Walmart protests draw hundreds

[lostinblue 1,989]

Hundreds of people -- including some employees -- have taken part in Black Friday demonstrations at Walmart stores nationwide, protesting what they say is the retailer's retaliation against speaking out for better pay, fair schedules and affordable health care.

According to organizers from the union-backed group OUR Walmart, workers and supporters rallied in Landover Hills, Md., Miami, Oakland, Calif., Chicago, Danville, Ky., Dallas and Kenosha, Wis. The organizers say the protests will continue throughout the day.

One of the bigger protests occurred in Landover Hills, near Washington. Organizers said about 350 people participated, although video of the event showed around 100 participants. Dawn Le, who works for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which backs OUR Walmart, would not say how many of those taking part were Wal-Mart employees.

Walmart, in a statement, said there were 26 protests Thursday night, when its stores opened at 8 p.m. to begin Black Friday. It estimated that fewer than 50 Wal-Mart workers participated, and that many of the protests involved no employees at all.

Janna Pea, an OUR Walmart organizer in Dallas, said about 40 workers and about 150 supporters took part in a protest Thursday night.

One of those with her was Josue Mata, who says he walked off his job as an overnight maintenance employee to protest retaliation against people who want to speak out.

"I have four kids and I don't want them to grown up in a society where people disrespect them," he said. "This is a never-ending fight and we're never going to stop."

Mata said he plans to return to work for his next scheduled shift on Sunday evening.

Pea said her protesters went to four Wal-Mart stores across the Dallas area, and while they were able to picket and speak to customers at half of them, they were asked to leave immediately by police at the others.

"We were still able to talk to customers and educate them about what was going on," she said. "We saw one person who was planning to go shopping, but then didn't end up going in. Instead, they rallied with us."

Muhammed Malik, who helped organize a protest at a Miami Wal-Mart, said roughly 70 workers participated in their hour-long demonstration Thursday night. He said one worker walked off his shift as he saw others rallying outside.

Walmart did not immediately respond for comment on OUR Walmart's participation estimates. The company has denied retaliation against protesting workers, and said Friday that it has offered special holiday discounts to its employees for their efforts this season.

The protests were limited in scope, occurring at a handful of the company's approximately 4,000 U.S. stores. One employee at a store near Pittsburgh told CNNMoney he had heard of the protests only through the media.

In an effort to stop the protests, Walmart filed a complaint last week with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming that the demonstrations violated labor laws.

The retailer said the actions have disrupted business, and that the workers' ongoing actions violate the National Labor Relations Act, which prohibits picketing for any period over 30 days without filing a petition to form a union.

On Tuesday, OUR Walmart filed its own charge with the federal agency, claiming that Wal-Mart tried to deter workers from participating in the protests and interfered with their right to speak up.

But the NLRB was not able to rule in time or issue an injunction. Nancy Cleeland, a spokeswoman for the NLRB, said the complaint is too complex to make a ruling so soon.

Despite the talk of the protests, Walmart reported larger Thanksgiving and Black Friday crowds than last year. As of Friday morning, the company said it had processed nearly 10 million register transactions.

Shares of Walmart rose 1.4% in Friday trading.

Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/Walmart-Black-Friday-2012-strike-walkout-update-Walmart-protests-draw-hundreds#ixzz2D7P1THD8

Sounds like the strike lacked walmart employee support.Most of the protestors are not even employed at Walmart.

[lostinblue 1,989]

In the US, Wal-Mart operates more than 4,000 stores, including 3,000-plus Supercenters that sell groceries and general merchandise, 610 Sam's Club warehouses, and a growing number of smaller format stores.

[Bumbero 130]

I totally agree that Walmart should give their employees better pay and healthcare. They keep most of their employees under the full time status to NOT have to pay for benefits, at LEAST here in WA State.

I do NOT agree with protesting to say "Awwww man, WHY do I have to work on Thanksgiving?" Is it hard to have to work on a holiday and not be able to spend time with your family? Absolutely! I have been doing it for years! That's just how the world and business works though. MANY people in many professions have to suck it up and come in on holidays. Walmart asking their employees to work isn't unfair, it's business.

[Danno 1,228]

I suggest these folks do what I did when I had a boss, who wouldn't pay enough..... I just moved on to another job.

I never even had a sour feeling towards my old boss. I simply felt we couldn't agree on my "worth".

Someone help me understand why all the attention focused on Wal-mart employment?

If people don't want to work there... just don't do it.

I understand Wal-mart might be the main employer for low skilled people in an area, what can I say, do what your forefathers did and relocate to where opportunity does exist.

Granted, the next 4-6 years are going to be a challenge but even in the Obama economy, there are some jobs somewhere.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Someone help me understand why all the attention focused on Wal-mart employment?

Walmart is the boogie man. It is the country's largest retailer, and continues to grow. Union retail outlets are failing. You want to see low wages, lousy benefits, and poor working conditions? Go to work for your typical mom and pop store.

If you don't want to work retail, get a trade. Don't like unions? Don't like bosses? Go to work for yourself.

