Black Friday protests demand better pay for Wal-Mart workers
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RENTON, Wash. - Many Wal-Mart workers across the country kicked off Black Friday by walking off the job - including workers from three stores in the Puget Sound area.
The employees say they want better pay and more full-time shifts - and they weren't the only ones on the picket line.
"I think its time that people say enough is enough," said one participant from the group Our Wal-Mart.
"We go all over the country supporting workers and standing up for workers' rights, and that's why I am out here today," says protester Mark Drummond.
Even consumers took part.
"I'll never shop at Wal-Mart again," said one.
Demonstrators sat they are protesting against the company's alleged attempts to silence workers who speak out for better jobs that include better pay, better benefits, and stable hours.
"People deserve to have decent conditions on the job," says Drummond.
Workers in more than 100 cities were expected to go on strike as part of the continued wave of protests in 46 states.
"The more people shop here, the more message gets out," says protester Amanda Everly.
And they say employees are paying a high price so customers can have low prices.
"The Waltons are getting richer on the backs of their workers," says Everly.
Wal-Mart filed a complaint last week with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming unions illegally organized the protests. The company denies any retaliation against employees - and calls the protests a publicity stunt.
While we couldn't find any Wal-Mart employees among the crowd, the protesters say they're giving a voice to those too afraid to speak up - and demand change.
Wal-Mart says the controversy is not affecting sales. By this morning, stores had recorded 10 million transactions nationwide since doors opened at 8 p.m. Thursday. That's about 5,000 items per second.
The employees say they want better pay and more full-time shifts - and they weren't the only ones on the picket line.
"I think its time that people say enough is enough," said one participant from the group Our Wal-Mart.
"We go all over the country supporting workers and standing up for workers' rights, and that's why I am out here today," says protester Mark Drummond.
Even consumers took part.
"I'll never shop at Wal-Mart again," said one.
Demonstrators sat they are protesting against the company's alleged attempts to silence workers who speak out for better jobs that include better pay, better benefits, and stable hours.
"People deserve to have decent conditions on the job," says Drummond.
Workers in more than 100 cities were expected to go on strike as part of the continued wave of protests in 46 states.
"The more people shop here, the more message gets out," says protester Amanda Everly.
And they say employees are paying a high price so customers can have low prices.
"The Waltons are getting richer on the backs of their workers," says Everly.
Wal-Mart filed a complaint last week with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming unions illegally organized the protests. The company denies any retaliation against employees - and calls the protests a publicity stunt.
While we couldn't find any Wal-Mart employees among the crowd, the protesters say they're giving a voice to those too afraid to speak up - and demand change.
Wal-Mart says the controversy is not affecting sales. By this morning, stores had recorded 10 million transactions nationwide since doors opened at 8 p.m. Thursday. That's about 5,000 items per second.
The more steps backward US working families take, the louder US working families cheer. You're all getting what half of you deserve, inescapable, desperate, poverty.
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Lets not forget who outsourced family wage jobs for decades and, then created a financial crisis, and now is head of trickling in poverty wage jobs and framing it all as a recovery. Who has made billions off of every step your families have taken backwards?
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We just witnessed the violence with which americans treated each other while fighting over junk chinese black friday sale items, and we had a good look at looting in the wake of hurricane Sandy, just stop and imagine what it will look like when americans are killing each other over the last loaf of bread on the store shelf. lol, keep on fighting with each other because you'll never figure out who the real culprits are as long as you're tied up killing each other. Have a nice day at work today suckers.
 @T_BONE_WALKER just in case any of you suckers missed it... T_bone is trying to imply that his is "not" a sucker
 @TruthinAdverts And in case you missed it, truth is mistakenly attempting to imply that he was not included as one of the suckers.
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With regard to wages, terms and conditions in the workplace, I have nothing to hide, I never was a sucker. In fact, I worked at family wage jobs with benefits since I was 16. I started working at 11 but, I dont think I could of managed raising any children on it but, from 16 on I could have. I retired with dignity some time ago. Something I doubt you'll ever experience. I am not gloating, I earned it and so did you. The difference is yours has been stolen from you while you assume that big capitol has the only right to profit in a "capitalist" society.
Of course they have to give voice for the Walmart employee, most don't speak English another example of a big corp hiring illegals and getting away with it. Shame on you people that shop at Walmart.
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 @Willie69 Citations?
At my clothing retailing job, there are 3 full time positions and 9 part-time. You have to be able to work any shift, at any time if you want hours. Part-timers get 10-20 hours per week, full-time is 30-40 hours. Part time is minimum wage, full time is $10.06 an hour.
