This spark ignited a much larger and unprecedented wave of strikes that spread through Walmart's supply chain and hit hundreds of its stores nationwide. Walmart warehouse workers in Southern California and Illinois launched a historic campaign in September. Under the banners of Warehouse Workers United and Warehouse Workers for Justice - two groups formed by the Change to Win labor federation and the United Electrical Workers (UE), respectively - workers and activists engaged in a series of walkouts and acts of civil disobedience highlighting dangerous working conditions, wage theft and intimidation. Although it does not directly employ the striking warehouse workers, Walmart was the target of worker protests because it dictates industry standards for contractors in its network of distribution centers.