(Zero Hedge)—A class action lawsuit was filed Thursday against Walmart for firing Black workers with criminal records. The suit follows years of accusations by progressive organizations claiming that Walmart has “shown a pattern of firing qualified Black workers” because of past involvement with the legal system – a practice they say perpetuates “racial and economic inequality”.
Former workers, attorneys and advocates gathered in Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago to announce the suit and argue their rationale:
“Having a record does not define you or your character,” said Marcos Ceniceros, with Warehouse Workers for Justice. “It should not determine your worth, and it certainly shouldn’t be used as an excuse to fire Black workers trying to build a better life.”
The argument assumes, of course, that Walmart has limited its firings to only black workers with criminal records. Plaintiffs would have to show evidence that the company does not fire white workers with similar records, or that they have a blanket ban on those with criminal histories (federal law does not allow for blanket bans on hiring convicted criminals).
The criminal background issue also comes down to supply and demand – In a tightening labor market companies are less likely to overlook an employee with a record because they have plenty of applicants with clean histories. In a choice between a criminal and non-criminal, it’s obvious who most employers would hire. Ultimately, corporations have legal discretion to hire or not hire workers with detrimental backgrounds as long as they review all aspects of each application.
The race debate when it comes to practical business decisions is reminiscent of the ongoing conflict over “food deserts” in cities like Chicago in predominantly black neighborhoods. Residents and city officials assert that mass retail closures in these neighborhoods constitute an attack on racial equality, but they continually ignore the key problem – High crime and high rates of theft in black areas.
Actions have consequences, but race hustlers are trying to circumvent this reality. Some people who have committed crimes and paid their debt to society might deserve a second chance. Others might not. Race has little to do with it, and it’s not up to business owners to take the risk simply because a worker is a minority.
By extension, if a certain demographic is far more statistically prone to commit crimes, then businesses must take this into account. They might not be able to legally admit it, but they can’t pretend the dynamic doesn’t exist. The loss of access to employment and to close retail options is in the hands of the community and its residents. They determine if companies stay or leave. They determine if they are hired or fired.
Accountability cannot be avoided forever under the guise of “equity”.
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No matter your ethnicity if you have a criminal record and you employer doesn’t know about it and they suddenly somehow find out about it you may be fired. This isn’t just a black thing and they know it.
I thought it was a prerequisite for blacks, should be, otherwise non would be working.
So, Walmart should hire thieves and murderers because it’s in the past? No, they shouldn’t. These people are unstable and dangerous. They did it once and they might do it again. Their belief systems have not ruled that out. I don’t blame Walmart. I don’t want to shop at a store that has thieves and murderers on the payroll.
I’m white and have a criminal background.
Walmart won’t hire me either.
I’d began to rebuild my life 32 years ago after serving time for a felony drug conviction. I did it by building a successful career in construction, although the work was very difficult in framing houses. I wouldn’t blame anyone who’d held it against me, especially if I lied on the application. After getting clean and away from drugs, I haven’t had so much as a speeding ticket for nearly all 32 years. I might question why someone would hold my distant past against me, but not any recent crime. There are consequences…
“ Having a record does not define you or your character,”
That is about the most ignorant thing I have read in years!
A Criminal Record follows you for life.
Past performance, is indicative of future performance.
If it is only Illegal if you get caught.
You are already done.
What BS. I was a legal assistant before I retired. I was slated to work as a judicial administrative assistant for my county in Arizona where I was living at the time, and I had to have my fingerprints taken and a background check done. And I’m white. It didn’t bother me because the worst thing I’ve ever done was get a speeding ticket which I negotiated down to an equipment violation with the cop before court. Who do these blacks think they are? I had to pee in a cup to get a part time job at Home Depot too. Oh the humanity!
“OK, so I have one….maybe two stains on my background. No one will give me a chance.”
Charles Miles Manson
We need a bumper sticker, “My business, my choice”. Are they going to add thief to the LGBMOUSE+thug to the leftists slogan? There rainbow now looks like a skid mark.
