On Sept. 22 several hundred workers, students and activists took to the streets of Logan Heights in San Diego to protest a proposed Walmart. Protesters rallied in Golden Hill Community Park and then marched to the Walmart construction site. During the “We Deserve Better” march the people chanted slogans like “Barrio, Si. Walmart, No!” The groups present at the rally and march included the ANSWER Coalition of San Diego, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, United Food and Commercial Workers, Ironworkers’ local 229, Warehouse Workers United and the Organization United for Respect at Walmart.
Walmart, the largest corporation in the world, is notorious for busting unions and has gone so far as to close down unionized stores. The Walmart is currently under construction in a neighborhood that does not have a lot of low cost food options which is how Walmart is winning the support of some in the community. However, Walmart will also bring jobs that do not pay well and guarantee no rights to future workers. Walmart will not even hire construction workers from the community. One of the biggest tragedies lies in the fact that this Walmart is being built on the spot of the historic Farmer’s Market building.