[decocker 7,198]

You want to see low wages, lousy benefits, and poor working conditions? Go to work for your typical mom and pop store.

mom and pop stores tend to disappear once the walmarts arrive. we've got three walmarts within twenty minutes of each other and there is very little local business left. the local businesses that are left aren't run by mom and pop but by the more elite residents who cater to tourists (retail, restaurants) and don't employ blue collar types so much as they are trying to appeal to a high class. joe bageant wrote extensively about the effects on a town once a walmart arrives. it's very interesting, to me anyway. most of the people i know who work for walmart would never protest, because they need to keep their jobs. the upswing is they make so little and or are kept at part time hours so they still qualify for foodstamps, medicare, etc..people take security where they can.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

the upswing is they make so little and or are kept at part time hours so they still qualify for foodstamps, medicare, etc..people take security where they can.

A lot of the employees do that intentionally, to keep their housing benefits and medicaid. When they reach a certain level of income, they quit, and then get another job when the benefit year starts over again. But yes, the main reason employers, not just Walmart, hire part time workers at lower wages, is exactly so that they don't have to pay full benefits, and so that they can have a resource of labor available, when the peak seasons begin. Retail stores usually over hire prior to Thanksgiving, and then start cutting everybody's hours in February. For the ones that stick around, they usually have the opportunity to become full time, if not this year, then most likely the next.

If you don't have a lot of skills, or are just too old or lazy to work anywhere else, then you are stuck in retail. Or panhandling.

[Danno 1,228]

A lot of the employees do that intentionally, to keep their housing benefits and medicaid. When they reach a certain level of income, they quit, and then get another job when the benefit year starts over again. But yes, the main reason employers, not just Walmart, hire part time workers at lower wages, is exactly so that they don't have to pay full benefits, and so that they can have a resource of labor available, when the peak seasons begin. Retail stores usually over hire prior to Thanksgiving, and then start cutting everybody's hours in February. For the ones that stick around, they usually have the opportunity to become full time, if not this year, then most likely the next.

If you don't have a lot of skills, or are just too old or lazy to work anywhere else, then you are stuck in retail. Or panhandling.

I've never done retail before.... but I have panhandled .

[Póg mo 1,749]

A lot of the employees do that intentionally, to keep their housing benefits and medicaid. When they reach a certain level of income, they quit, and then get another job when the benefit year starts over again.

Link please? In Tennessee you need to be indigent before you can any kind of medical coverage from the state, not sure what kind of housing benefits you get but considering you'd probably be expected to live in some of the worst parts of town, I am not sure the money would worth it.

But yes,

the main reason employers, not just Walmart, hire part time workers at lower wages, is exactly so that they don't have to pay full benefits, and so that they can have a resource of labor available, when the peak seasons begin. Retail stores usually over hire prior to Thanksgiving, and then start cutting everybody's hours in February. For the ones that stick around, they usually have the opportunity to become full time, if not this year, then most likely the next.

That is a little unfair on those who are blessed with poor health and get fired because they miss more than three times for missing work. Often people on low incomes are stuck in a poverty trap. They can't find a better job because they can't afford transportation and can't move closer to work because they don't have the money to cover the expenses of moving.

If you don't have a lot of skills, or are just too old or lazy to work anywhere else, then you are stuck in retail. Or panhandling.

Yes, the weak are to be exploited mercilessly.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Link please? In Tennessee you need to be indigent before you can any kind of medical coverage from the state, not sure what kind of housing benefits you get but considering you'd probably be expected to live in some of the worst parts of town, I am not sure the money would worth it.

I guess it sucks to be poor and living in Tennessee. Medicaid varies by state, is income based, and depends on family size.

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/about/fact_sheet

Edited November 25, 2012 by The Patriot

[Póg mo 1,749]

mom and pop stores tend to disappear once the walmarts arrive. we've got three walmarts within twenty minutes of each other and there is very little local business left.

Yup, walmart comes into a neighborhood. All the local retailers go out of business, tax takes plummet, schools get their budgets cut and conservatives/right wing libertarians then blame failing schools on so called liberal over regulation.

the local businesses that are left aren't run by mom and pop but by the more elite residents who cater to tourists (retail, restaurants) and don't employ blue collar types so much as they are trying to appeal to a high class.

Even where they do employ blue collar types, wages tend to be ridiculously low, which in turn sees a sharp rise in social inequality i.e. people who can afford to move out of a neighborhood, do so.

joe bageant wrote extensively about the effects on a town once a walmart arrives. it's very interesting, to me anyway. most of the people i know who work for walmart would never protest, because they need to keep their jobs. the upswing is they make so little and or are kept at part time hours so they still qualify for foodstamps, medicare, etc..people take security where they can.

Ya, but isn't just easier to blame liberals for America's decline?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

That is a little unfair on those who are blessed with poor health and get fired because they miss more than three times for missing work. Often people on low incomes are stuck in a poverty trap. They can't find a better job because they can't afford transportation and can't move closer to work because they don't have the money to cover the expenses of moving.

Adapt or die. Natural selection at work. Some of us have been there, and managed to overcome life's little challenges.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Even where they do employ blue collar types, wages tend to be ridiculously low, which in turn sees a sharp rise in social inequality i.e. people who can afford to move out of a neighborhood, do so.

Blue collar is skilled labor. There continues to be a shortage of skilled labor in many fields.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Ya, but isn't just easier to blame liberals for America's decline?

Especially when it is true for the most part, and historically, social and moral decline leads to the fall of civilizations.

[Póg mo 1,749]

I guess it sucks to be poor and living in Tennessee. Medicaid varies by state, is income based, and depends on family size.

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/about/fact_sheet

Yes, I am sure landlords are just lining up to accept lease applications from people on low incomes and I am sure having a low credit score really helps as well.