It seems as if they are saying that their ethnic/racial group has a “right” to commit crime without consequence.
Maybe more black people should figure out stealing Air Jordan’s and iPhones could come back to haunt you.
Is that illegal now? LOL
I stand behind Walmart. All large companies do background checks if something appears amiss on job applications. A company has the right to NOT HIRE EX-CONS OR CRIMINALS. If you want a job then do not do the crime, because we don’t owe you squat and will chose not to hire you to work at our stores.
With Black Privilege – the rules of civilization do not apply. Sorry, criminals. If you want to have a job, you would not have committed those crimes. You can’t force people to hire predators.
“Having a record does not define you or your character,” said Marcos Ceniceros, with Warehouse Workers for Justice.
Of course it does. You have to work very hard to get a criminal record. It takes dozens of felonies to get any jail time because pf our corrupt courts that refuse to punish blacks.
A large percentage of retail shrink is internal. Walmart did nothing wrong.
If they have been fired, then they have been hired. If they were hired, then they were asked if they had a criminal record. So clearly they lied on their employment application. If they lied on their employment application, then the company has already established that they will behave dishonestly when needed
Did these people lie on their applications, and then WM did the background check and found the record? If so, they can easily be fired for lying. And your record, or past behavior, DOES define your character. Some people may deserve a second chance, but, it takes time, and effort, for that person to show they have changed. You can’t force the world to trust you.
Of course they did and when found out they thought, hey you cant check on me I’m black you must be discriminating?
I worked in HR Training and Development for a State Govt and we absolutely ran back ground checks on all new hires period.
You even signed a pre hiring acknowledgement that your hiring was predicated on not having a criminal back ground and if so, you would be terminated.
But then the ACLU with their 10 thousands lawyers will find things to sue over because your Govt pays their wages to represent the dis en franchised.
What hire thief to work in your store? Hire a mugger? Hire a drug dealer?
Ya this is a common practice throughout the business industry, no surprises here except they think they can get Walmart to shut up.
Maybe if so many blacks didn’t appear on the news looting stores, Walmart and others might have a different attitude toward past criminal histories. Also if blacks did better in school and spoke English as it is widely spoken more blacks would get hired and get an easier path to advancement. The black culture in these respects isn’t helping black people.
Speaking ghetto English makes people sound dumb, just like hillbilly English.
Companies have to worry about theft, the safety of their customers, and employees ability to work together. In my life I owned four businesses. Not at the same time and built from the bottom up. I hired people based on the job and their ability. I did have ex felons, veterans with PTSD, and some others with problems. About 15% were black and a third women in a trade that didn’t usually have women. It wasn’t retail sales. Everybody had an equal chance for raises and promotion. In those businesses I only had to fire one person. An alcoholic that couldn’t stay off the bottle.
Rather than obey rules and strive to live ip to high standards they try to eliminate standards for everyone. Is there anything they don’t try to destroy? Many of them do not belong in a civilized society.
If Wally just fires blacks that would be racist and illegal. If they do it to whites as well, it is their choice. IMO.
Marcos Ceniceros has got to be the dumbest person in the America.
“Having a record does not define you or your character,” said Marcos Ceniceros, with Warehouse Workers for Justice. “It should not determine your worth, and it certainly shouldn’t be used as an excuse to fire Black workers trying to build a better life.”
Marcos Ceniceros, have you considered the fact that these firings are due to breaking company policies, not showing up to work, not actually working, sexual harassment, and including employee theft and those that use racial slurs against other employees. I’m certain Walmart has a solid legal reason for firing any person, regardless of black racial privileged.
Store closings in black neighborhoods…. now where else can these poor discriminated people that are held down by the man, these proud African Americans, where can they go to get the things they deserve, their GOD given right to things? Stealing don’t matter, stores have insurance for that, and whitey can always raise the prices so whitey can buy their things. These proud African Americans need to go to get the things they deserve, their GOD given right, stealing is already factored into the price. And set all jailed blacks free.
They demand reparations, but won’t accept responsibility.