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Retail is a great second income for my family, however, I'm very grateful my hubby has a MUCH better job than I.
 @kockatoo "I'm very grateful my hubby has a MUCH better job than I."
Great for you.
Now, put yourself in the place of a single mom of 2, with no other income...and the kids are too young to be able to self care when they aren't in school...so you either get to schedule time so you can be there - or you need to pay $400 a month for babysitting...
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@OrcasThunder @kockatoo I would need to know the circumstances leading up to their single motherhood before handing out sympathy.
 @Romey_Rome  @TruthinAdverts  @OrcasThunder  @kockatoo But a single mother working at WalMart ISN'T one of "those", she is working hard to support the family on less than minimum wage - even trying to pay for daycare while she is working.
So your first assumption was flawed from the gitgo...Care to try again, with some reasonable shred of humanity?
 @Romey_Rome  @OrcasThunder  @kockatoo "I would need to know the circumstances"
Do you apply that same standard to the rich capitalists who made their millions by savaging failing companies, at the expense of their workers?
 @Romey_Rome  @OrcasThunder  @kockatoo "I would need to know the circumstances"
How about she is trying to stay off welfare?
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Would that meet your approval?
@TruthinAdverts @OrcasThunder @kockatoo To me personally; yes. You don't get a pass on all accountablity just for playing the "single mother" card. Especially if you're 20 with 2 kids from 2 different fathers. "You made your bed", as the saying goes. I'm hard right, minus all religious aspects. Abort away. I'll go as far as being a condition of receiving state assistance. You end up pregnant while being funded by the state, abort, or lose benefits, as you have no business having another kid.
 @Romey_Rome  @OrcasThunder  @kockatoo so you are prepared to throw all single mothers under the bus unless they can prove their "worth" to you? I should hope that isn't what you're implying.Â
Funny how they try to pull a "union" move by walking out and protesting, as if this will get something accomplished. Walmart hates Unions for a reason-they are profit motivated and anything extra they have to pay employess will take away their profit margin! It is an unfortunate situation, I understand the problems, but this country is not a low cost of living country. The fact is, if you work at Walmart, you're gonna need another job too. Even with a little bump in pay, you still will struggle. Â Unfortunate, but reality. And striking or protesting will get you nowhere. I suggest look for another gig while working there, and bail as soon as you find other employment. Logic I guess.
Anyone who has worked for a major retailer knows that this is how they all work. They should also know that most retailers have very few full time positions and if that's what your looking for, look elsewhere.
They should unionize, drive up the cost of doing business through more wages and unsustainable benefits, go on strike every time there is a new labor contract to deliberate over costing the company even more money. Then when Wal-Mart has to raise it prices close stores and lay off thousands of employees to keep itself fiscally viable we will have achieved utopia.
 @ErichBritton since exactly when is earning the cost of living an "unsustainable benefit". Dear heavens... what have they got you believing Erich?
Too bad these workers don't demand anything more of themselves.
This strik is paid for and brought to us by the union that is trying to get into Wal-Mart. I know of atleast 5 people that dod not work at Wal-Mart that are part of this "workers" protest. If you look at the numbers there are very little people that work at Wal-Mart in the protest. Most are "helpful" people and paid protesters. It is all publisity to try and get support for a vote that has been turned down many times.
 @bustedupredneck You "know them" but of course you can't prove any of your claims. You just blatantly make them on a news blog where no one can hold your feet to the fire. This is why we should believe you are even remotely credible?
If they don't like the wages and benefits, they should move to more liberal corporations like Amazon or Starbucks. Oh wait, they don't pay as good as Walmart.Â
You knew what the pay scale was when you hired on, If you didn't like it you should have said "No Thanks" on moved on.
 @lmdk2 so suddenly workers don't have any right to voice that they would like to improve their own working conditions? Is that your contention?
 @TruthinAdverts  @lmdk2 Huh? That reply makes no sense.
@GeorgeG. Yeah right wingers obviously often do have problems with reading comprehension. Obviously. Go figure.
 @GeorgeG.  @lmdk2 George... let me try to rephrase it. By protesting or doing an "informational picket" workers have a voice in improving their working conditions (in this case potentially wages). By simply saying that "workers knew what they'd be paid.. and should move on if they don't like it", the contention is that workers should never have an ability or voice to argue for better wages in their workplace? Comprende'?
My Husband worked at a Walmart for a couple of months, and they treated him like DIRT. Management was rude and uncaring, never said hi or good morning just growled at all the employees constantly. Â Hubby was very hurt and saddened by these conditions and now thank God he has a better job where management actually says good morning and treats you well. Â I will never shop at a Walmart again. If I needed something that only they carry in my town, I would rather drive to the next town 30 miles away to get it.
