Here are some suggestions in no particular order (others are welcome):
- Buy one share of Wal-Mart stock. Attend annual meeting. Refuse to cheer.
- Go in w/ pad and paper. Write down prices. Compare to other discounters. Publicize results.
- Go in w/ pad and paper. Write down country of origin from back label of clothing. Publicize results.
- Ask manager for charitable contribution to local good cause of your choice. Publicize result.
- Get one day pass so you can look around Sam's. Eat up all the free food samples.
- Tell people in line at information desk about Costco down the street.
- Ask for latest book by George Carlin, the second Sheryl Crow album or a copy of Maxim magazine.
- Wear anti-Bush t-shirt into store. Scare customers.
- Wear "Union Yes" button into store. Scare management.
- Talk to employees about the benefits of unionization (outside of store).
- Tip a greeter (You know they need it!).
- Return! Return! Return!
- Watch this show. Send link to anyone you know who shops there.
Seriously, looking around at some of the links posted on yesterday's
highly recommended Wal-Mart post, I found
this
from the UFCW, the union that is trying to organize the company:
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is not requesting any consumer boycott or an AFL-CIO sanctioned boycott of Wal-Mart . . . By boycotting stores, union members would be leaving Wal-Mart management free to continue to abuse and coerce workers in secret. The UFCW wants to open the doors and throw light on management's unfair employment practices, so Wal-Mart employees have an opportunity to see that union membership is the best way to make Wal-Mart a better place to work.
The UFCW suggests the following course of action:
Let employees know that, as union members and customers, they support Wal-Mart workers and will help them achieve union representation to gain a real voice on the job for fair treatment and better wages and benefits;
Let Wal-Mart management know, that as union members and customers, they do not appreciate the company's anti-union propaganda, pressure, and fear tactics to which employees are subjected; and,
Tell Wal-Mart management that they will monitor their actions and hold them accountable for depriving employees of their free choice.
If you want to avoid Wal-Mart because they're evil or because they sell cheap plastic crap or because they have absolutely no class, go right ahead. However, it seems ridiculous to call for others to boycott Wal-Mart when the union that's trying to organize the company hasn't done so.
JR