Latest news with #People'sUnion
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why shoppers are boycotting Walmart again after March's ‘economic blackout'
Shoppers have started to boycott Walmart for a second time, two months after March's economic blackout. Advocacy group People's Union USA announced there would be a boycott of Walmart from May 20 to May 26 after accusing the company of 'crushing small businesses' and 'underpaying' its employees. The boycott includes both in-store and online shopping at Walmart locations and affiliated Walmart-branded companies, such as Sam's Club, as well as private label brands such as Great Value and Equate. John Schwarz, the founder of the People's Union, posted a video Tuesday on Instagram explaining the reasoning for the boycott, telling his followers, 'After all the record profits, all the tax loopholes, all the corporate greed, Walmart now once again wants to raise prices.' 'But this time, because of the tariffs, as if they're not already raking in billions, as if they can't absorb the cost. As if you and I should carry this burden.' The Independent has contacted Walmart for comment. Schwarz and the People's Union previously organized a week-long 'economic blackout' back in March, where consumers were asked to avoid making purchases from Amazon's main site as well as the other companies it owns, including Amazon Alexa, IMDb, Prime Video, Ring, Twitch, Whole Foods, and Zappos. At the time, Schwarz told CNET the objective of the 'calculated strike' is simple: for Amazon to record a dip in sales. In an Instagram post, Schwarz described how to 'hit' Amazon the hardest and take a stand against its impact on small businesses and treatment of workers after the company reported a 10 percent year-on-year increase in net sales in Q4 2024 to almost $188 billion last month. 'If you want to focus your firepower, you target what you use the most,' he said. It was not immediately clear how many people were due to participate in the boycott. Prior to the Amazon boycott, the People's Union took aim at corporate giants with a sweeping consumer blackout, which urged consumers against making purchases at major retailers for 24 hours. Schwarz told CNN that the movement 'went international,' adding: 'Every country has messaged me, people from all over the world commenting on the videos. 'How can we stand in solidarity?'' However, an analysis from digital retail consultancy company Momentum Commerce showed Amazon had slightly higher sales that day. The organization has other boycotts planned throughout the next couple of weeks, including a Target boycott from June 3 to June 9, a McDonald's boycott from June 24 to June 30, and an Independence Day boycott on July 4.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Walmart boycott again? Here's when and where it's happening amid price hike concerns
Walmart and its affiliated stores are facing a second nationwide boycott in 2025 as consumers protest against companies who have retracted their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following Trump's return to the White House. The People's Union, a grassroots organization that spearheaded the one-day economic consumer blackout on February 28, will organise the May 20–26 Walmart boycott. Sam's Club, Walmart retail locations, and other related Walmart-branded enterprises, as well as private label products like Great Value and Equate, are all included in the boycott. The People's Union has targeted Amazon and Nestle in weekly boycotts since February 28. Plans to boycott Walmart are in place through July 4, after which the group claims it will step up its efforts with more extensive measures. These boycotts follow other organizations' independent protests against Target and various other companies over their withdrawal from DEI programs. A post shared by The People's Union USA (@thepeoplesunionusa) The People's Union, founded by John Schwarz, has been in charge of organizing several boycotts. Schwarz previously admitted to USA TODAY that he had no idea how popular his initial video proposing a nationwide one-day consumer blackout on February 28 would become. Schwarz, who shares updates about boycotts on his Instagram handle @theonecalledJai, has now detailed a number of more boycotts. Schwarz urged consumers to boycott Walmart in a post on May 20th, saying, Walmart wants to raise prices again 'after all the record profits, all the tax loopholes, and all the corporate greed.' 'But this time, because of the tariffs, as if they're not already raking in billions, as if they can't absorb the cost. As if you and I should carry this burden.' Also Read: Who were América Sánchez, Adal Jair Maldonado Marco? Mexico mourns cadets killed in Brooklyn Bridge tragedy; See Pics Walmart's recent announcement that it would have to raise prices to offset the cost hikes resulting from Trump's trade policies sparked the recent confrontation between the President and the country's largest private sector employer. Trump said Walmart should "EAT THE TARIFFS," rather than increasing costs for consumers. He chastised the firm for 'blaming' his trade policies. The People's Union will boycott the following in the future: Traget boycott: June 3-9 McDonald's boycott: June 24-30 Blackout on Independence Day: July 4
