Walmart-at-the-Crossroads-FINAL-06.04.15

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ILRF confirmed that the USDA had opened an investigation into the case to determine if the numbers had been manipulated by either Narong, Walmart, or some third party. Findings of the investigation were not public at the time that this report was written. The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) also responded to the media coverage, sending an auditing team to the facility shortly after the report was released. 396 GAA reported that it found no compliance issues in the follow-up audit. Importantly, Walmart never released the findings of the original audit that raised concerns, and the GAA did not address any of its auditing procedures called into question during the investigation. Cases of modern-day slavery and forced labor are not isolated to Asia. In the U.S., immigrant guest workers with H2-B visas at C.J.’s Seafood in Louisiana went on strike to protest extreme and “These circumstances included being forced to work 16-24 hours in a row, being locked into the factory, being threatened with beatings unless work was completed faster, and being threatened with injury to their families in Mexico if they complained to any government agencies.” unlawful working conditions in June 2012. These circumstances included being forced to work 16-24 hours in a row, being locked into the factory, being threatened with beatings unless work was completed faster, and being threatened with injury to their families in Mexico if they complained to any government agencies. 397 The average wage at this factory was also found to be 42 percent less than legally required. 398 The U.S. Department of Labor fined C.J.’s Seafood $34,000 and determined the company owed $76,608 in back pay to 73 workers for underpayment of wages and was liable for an additional $70,014 in liquidated damages, $32,120 in civil damages for overtime violations, and $35,000 for willful H-2B violations. 399 After this situation came to light, Walmart suspended C.J.’s Seafood as a supplier. Walmart claims that it is concerned about these extensive problems in the seafood supply chain and says it has an independent audit process to hold suppliers accountable to its code of conduct. 400 The exploitation of workers that continues in Walmart’s seafood supply chain, however, underscores that this system has failed. Walmart should increase supply chain transparency and establish third-party monitoring that includes workers and their organizations as a means of improving the labor conditions in its seafood supply chain. Page !77
B. Environment Besides troubling labor conditions, Walmart’s seafood supply chain also includes environmental problems. Walmart is the largest importer of farm-raised shrimp in the U.S. 401 Although Walmart argues that since June 2012, it has only carried seafood certified sustainable, continuing to sell farm-raised shrimp and seafood raises many environmental concerns. One negative aspect of farmed seafood is that fish, chemicals, and fish waste from seafood farms can be flushed into the open ocean, which potentially introduces non-native fish and harmful substances into the ecosystem. Seafood farms can also lead to the destruction of natural ecosystems, such as mangroves, when these ecosystems are removed to make room for aquaculture. Furthermore, fish and shellfish raised on farms are fed fishmeal made from “lesser fish,” which can deplete the stock of this food for many other species in the oceanic food chain. 402 In terms of environmental health, fish from factory farms can also contain higher levels of contaminants than wild fish, which can in turn cause cancer. 403 Walmart’s strong willingness to buy farmed seafood has contributed to the presence and growth of harmful aquaculture worldwide. The company should decrease its purchases of farm-raised shrimp and other seafood in an effort to protect ecosystems around the world. Seafood is one of the fastest growing sources of protein in the world. One of the consequences of this growth, however, has been multiple labor and environmental violations. There have been many cases throughout the world where workers in the seafood industry have been living and working in slave-like conditions. Much of the farmed seafood industry that has proliferated threatens to damage ecosystems and overall environmental health. Although Walmart has made some effort to create a sustainable seafood supply chain, exploitation of workers and environmental concerns in this supply chain have still persisted. Walmart must hold its seafood suppliers accountable to a strong labor and environmental code of conduct by implementing third-party monitoring that includes workers and by enforcing increased transparency. “Fish from factory farms can also contain higher levels of contaminants than wild fish, which can in turn cause cancer.” Page !78
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Walmart at the Crossroads The Envir
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Table of Contents I. Introduction:
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B. Supplier 2: Pilgrim’s Pride/JB
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supply chain practices have been re
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Labor II. Walmart’s Labor and Env
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• Handle, store and transport haz
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III. Overview of Walmart’s Record
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pay their workers unfair wages and
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energy consumption derived from ren
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V. Industry Reports Along with the
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A. Supplier 1: Monterey Mushrooms,
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C. Supplier 2: Giorgio Foods, Inc.
Page 25 and 26:
2. Blueberry Industry Blueberries a
Page 27 and 28:
Table 2: Naturipe Facilities in the
Page 29 and 30:
B. Profile: Wage Theft in the Blueb
Page 31 and 32: known for its devastating environme
Page 33 and 34: prominent supplier to Walmart, yet
Page 35 and 36: A. Supplier 1: Chiquita The United
Page 37 and 38: B. Supplier 2: Del Monte In additio
Page 39 and 40: iii. Environment In addition to hav
Page 41 and 42: 5. Packaged Salad Industry Packaged
Page 43 and 44: days even though he attributed this
Page 45 and 46: parts of their wages go to the empl
Page 47 and 48: Fred Penny is first vice chairman o
Page 49 and 50: product cost from wages if a distri
Page 51 and 52: A. Supplier 1: Cal-Maine Foods Cal-
Page 53 and 54: to roughly 10,000 cages in each bar
Page 55 and 56: no authority under the federal wate
Page 57 and 58: 8. Dairy Industry The dairy industr
Page 59 and 60: In 2010, the Obama administration d
Page 61 and 62: Nestlé’s issues with labor do no
Page 63 and 64: Walmart, including its subsidiaries
Page 65 and 66: United States. In fact, Joel was on
Page 67 and 68: cooperative joined the fluid milk b
Page 69 and 70: Another significant problem in the
Page 71 and 72: sectors. Common violations at poult
Page 73 and 74: during incidents at facilities in K
Page 75 and 76: the company in any of these cases.
Page 77 and 78: in getting the “Humanely Raised
Page 79 and 80: labor rights are violated. The adde
Page 81: chain. “Walmart has still failed
Page 85 and 86: dollars in yearly revenue, 407 Schn
Page 87 and 88: i. Labor In December 2012, UNFI was
Page 89 and 90: money to non-profits “committed t
Page 91 and 92: Former Walmart President and CEO Mi
Page 93 and 94: 4. Does the price they receive, aft
Page 95 and 96: VII. Conclusion and Recommendations
Page 97 and 98: fact, Walmart’s business model ha
Page 99 and 100: 4. Establish a 40-hour minimum for
Page 101 and 102: Endnotes and Citations 1 “Our Loc
Page 103 and 104: 46 Stacy Mitchell, “Walmart’s A
Page 105 and 106: 89 “Memoria Anual Hortifrut S.A.
Page 107 and 108: 135 “Fresh Del Monte Produce, Cor
Page 109 and 110: 182 “Flowers Foods Investor Fact
Page 111 and 112: 232 Ibid. 233 Ibid. 234 Ibid. 235
Page 113 and 114: 282 Ibid. 283 Dale Heberlig, “Off
Page 115 and 116: 332 “Tyson Fact Book,” Tyson Fo
Page 117 and 118: 377 “Seafood Statistics,”Statis
Page 119 and 120: 428 Ibid. 429 “United Natural Foo
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