This is a funny comment given the title of the article "Workers in more than 100 cities were expected to go on strike as part of the continued wave of protests in 46 states."
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Workers in more than 100 cities WERE EXPECTED to go on strike--- where is the news of how many actually did?
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why is this in the local new section, it doesn't give any details whatsoever about what happened to the walmart stores locally, congrats komo...
@Tyler Dryden:Â
Um, did you bother to watch the video? That was at the Renton store - you know, a LOCAL store.
These comments are absurd. Getting paid garbage while not getting enough hours in a week is something to be mad about. Wal-Mart is the largest and most profitable retailer in the WORLD. This isn't some "gimme gimme" attitude here. That's a ridiculous claim! You can't live on the wages they get, and even if they could they can't get the hours to do so. "Just because I did it you have no excuse if you aren't where I'm at" is one of the most absolutely ignorant and self-righteous things I've ever heard out of people. There are a plethora of reasons that a person could be working at Wal-Mart as their only option and is struggling because of it. Companies have no obligations to employees to treat them well beyond the legal bare minimum? That's fine, because employees have no obligation to sit and be happy with being treated like crap. This is the farthest thing from being ungrateful and selfish.Â
 @jowsuf So now the progressives Socialist want money made at other stores to be redistributed to ?  WalMart is the largest seller of AMERICAN made products in China . Do you want to stop that also ?Â
Can someone please explain. " Walmart is the largest seller of Amerian made products in China?" I have seen this comment posted here a number of times. Are there Walmart stores in China? Does it sell American made products? Did someone transpose words meaning that Walmart sells good made in China to Americans? sorry but I don't understand the comment.
 @truthinadverts:Â
I really hate to burst your bubble, but Wal*Mart DOES have stores in China:
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Walmart has 8,500 stores in 15 countries, under 55 different names.[11] The company operates under the Walmart name in the United States, including the 50 states and Puerto Rico. It operates in Mexico as Walmex, in the United Kingdom as Asda, in Japan as Seiyu, and in India as Best Price. It has wholly owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, and Canada. Walmart's investments outside North America have had mixed results: its operations in the United Kingdom, South America and China are highly successful, whereas ventures in Germany and South Korea were unsuccessful.
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SOURCE:Â A 3 second google search, which brought up Wiki.
 @jennieb These people simply post lies over and over... there's no accountability in internet news blogs they take advantage of that full tilt. Interestingly Walmart is  dramatically growing the US trade deficit with China... not the other way around as guys like Maynard might like you to believe... Why he and others are pushing this while claiming to be patriotic Americans... I have no idea. http://www.epi.org/publication/ib235/
 @jowsuf I think a lot of folks forget that employment is a 2 way street. The employer has to pay a fair wage to expect employees to keep working there. Sadly there aren't many other jobs to go to at the moment so saying "FIND ANOTHER JOB" isn't really an option for most. I know people in the Seattle area really don't understand what it is like to grow up in the midwest/midsouth/south where there isn't another employer because Walmart chased out any other businesses in the area.   My first retail jobs growing up were in the mid south and the first video we were shown was "the evil of unions!" videos. My generation has been so very brainwashed into believing that unions are bad. When in reality, they make the whole industry better. Germany has the best economy in the world right now with around 4% unemployment and is literally entirely unionized.  Unions work when they aren't completely neutered like they are here in the US.
 @quidproquo  @jowsuf When I worked for a nation-wide large corporation they would check with comparable union corps. on an annual basis to make sure our wages stayed competitive. So even though we weren't union we benefited from unions.Â
well, if they don't like it maybe they should find work else where!
 @zeke123 Unlike
Love to see how much other "Americans" will support those who have less, a real eye opener. But then again, they also liked that Romney wouldn't like to support that proverbial 47% either.
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So ok, they make low wages and many here feel that they simply lack a real education. And you know that how? Some of them ar3e Veterans who the other employers won't hire because of their fear that the Veteran might just have an issue with PTSD. And since they are earning so much less, the employees, how then could they afford to pay rent, utilities, etc., and also pay for more education? Walmart hires temps and keeps an army of part time employees, who as through an investigation, also have to fall back on use of some social services for making ends meet, food stamps, etc. Yet Walmart has enough to list as outright profit, and the ability to make major contributions toward republican politicians. While the citizens in the area subsidize the employees with our tax dollars so Walmart doesn't have to. And it is also known that Walmart does have a lot of their employees getting injured on the job, but the employee has no insurance coverage.
