A coalition of labor activists is planning a protest next Saturday of a planned Walmart Neighborhood Market in Los Angele's Chinatown neighborhood.
The protest is being organized by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. Caroline O'Connor, a spokeswoman for the group, said the protest is not just about the Chinatown location, but about Walmart locations opening up around Los Angeles County.
"This is not just about Chinatown," O'Connor said. "This is really Walmart's new growth plan, to move into urban locations where they have been so far kept out, moving in with a small-scale model."
O'Connor said her group has heard the news this week that Walmart is also . She noted that there are several other locations where markets are opening and said her group believes Walmart plans to open at many locations in the county.
She said her group's main concerns are that Walmart pays its workers less than other retail stores, forcing down wages at other locations. She noted that Ralph's, Von's and Albertson's, three of Southern Califonia's major grocery stores, have unionized employees.
The coalition's goal is to delay or keep Walmart from opening locations in the county, or to force them to adopt better labor practices, according to O'Connor.
A Walmart spokesperson did not return calls seeking comment for this story.
According to the group's press release, the protest will be attended by Rep. Judy Chu, D-El Monte, who is running in the new congressional district that includes Altadena.
The group hopes to bring out 10,000 people. More information about the rally can be found here.
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