Walmart Strike? Employee Urges Workers To Strike Amid Retailer’s Stance On Guns Sales

A mass email that has reportedly been sent to Walmart (WMT) employees is urging them to go on strike if the retailer does not stop selling guns at its stores. The email follows the deadly shootings at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart store over the weekend.

The Walmart corporate employee, identified as Thomas Marshall, sent the mass email to thousands of people within the company’s entire e-commerce team located in multiple offices across the U.S., Business Insider reported.

The email obtained by the news outlet reads, “In light of recent events, and in response to corporate’s inaction, we are organising a ‘sick out’ general strike to protest Walmart’s profit from the sale of guns.

“Walmart is a company that has always placed its associates and customers first, and we have recently made great strides toward fostering a safe, inclusive, and progressive community. Last year, Walmart raised the minimum age to buy a firearm or ammunition from 18 to 21 and removed products resembling assault-style rifles from its inventory. Walmart is still, however, the single largest retailer of firearms in the United States.

“We have made great strides already, but now we must organise to shape this company into a place we can all be proud of. As associates, we have the power, ability, and opportunity to change this company for the better.

Marshall urged his fellow employees to send the following message to their managers on Tuesday after the El Paso shooting, “Hello, I am calling in sick. I will not be returning to work until Walmart stops the sale of and profit from firearms. We have one demand, and that is all. I value Walmart and my fellow associates, but I am no longer willing to contribute my labour to a company that profits from the sale of deadly weapons.”

Walmart confirmed to Reuters that it would not discontinue the sale of guns at its stores in light of the El Paso shooting or last week’s Mississippi shooting that killed two Walmart employees.

There was no word how many employees called in sick due to Marshall’s email request.

Shares of Walmart stock were up 1.70 percent as of 2:24 p.m. ET on Tuesday.