The big box giant, Walmart, is making headlines yet again and this time the spotlight on the supermarket is a negative one. A nationwide boycott of the retail giant is currently being organized for a full week during April and this endeavor is being headed by The People’s Union USA.
Since the beginning of this year, the retailer has been facing numerous controversies, from following in President Donald Trump’s footsteps by distancing itself from all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, to removing products of Latin or Mexican origin from its shelves in stores. The optics have not been great for Walmart for this quarter and it appears that things are not yet looking up.
The People’s Union USA launches another boycott against this major retailer
Since his reelection to office, President Trump’s initial executive decisions added fuel to an already blazing fire in terms of consumer activism and choice. Blackout boycotts have been organized against various major retailers since the beginning of the year for various reasons — the most common being the issue of DEI policies within these big corporations.
Now, The People’s Union USA is mobilizing to boycott against Walmart and it is not just about the company’s DEI practices (or lack thereof), but it is also aimed at highlighting the importance of shopping consciously. This boycott comes hot on the heels of similar movements geared against Amazon and Nestle.
In this regard, an X user made a post that read as follows, “I have been doing the Amazon economic boycott for a week, which ended today. I am stunned by how much I depended on Amazon … On to the next boycott: Nestle and Walmart.”
The People’s Union USA’s mission statement says, “We are not a political party. We are not a protest. We are a movement of people, organizing to take back control of our economy, government and future of our country.”
“Retail Stores, Online Platforms, Private Label Brands, Pharmacy & Health Services, Financial Services, Warehouse Clubs, Subscription Services and Grocery Delivery & Pickup,” have been selected as the target for this weeklong boycott in April.
The boycott is slated to begin on April 7, and will last for a full week, ending on April 14.
Unions and advocacy groups are encouraging consumers to use their money as a means of voting — closed wallets speak volumes in a capitalist society such as the one we live in. In February a 24-hour blackout was also organized by The People’s Union which resulted in a 5% decline in web traffic for Walmart. The overall results and opinions of this particular boycott was rather varied, however.
Whilst some of the rage fueling this boycott is related to DEI policy controversies, this April boycott is about more than just that. A post on The People’s Union website states, “This isn’t just about skipping a store. It’s about conscious spending and it’s about discipline.”
“No matter what side of the political fence you stand on, you should be able to agree on this corporate greed and political corruption are choking this country,” the post continues on.
Walmart’s perspective
The supermarket giant appears to be facing struggles in abundance. This boycott is coming along not too long after news that the retailer lost a whopping $22 billion in valuation and customer confidence has been steadily declining. The CEO even showed severe concerns for the retail sector at large if consumers continue to reel in their spending habits this way.
According to a statement shared with Newsweek, the big box giant stated that, “Serving communities is at the heart of Walmart’s purpose to help people save money and live better. As one of the largest corporate taxpayers in the country, not only do we pay our fair share, we are an economic force multiplier strengthening communities nationwide through job creation, supplier growth, and over $1.7 billion in cash and in-kind donations last year, equal to 8 percent of our profit before tax, supporting local charities and causes such as disaster response, hunger relief, workforce development, and conservation. We remain dedicated to earning the business of all Americans and giving our time and resources to causes that uplift and unite communities who rely on us every day.”