IUE-CWA members shine light on Walmart’s role in offshoring good jobs

Walmart’s supplier of LED light bulbs has announced plans to shift production to China, a move that will cost some 80 members of IUE-CWA Local 84704 in Bucyrus, Ohio, their jobs.

The GE-Savant plant has had a presence in the Ohio community for nearly a century, and union members aren’t going down without a fight.

They’ve enlisted the support of fellow IUE-CWA members, who are staging protests outside Walmart stores across the country, including in the Twin Cities.

The most recent day of action, Feb. 20, saw actions at 80 stores nationwide. Outside the West St. Paul Walmart, IUE-CWA Local 1140 President Howard Terry and district representative Richard Shorter showed their solidarity.

“We all stand together when American jobs are at stake,” Terry said. “It’s a blatant slap in the face to force jobs overseas just to save a buck or two, especially for Walmart, which claims to be a supporter of American manufacturing.”

Sign a petition in support of the Bucyrus workers online at bit.ly/WalmartKeepUSABulbs.