Economic Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Amazon boycott 2025: Another nationwide Amazon boycott is taking place. Check dates, reasons
'Boycott' Amazon: What to know? Live Events Amazon's Q1 Earnings FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel E-commerce giant Amazon faces yet another boycott of its services and stores starting from Tuesday, May 6. Organised by The People's Union , the second boycott of the largest online retailer around the world is against rolling back of the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts as well as the Donald Trump-led administration's plans to get rid of federal DEI programs since taking charge in January this year, USA Today second boycott, which is planned from May 6 until May 12, comes after the grassroots group had earlier carried out a day-long economic consumer blackout on February 28 this part of the boycott call, the group has urged consumers to avoid Amazon and its affiliates in the country, which includes Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Fresh as well as other services like Twitch, Zappos, Kindle, and the past couple of months, the People's Union has organised multiple weekly boycotts across different businesses and retailers in the US, such as General Mills and April this year, the union held an economic blackout against US corporations, alleging that they failed to pay enough union's founder John Schwarz gained significant spotlight when his maiden video, calling for a day-long consumer blackout on February 28, went viral on social media. He has remained active on Instagram and regularly posts short clips outlining other boycott few days ago, he attacked Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos after it was stated that the e-commerce giant will not be displaying the hike in the price of items in the wake of Donald Trump's tariffs, according to USA is seeing another major threat to its business with such boycotts at a time when the company has been able to generate increased sales and the company, in its first-quarter earnings report for the year, announced that its sales increased by 8 per cent year-over-year in the United States, The Street this, Amazon's operating income in the country jumped by nearly 13 per cent. Apart from organising a protest call against Amazon, People's Union is also planning a boycott against Walmart from May 20-26, followed by the call to boycott Target and McDonald's in June.A1. It is scheduled from May 6 to May 12.A2. The People's Union is planning boycotts against Walmart, McDonald's and Target, among others.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Economic Blackout 2.0 boycott to take place this weekend
An activist group that says it seeks to hold corporations accountable is organizing a three-day, nationwide "economic blackout" from Good Friday through Easter that calls on consumers to boycott "big box" retailers. Instead, People's Union USA is urging you to buy from local retailers. Will it make a difference? It's not clear. The New York Times has reported on People's Union USA founder John Schwarz's past as a registered sex offender and raised questions about the money the group is raising through donations and T-shirt sales, which Schwarz respond to by saying it would "go toward future operational costs, including payroll, expansion, and ensuring this movement keeps growing and thriving." In addition to the planned blackout, other groups have also organized boycotts to protest companies that have cut their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and to oppose President Donald Trump's moves to eliminate such programs. There's an ongoing "40-day fast" of Target, spearheaded by Black faith leaders, and consumers have also been taking part in a targeted week-long boycott of Walmart, which concludes today, Gannett news outlets have reported. The People's Union, which said it is organized as a limited liability company, also has a long list of grievances that it said on its website it is seeking to address, including worker exploitation, price gouging, unethical practices and tax avoidance. The People's Union's second protest, which it has dubbed Economic Blackout 2.0, follows a smaller-scale boycott in February that encouraged Americans to stop spending for 24 hours to resist the influence of big corporations, billionaires and both major political parties. After the initial boycott, the Associated Press reported there was "no clear indication of how many people took part or whether national retailers and restaurant chains noticed any effect from the grassroots protest." One assessment by Marshal Cohen, the chief retail advisor at market research firm Circana, that was based on calls with retail executives, showed no visible retrenchment by consumers midway through the boycott, the AP reported. More: Some consumers are preparing for an economic blackout on Feb. 28: