Wayfair employees protest company’s bed sales to migrant camps
Wayfair protest wraps up with a chant
The Wayfair protest in Boston ended after about an hour with a chant.
“When immigrants are under attack, what do we do?” asked protest leader Madeline Howard. “Stand up. Fight back,” the crowd chanted.
“We don’t want our company to profit off of children being in concentration camps. We don’t want them to do this again,” Howard said.
She called on Wayfair (W) to implement a “code of ethics that blocks orders like this from happening again.”
“We really believe that they will do this. They will,” she said. “You know why they’ll do this? Worker power.”
Square workers stand in solidarity with Wayfair employees
Wayfair workers want company to donate funds to an immigration group, not the Red Cross
Wayfair co-founders Steve Conine and Niraj Shah said the company will donate $100k to support the American Red Cross “in their effort to help those in dire need of basic necessities at the border.”
But employees protesting Wayfair (W) want the company to donate to RAICES, a nonprofit immigration legal services fund.
“We want them to donate the funds to RAICES,” Wayfair worker Madeline Howard told the protest group Wednesday. “We don’t want it donated to the Red cCross, as great as that is. We want them to donate it to something that’s relevant to what we’re asking for.”
Read Wayfair's letter to employees about its American Red Cross donation
In a letter to employees, Wayfair (W) cofounders Steve Conine and Niraj Shah said the company will donate $100k to support the American Red Cross “in their effort to help those in dire need of basic necessities at the border.”
“We believe strongly in the political process in our country and the power of individuals engaging in it to create change,” the cofounders said in the letter.
The company didn’t say whether the funds for the donation come from the proceeds or profits as a result of bedroom furniture sales for use in migrant facilities, but the donation comes on the heels of intense backlash from employees and lawmakers.
Wayfair declined CNN’s request for comment.
CNN obtained a copy of the letter:
Hello Team –
I want to further follow up on the conversations I’ve had with many of you over the last day.
As many of you know, Niraj and I care a great deal about humanitarian issues. We agree that there is a crisis at the border and people there are in need. Wayfair has provided millions of dollars to support a variety of charities, including Habitat for Humanity, Homes for our Troops and the many charities that you all choose to support through our matching program. As we have responded in the past to natural disasters and other urgent needs for humanitarian relief (ie. Hurricane Florence, CA wildfires, etc.), we will make a donation of $100,000 to support the American Red Cross in their effort to help those in dire need of basic necessities at the border.
We believe strongly in the political process in our country and the power of individuals engaging in it to create change. As we enter the next election cycle, the ability for everyone to contribute their views and be politically engaged is even more important.
We respect the passion of all our employees on this issue and look forward to continuing our dialogue with you
Steve and Niraj
A look at the Wayfair protest crowd
A CNN cameraman who is there estimates that there are about 500 people at the protest.
Separately, an observer did a quick video to give people a sense of how many were in attendance:
This is a 'worker-led movement,' says one Wayfair employee
A Wayfair employee who identified himself as Robbie led the crowd in a “No Justice. No Peace” chant.
“This is an example of a worker-led movement that the entire country and world is watching and looking to for inspiration,” he said.
He compared the Wayfair (W) protest to Massachusetts Stop & Shop workers who went on strike recently over their pay.
“Our power is right here within the worker movement and on the streets,” he said.
“The workers united will never be defeated,” the crowd chanted after he finished his speech.
'This is what democracy looks like'
After Madeline Howard, Elizabeth Good and other Wayfair workers were finished with their speeches, Wayfair (W) worker Madeline Howard let the crowd in a chant.
Some protesters carried signs to the rally:
“Impeach Trump”
“Abolish ICE. No one is illegal”
“Endless detention is torture”
Wayfair employee: 'Everyone deserves a home they love'
Employees gathered at Copley Square in Boston to protest and took turns at the microphone.
She’s been a Wayfair employee for around seven years.
The walkout has started
The @wayfairwalkout Twitter account tweeted a picture of the crowd.
Why Wayfair employees are protesting
Wayfair (W) employees are planning to walk out today to protest the retailer selling furniture to migrant detention facilities.
Workers learned last week that an order for about $200,000 worth of bedroom furniture was placed by the global nonprofit BCFS, according to a woman identifying herself as an employee of the company.
BCFS operates migrant facilities for the Department of Health and Human Services and is set to open a new facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas, which will accommodate about 1,600 unaccompanied minors.
More than 500 employees sent a letter Friday to senior management, asking the company to no longer do business with BCFS. CNN has seen a copy of the email. In it, the employees said:
Wayfair to donate $100k to Red Cross
Wayfair (W) will donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross after an employee backlash over the sale of bedroom furniture for use in a migrant detention facility.
In a letter to employees, Wayfair cofounders Steve Conine and Niraj Shah said the company will donate the money to support the American Red Cross “in their effort to help those in dire need of basic necessities at the border.”
CNN obtained the letter. The company didn’t say whether the funds for the donation come from the proceeds or profits as a result of the use of its furniture in a detention facility.
Employees for the online retailer said they planned a walkout from company headquarters Wednesday in protest of the company selling beds to migrant detention facilities.
US companies caught in immigration fight
This is not the first time a US business has been ensnared in controversy about the Trump administration’s immigration policy.
Last year, US airlines spoke out against the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy that resulted in the separation of migrant children from their families.
American Airlines, United Airlines and Frontier Airlines all asked the federal government not to use their planes to transport migrant children after they’re taken from their parents.
And Walmart said it was “disturbed” last year when one of its former stores in Texas was turned into a shelter for migrant children who were separated from their parents.
The 250,000-square-foot facility in Brownsville became the center of national outrage over the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweets support for Wayfair walkout
News of the Wayfair (W) employee walkout attracted ire from Twitter users, who expressed their displeasure with the company through the hashtag #wayfairwalkout.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, called the walkout “what solidarity looks like” on Twitter Tuesday.
Democratic Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts also expressed support on Twitter: “I proudly stand in solidarity w/ the hardworking individuals at #Wayfair who are walking out in the name of #justice & humanity,”
