Walmart Settles Class-Action Suit Alleging Anti-LGBTQ Bias
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: December 2, 2016
CONTACT: Jerame Davis, 202-637-5014, jdavis@prideatwork.org
WALMART SETTLES CLASS-ACTION SUIT ALLEGING ANTI-LGBTQ BIAS
Washington, DC — Making Change at Walmart (MCAW), the national campaign to change Walmart into a more responsible employer, along with Pride at Work and UFCW OUTreach, a constituency group dedicated to building mutual support between the UFCW’s International, regions, and locals and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and their allies, released the following statement today as the company announced a settlement in the Cote et al. v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. class-action lawsuit, which accused the company of discriminating against employees who were married to same-sex spouses by denying their spouses health insurance benefits.
“Actions speak louder than words, and until now, Walmart’s actions regarding LGBTQ workers’ and their spouses’ health benefits were discriminatory and hurtful. We are pleased to hear that Walmart has admitted wrongdoing in Cote et al. v. Walmart Stores, Inc., and that they have agreed to abide by anti-discrimination policies, and to make those who have been discriminated against whole. It is our hope that Walmart accepts how wrong they were so that not one more Walmart worker will have to experience such injustice and bigotry.
We congratulate Jacqueline for her bravery, and we hope she inspires other Walmart workers to come forward and speak up about intolerance. In addition, we hope that Walmart realizes that this is just a start, and that too many of its hard-working Walmart men and women face poverty-level wages, poor benefits and unfair workplaces. Now, more than ever, it is time for Walmart to wake up and change.”
For more information or for further comment, please contact Pride at Work Executive Director, Jerame Davis, at 202-637-5014 or jdavis@prideatwork.org
BACKGROUND
- “Walmart Settles Discrimination Suit Over Benefits for Same-Sex Spouses,” New York Times, 12/2/2016
- “Dear Walmart, Do the Right Thing — Give Married Workers Equal Benefits,” Advocate.com op-ed, 7/28/2015
- “Wal-Mart Sued, Accused of Bias Against Gay Workers,”Bloomberg.com, 7/14/2015
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Pride At Work organizes mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ Community for social and economic justice. We seek full equality for LGBTQ Workers in our workplaces and unions and we organize in the spirit of the union movement’s historic motto, “An Injury to One is An Injury to All.” Learn more at www.prideatwork.org
Making Change at Walmart (MCAW) is a campaign run by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) to change Walmart into a more responsible employer and to improve the lives of Walmart workers. Walmart is owned by one of the richest families in the country but its workers still struggle with poverty wages, erratic schedules, understaffed and under-stocked stores, and mistreatment from management. We believe Walmart can afford to do better and that change at Walmart would mean change for retail employees everywhere.