what to know Still, the activist group said on its website that it uses economic boycotts "because they work," and "money is the only language the system understands." It added that 'we don't need to riot or protest in the streets to be heard,' and 'when we pull our dollars, we pull their power.' Social media postings also suggest there's interest in the boycott and it's possible a second, slightly longer boycott could have a bigger impact than the first. The People's Union, which has a list of companies that it is critical of, including Chevron, Nike, Starbucks, Google, Microsoft and Meta, formerly Facebook, said it also plans upcoming boycotts targeting General Mills, Amazon, Walmart, Target and McDonald's. Group leader John Schwarz, who is in his 50s, describes himself in a biography on the group's website as "just a man who's lived through enough, seen the truth with my own eyes, and decided to do something about it." He added that he started the group because he feels "this system is rigged, that we're being used, that the human spirit was not meant for this kind of industrial slavery,' and has 'finally reached the point where doing nothing was no longer an option." The biography goes into detail about being raised in New York's Pomonok projects, having an "abusive and unstable" home life in which his parents divorced, and working at 13 "to survive, not for dreams or goals, just to eat." But Schwarz was also a registered sex offender who pleaded guilty to "disseminating voyeuristic material" and was sentenced in 2007 to jail and probation after pleading guilty, according to news reports. Schwarz acknowledged to the New York Times he was convicted and added it was "something that never should have happened and it is completely fabricated" and called the incident "a big scam." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Activist group sets stage for Economic Blackout 2.0 boycott
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalamazoo protesters join National Economic Blackout
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — More than 150 people filled the intersection of W Michigan Avenue and Rose Street in downtown Kalamazoo with signs condemning job and spending cuts by the Trump Administration and rollbacks of DEI policies at major retailers. It was part of the National Economic Blackout. The movement was started online by the advocacy group, the People's Union. 'The idea that companies and institutions should abandon diversity and inclusivity is regressive and unacceptable. Every American deserves an equal chance at success and we will not support policies that encourage discrimination or exclusion,' the group said on its website. While the grassroots group said the movement is not directed specifically at President Donald Trump, it does call for systemic change, economic justice and equality. Many protesters took that message to the street, including Kalamazoo City Commissioner Don Cooney. 'I care deeply about this country, and this country is going in the wrong direction. What we should be about is helping everybody to the fullest of life that they deserve. What's happening is that all the policies are favoring the wealthiest people in the country and undermining what people in this country have worked for, for years, justice and human rights for everybody,' he said. Some protesters see the major policy and program cuts as a cause for concern. Melissa Layman says she worries about potential health care cuts for her son, who was born with Down Syndrome. 'He has a disability and will need federal funds, whether that's Medicaid or his healthcare needs as an adult. Or funds from the Department of Education so he could be educated with his peers,' she said. Her worries heightened after tech billionaire and DOGE lead Elon Musk shared a post calling people who rely on federal programs part of the 'parasite class,' 'My son can't be out here advocating for his rights. So I am out here,' she said to News 8. The blackout also comes with a focus on supporting small businesses. Rather than spending at the national brands, organizers call for people to keep their dollars local. Bee joyful owner Jessica Thompson said voting with your dollar matters. 'Amazon, Target, any of those larger corporations type of places, they are not going to feel it like a small business would. But collectively, this move seems to be something that it's saying, 'No, the people do have the power. We have the power to vote with our dollar, for small businesses.' It's saying, 'We are the people in your community, we're your neighbors, we're your friends. We see you around town, we see you where kids games and this is a good place that you can come to spend your money,'' Thompson said. Organizers said Friday's national blackout will not be the only one. The People's Union has organized boycott weeks directed at specific companies such as Amazon and Walmart in the coming months. News 8 requested comments from Amazon, Target, the White House and Michigan GOP via email or phone but has yet to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
