The workers are protesting the company's decision to sell furniture to facilities that detain migrant children at the United States/Mexico border.
Employees created a Twitter account for the walkout that gained over 11,000 followers in just hours.
Wayfair is confirmed to be selling beds to the border camps! Employees asked for the order to be canceled and management said no. Everyone deserves a home they can feel safe and loved in, especially children, no matter where they're from.
— wayfairwalkout (@wayfairwalkout) June 25, 2019
We received a response from CEO, and it looks like there are no plans to donate the profits or in any other way take action about this sale or future sales to contractors furnishing the camps. #wayfairwalkout
— wayfairwalkout (@wayfairwalkout) June 25, 2019
The Wayfair leadership team sent a letter to its employees, saying in part they still plan to do business with BCFS, the government contractor that manages camps at the Mexican border:
"As a retailer, it is standard practice to fulfill orders for all customers and we believe it is our business to sell to any customer who is acting within the laws of the countries within which we operate. This does not indicate support for the opinions or actions of the groups or individuals who purchase from us."
BCFS ordered the furniture for a new facility that is opening up in Carrizo Springs, Texas. It will hold about 1,600 unaccompanied minors.
At least 500 Wayfair employees signed the petition and they're asking the company to donate the money to RAICES, a nonprofit that reunites families at the border.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, tweeted her support:
I stand with the hundreds of @Wayfair employees who are planning to stage a walkout at their Boston headquarters tomorrow. The safety and well-being of immigrant children is always worth fighting for. https://t.co/L3hqbazX4l
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) June 25, 2019
The walkout is set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
At 1:30 p.m., tomorrow, we're asking employees to leave their desks and walk to Copley Square to show our numbers and make this demand. #wayfairwalkout
— wayfairwalkout (@wayfairwalkout) June 25, 2019
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