We're always hearing in the news about Wal-Mart not paying their employees well or providing benefits at an affordable cost to their employees. As if the hard-working, underpaid employees of this super-center chain aren't disgruntled enough, now they have yet one more reason to be frustrated. Wal-Mart stores all over the US opened their doors at 10pm Thanksgiving day this year forcing employees out of their homes and into work their vacation day. According to this story on CBS: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57553714/walmart-workers-protest-wages-benefits-on-black-friday/
several dozen protests occurred across several states. The protests were organized by United Food and Commercial Workers Union and a group called OUR Walmart and they were protesting unfair labor practices and low pay. Although Walmart employees are not unionized and Walmart does not recognize these union groups, UFCW had anticipated 1,000 protests across the nation.
Not as many protested as they had hoped, but walk-outs and protests did occur by both employees and consumers. The article portrays a mix of opinions of the protests from various employees; some who are satisfied with their job and others who are very frustrated. One story I watched on the local news last night interviewed one Walmart employee who stated "It's not right that I work full-time and still have to live off of food stamps!" Another man is quoted in the WRAL article: http://www.wral.com/wal-mart-protests-grow-amid-black-friday-shopping-frenzy-/11805567/
explaining that he can't afford the health benefits provided by Walmart because if he paid for those, he couldn't afford his home.
It's unclear to me whether more employees didn't protest because they fear losing their jobs if they did or if they're satisfied with their income, benefits, and working conditions. I couldn't truly know without surveying Walmart employees. However, one thing seems clear to me based upon the frequency that this same topic pops up in the news media......many Walmart employees feel underpaid and can't provide for their families on the salary/benefits paid by Walmart. Sometimes the voices of few aren't heard until they're united together. Consumers are the ones that could be most influential in creating change in this situation. It's our presence and our money that keeps these stores in business and it could be our lack of presence and purchases that could really make them listen to the needs of employees if we stand by them and agree not to patron stores opening on Thanksgiving Day. Despite efforts by protesters, Walmart sales this Black Friday were reported to have been the highest yet. It's pertinent that these employees not go unheard and that the massive profit of these stores trickles down to the people who are working hard to operate these stores everyday. Although this Black Friday has past, this new trend of Thanksgiving-day sales will surely continue. Please stand with me in support of these employees and make a decision NOT to shop at Walmart on Thanksgiving Day.
several dozen protests occurred across several states. The protests were organized by United Food and Commercial Workers Union and a group called OUR Walmart and they were protesting unfair labor practices and low pay. Although Walmart employees are not unionized and Walmart does not recognize these union groups, UFCW had anticipated 1,000 protests across the nation.
Not as many protested as they had hoped, but walk-outs and protests did occur by both employees and consumers. The article portrays a mix of opinions of the protests from various employees; some who are satisfied with their job and others who are very frustrated. One story I watched on the local news last night interviewed one Walmart employee who stated "It's not right that I work full-time and still have to live off of food stamps!" Another man is quoted in the WRAL article: http://www.wral.com/wal-mart-protests-grow-amid-black-friday-shopping-frenzy-/11805567/
explaining that he can't afford the health benefits provided by Walmart because if he paid for those, he couldn't afford his home.
It's unclear to me whether more employees didn't protest because they fear losing their jobs if they did or if they're satisfied with their income, benefits, and working conditions. I couldn't truly know without surveying Walmart employees. However, one thing seems clear to me based upon the frequency that this same topic pops up in the news media......many Walmart employees feel underpaid and can't provide for their families on the salary/benefits paid by Walmart. Sometimes the voices of few aren't heard until they're united together. Consumers are the ones that could be most influential in creating change in this situation. It's our presence and our money that keeps these stores in business and it could be our lack of presence and purchases that could really make them listen to the needs of employees if we stand by them and agree not to patron stores opening on Thanksgiving Day. Despite efforts by protesters, Walmart sales this Black Friday were reported to have been the highest yet. It's pertinent that these employees not go unheard and that the massive profit of these stores trickles down to the people who are working hard to operate these stores everyday. Although this Black Friday has past, this new trend of Thanksgiving-day sales will surely continue. Please stand with me in support of these employees and make a decision NOT to shop at Walmart on Thanksgiving Day.
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