WHAT: 2017 Expose Walmart Tour – Press Conference

WHEN: Tuesday, May 23rd 2017, 4:00 PM

WHERE: West Virginia State Capitol (front steps), 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East

WHO: Making Change at Walmart along with local unions, workers, taxpayers, community groups, and the following speakers:

Josh Sword – President of West Virginia AFL-CIO

Ginny Moles – President of Alliance for Retired Americans

WHY: Walmart’s excessive police calls in the city of Charleston is a major drain on the community’s taxpayer-funded resources and public safety needs. It is shame that the Charleston police and taxpaying community have to cover the security costs of a company that profited $13.6 billion last year.

According to an analysis of public records by the Making Change at Walmart campaign, the Walmart at 2700 Mountaineer Blvd in South Charleston generated 744 police service calls to 911 during 2016. The top reason was shoplifting or larceny. Calls on those two topics accounted for 31% off all 911 calls from that Walmart last year.

TOUR INFO: The 2017 Expose Walmart tour will expose the high cost of Walmart’s crime calls and the many real stories of Walmart’s low wages, poor benefits, and other harmful business practices along its 22 state, 30+ city tour. The tour kicked off May 15th in Phoenix, AZ and will end at Walmart’s annual shareholders meeting in Fayetteville, AR on June 2nd.

MEDIA: Press is invited to cover the conference, view the Expose Walmart TV ad that will be placed in media markets throughout the U.S., and interview speakers. Press can also collect images of the tour bus and other informational materials and graphics, including a Wall of Shame” that exposes the real wages current Walmart workers are making across the country.

For more information, contact Amy Ritter (202) 251-5907