Let's Talk About How That Cheap Stuff You Just Bought At Walmart Costs $6,000 More Than You Thought
Note: This #UpChat has concluded, but don't worry! You can check out our recap of the discussion below and here.What do you think about the fact that the six members of the Walton family (who own most of Walmart) have more wealth than the bottom 42% of our entire country? Or how Walmart paying a living wage to its employees would barely affect prices? (More on that in the links below in this kind of unbelievable infographic).Walmart is all up in the news right now ... kinda has been for a while now. We're having this little thing called an #UpChat on Thursday, June 5, at 2 p.m. Eastern so you can join in the conversation. All you'll need is a Twitter account. Use the hashtag #UpChat to add your voice!Mark your calendars: Walmart #UpChat June 5 at 2 p.m. Eastern.
FACT-CHECK TIME: According to a congressional study, $6,000 is the average amount taxpayers are being dinged per employee. Walmart's wages and benefits are so low that it forces workers to go on Medicaid and receive housing assistance, child care subsidies, food stamps, and more. Yes, it's totally insane, but it's true.
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OK, I'm in! So how do I get my friends talking about the effect the #WalmartEconomy has on all of us during this #Upchat?
1) Gather up your friends, your family, and all of the Internet and let them know about our UpChat! Share it on Twitter, on Facebook, and heck, go old school and hang up some signs in your neighborhood with facts! (What kind of facts? How about the one above or how very little it would cost us all to pay Walmart workers a fair wage).
2) At 2 pm ET on Thursday, June 5, bring your people and your input about Walmart and low wages and tweet us your thoughts using the #UpChat and #WalmartEconomy hashtags! We'll be asking lots of questions and looking to all of you to help get this movement going even stronger. (And maybe if it continues to go super big, we'll actually have an impact and Walmart will change its practices!?)
3) Say hello to all the folks joining @Upworthy and @AFLCIO for the #UpChat: