Chants and picket signs flooded the headquarters of Dollar General in Goodlettsville yesterday as over 200 employees rallied, demanding what they deem fair treatment and safe working conditions. The protest, organized by Step Up Louisiana, comes on the heels of a contentious shareholder meeting where workers from as far as Louisiana voiced their grievances, as reported by WVLT.
Kicking off the demonstration, former Dollar General employee Kenya Slaughter told WVLT, "We're not trying to shut the stores down, we want them to be accountable for the workers that are dying, that's suffering their stores," highlighting a sense of urgency behind the protest. Amid claims of negligence, workers are pushing for heightened wages and strengthened security about Dollar General's long-standing disregard for worker safety as uncovered by the US Department of Labor; despite the company’s statement last month that their policies satisfy, or even surpass, industry standards and its listing of installed security enhancements like LED lights, cameras and silent alarms.
Step Up Louisiana's initiative saw more than 300 stores investigated, revealing several alleged safety infractions that they believe jeopardize both employee and clienteles' well-being, as per David Williams' assertions to WVLT, "Our lives matter each and every time we’re in those stores." Measures taken by Dollar General, including audits of their safety policies, have been met with skepticism from workers and activists, with FOX 17 News detailing Step Up Louisiana's critique of the recent audit as a "sham."
While Dollar General sent statements to multiple news outlets defending their efforts and inviting employees to offer feedback, the sentiment among protesting workers is one of dissatisfaction, David Williams echoed this in a statement to WSMV, "We’re all trying to survive, we’re all trying to make a living," but expressed doubt about the company's treatment of its workers as the cause of daily anguish. The company's history with OSHA violates the narrative of safety and care, with $16 million in fines accrued since 2017 for grave safety infractions across the nation.
A march and rally were observed yesterday, with Dollar General Headquarters placed under lockdown as protestors made their presence known and sought to influence shareholders and executives inside.