 @WSims007 http://news.yahoo.com/goodwill-walmart-foundation-expand-career-advancement-program-help-120000610.html This is just one program Walmart supports for veterans. Walmart also has as good a employee further education program as any union retailer. You should really do a fact check before posting . You know check "Google "  then other sites.
@Maynard G Krebbs:
ANother fantastic program they have that few know about is VAP - Volunteerism Always Pays. ANY associate who volunteers an hour a week to a 501 c3 charity can then desiganate t0o receive a donation of $100 to that charity in their name. I took full advantage of this year rou nd - I volunteered at the YMCA for my son's child care, and in the summer when the rest of the ztore was doing inventory (YUCK!) I went to swummer camp as a Counselor.
 @Maynard G KrebbsÂ
So then why does Walmart pay women so poorly? Why does Walmart not provide more "full time employment" versus their temp and part timers? Why does Walmart cry about putting money to employees pay, but make so many political and other donations? You need to broaden your fact check.
 @wsims007:Â
".... And it is also known that Walmart does have a lot of their employees getting injured on the job, but the employee has no insurance coverage ...."
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Only one little problem with your statement - if they are "injured on the job", their medical insurance would not be obligated or required to pay if they DID have it. Work-related illnesses & injuries are covered under L&I. Wal*Mart used to self-insure for that, but L&I had so many complaints about that that the state took that away & made it mandatory that they go thru L&I for future claims.
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I know this as I was "mid-claim" with a work injury when this all happened back in 1997. After the dust settled, I was issued a check to pay benefits that had been denied by WM - sweet!
I think the biggest issue is not necessarily the paying wage........I think it has more to do with hiring all the associates to part time. Thereby bypassing the need to pay benefits......... The reality is, if Walmart changes and hires more full time and uses part-time to fill the gaps......there will be a lot of people out of a job because they wouldnt need as many employees. I certainly dont have the answer, nor even a good argument one way or the other just thought I would point that out.
So, not many employees joined in the protests. Looks like they learned after the Hostess debacle.
You all are incredible. A company, by its very definition, has no responsibility to its employees except as it affects its customers. Stay in business. Make profit. Do so by following the law. There is no moral obligation here. This has nothing to do with Walmart. This is again the "take care of me" statists wanting there to be not an equal opportunity, but an equal outcome.
 @marvin "A company, by its very definition, has no responsibility to its employees"
So...it would also be fair to say that the employees have no responsibility to the company? That - in the middle of the busiest day of the year - the employees can walk off the job to picket the company's treatment of them? Or slow down to the legal productivity?
 @OrcasThunder  @marvin Sure ,just as the Bakers Union did with Hostess.
 @flyskiwindsurf  @strangel00p It's always fun to see the "Let business be business, some make it some fail" raw capitalists rush to blame the unions, the workers, for that company failing...at the same time as they applaud the upper management taking huge "performance bonuses"as they walk out the door...
Some blindness you can't cure.
@strangel00p And because of various âmanagementâ just sucking the blood, life, and money out of it.
 @Maynard G Krebbs  @OrcasThunder  @marvin Hostess died because of crappy products.
 @marvin Ayn Rand loves this kind of me-ism. It's not so good for our country though.
 @strangel00p Seems to have served it better than the Marxism opposite it.
 @marvin Reality is not black and white. It's not Capitalism vs. Marxism. Capitalism with caring for others is what America was founded on. We're all in this together and we should support our brothers and sisters. If we continue to go down the road of haves vs. have-nots, we'll end up like the other countries we look like: Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Russia. We do, in fact, need more equality of outcomes. You may balk, but try reading "Twilight of the elites", which respects some Tea Party views, even as it supports communitarianism.
 @Maynard G Krebbs  @OrcasThunder  @marvin  @strangel00p Do you know any progressives? Or just what you see on Fox News?
 @Maynard G Krebbs  @marvin  @strangel00p "But if you live 10-20 % below your income level"
OK...glad we got that settled.
Now, please explain how you do this on minimum wage for 30 hrs or less a week?
And please, don't say "Well, you just borrow more from your parents"...
 @OrcasThunder  @marvin  @strangel00p Then go earn some. . Some people earn it with hard work and sweat,others with brains. . It isn't so much of what you earn,but more of what you do with the money you earn. if you blow it on drugs and alcohol  you won't have much. if you spend it new cars and bigger house you won't have much. But if you live 10-20 % below your income level ,buy another house and rent it out or invest {not Obama definition of "investment'}  You will end up set .
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 @marvin  @strangel00p Only for those who already have their money...
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