to Walmart: Stop profiting from forced labor in Louisiana!
- Press coverage
- DOL and EEOC complaints as filed June 6, 2012
- DOL OSHA citations and penalties against C.J.’s, July 2012 (PDF)
Comments
Posted On
Jun 08, 2012Posted By
Tell Walmart: Promise Ana no Walmart supplier will harm her family! | National Guestworker Alliance[...] DOL and EEOC complaints as filed June 6 #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } [...]
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Jun 08, 2012Posted By
LA guestworkers expose forced labor on Walmart supply chain – 6/5/12 | National Guestworker Alliance[...] DOL and EEOC complaints as filed June 6 #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } [...]
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Jun 11, 2012Posted By
Guest Workers Claim They Were Forced To Work 24-Hour Shifts | Atomic Stock Picks[...] their letter, the eight workers at CJ’s Seafood in Breaux Bridge, La., said they came to the U.S. earlier [...]
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Jun 11, 2012Posted By
Guest Workers Claim They Were Forced To Work 24-Hour Shifts | The Penn Ave Post[...] them to work up to 24-hour shifts hand-picking crawfish and denying them overtime pay. In their letter, the eight workers at CJ’s Seafood in Breaux Bridge, La., [...]
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Jun 11, 2012Posted By
Guest Workers Claim They Were Forced To Work 24-Hour Shifts @ Mexico News[...] their letter, the eight workers at CJ’s Seafood in Breaux Bridge, La., said they came to the U.S. earlier [...]
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Jun 11, 2012Posted By
Guest Workers Claim They Were Forced To Work 24-Hour Shifts | WestPenn Journal[...] their letter, the eight workers at CJ’s Seafood in Breaux Bridge, La., said they came to the U.S. earlier [...]
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Jun 11, 2012Posted By
Guest Workers Claim They Were Forced To Work 24-Hour Shifts |[...] their letter, the eight workers at CJ’s Seafood in Breaux Bridge, La., said they came to the U.S. earlier [...]
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Jun 11, 2012Posted By
Guest Workers Claim They Were Forced To Work 24-Hour Shifts | Mex Report[...] their letter, a 8 workers during CJ’s Seafood in Breaux Bridge, La., pronounced they came to a U.S. [...]
Posted On
Jun 17, 2012Posted By
Walmart supply chain workers hit NYC to expose forced labor cover-up | National Guestworker Alliance[...] The workers went on strike from Walmart supplier C.J.’s Seafood on June 4, reporting to the federal Department of Labor (DOL) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that [...]
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Jun 19, 2012Posted By
Wingnut workers paradise in Louisiana. |[...] here in Louisiana. And now they’re trying to cover up what happened to us – while three federal investigations are going on — and they’re refusing to speak with [...]
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Jun 25, 2012Posted By
Walmart: Stop Profiting from Forced Labor in Louisiana : My VoiceTv[...] decided to go on strike. The boss refused to take back his threats against our families, so we filed complaints with the Department of Labor. And now we’re taking our demands to [...]