Teamsters say NO to Wal-Mart Discrimination

October 2003

Officers and members from Local 70, 78 and the Alameda County Central Labor Council joined with women’s groups in denouncing gender discrimination at Wal-Mart in San Leandro. The July 24 rally was held in conjunction with the filing of a federal lawsuit charging Wal-Mart with discrimination against women in pay and promotion.

Oakland Commission bars Wal-Mart

The Oakland Planning Commission voted unanimously September 17 to recommend passage of an ordinance which would effectively bar Wal - Mart Supercenters from the City of Oakland. The ordinance will go to the City Council for final action in October.

The ordinance bars retail stores over 100,000 square feet that devote more than 10% of their sales floor area to non-taxable grocery items. It does not cover membership stores, such as Costco, multi-vendor markets, big boxes without a substantial grocery component, or standard supermarkets.

The ordinance was introduced at the request of Teamsters Joint Council 7 and the United Food and Commercial Workers by City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente and City Council member Jane Brunner. Local 70 Business Rep. Dominic Chiovare represented the Joint Council.

"This will be the model for other ordinances which we and the UFCW are getting introduced throughout the state," said Joint Council 7 President Chuck Mack.

Similar legislation is pending in Fremont, Pleasanton, and other bay area communities, while Contra Costa County has already passed an ordinance covering its unincorporated areas. Both Gov. Gray Davis and Cruz Bustamante, the fall-back candidate for governor, have promised to sign a similar statewide ordinance barring Big Box grocery stores.