Walmart workers give ‘blood money’ to build SWP

In September, 11 members and friends of the Socialist Workers Party who work at Walmart contributed $1,045.76 from “MyShare” blood money to the SWP Capital Fund. The contributions ranged from $26 to $154. “Enclosed is $203.65 in blood money from three of us working at Walmart in the area here,” Carole Lesnick from Oakland, California, wrote. “Two of us are getting rather small checks. The company says this is due to increased accidents on the job and ‘bad’ customer service. They blame the workers though most of us know this is a lie. Then they schedule us for fewer hours to work!”

Communist workers use the term blood money to describe bonuses and other bribes from the bosses that are designed to get us to accept speedup, lower wages, concession contracts and dangerous working conditions. Refusing to be beholden to boss bribes is the political and financial foundation of the SWP Capital Fund, which finances the long-range work of the party, and helps fellow workers understand what the SWP stands for.

“Enclosed is my contribution of $35.41,” writes Ilona Gersh from Chicago. “It’s the first time I’ve ever received a ‘MyShare’ check. The company usually comes up with excuses that affect their bottom line of profits at this store.”

If you want to join in turning a boss’s attempted bribe into something that can help advance the line of march of the working class, contact the SWP in your area listed on page 8 to make a contribution.

— BRIAN WILLIAMS