Walmart workers protest wages, benefits on Black Friday

Updated 5:17 PM ET

Walmart workers were spotted protesting at dozens of stores across the country Friday morning as part of a nationwide walk-out during one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

More than a 100 protesters in lime green shirts marched outside the Walmart in Lakewood, Colo., on Black Friday to demand higher wages and better benefits.

CBS Los Angeles affiliate KCAL-TV reports a handful of people left the Walmart in Duarte, Calif., early Friday morning to hand out flyers and hold signs in support of the workers. There were also reports of protests in North Carolina, Texas, Minnesota, Florida, Kentucky and other states.

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"I did it because I support our Walmart and I don't like the way they treat their associates here," worker Richard Reynoso told KCAL-TV's Art Barron. "And I believe with our help, we could be able to change that."

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In Lakewood, Colo., shoppers hesitated as they passed dozens of protesters outside a Wal-Mart but entered without incident. Some protesters held signs playing off of the retailing giant's corporate slogan, "Live better," accusing the company of corporate greed and underpaying its workers.

"This is the way you get a fair shake. You've got to fight for it. You've always had to," said protester Charlie May, of the Industrial Workers of the World labor organization.

The strike was organized by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and a group called OUR Walmart, which said it was protesting unfair labor practices and demanding better pay for employees. The group had anticipated 1,000 protests across the country.

Some demonstrations began Thursday night, when stores opened their doors early for Black Friday deals. Walmart U.S Chief Executive Bill Simon claimed in a statement that not nearly as many employees walked out as the union had expected.

"Only 26 protests occurred at stores last night and many of them did not include any Walmart associates," he said.

"We estimate that less than 50 associates participated in the protest nationwide. In fact, this year, roughly the same number of associates missed their scheduled shift as last year," Simon said.

Walmart associates are not unionized, so the chain does not officially recognize the UFCW. Company executives defended their treatment of employees.

"Walmart's pay and benefits plans are as good as or better than our retail competitors, including those that are unionized," Steven V. Restivo, Senior Director of Community Affairs, told KCAL-TV.

Of the company's 2.2 million workers, Restivo said Walmart has 250,000 employees who have worked for the company for more than ten years. In 2011, the company promoted 165,000 hourly employees, KCAL-TV reports.

OUR Walmart, however, has said employee income -- often close to minimum wage -- is barely enough to live on, and the group claims it has received complaints of retaliation from the employers for speaking out.

"Unfair labor is working full time and living in poverty," Colby Harris, a Walmart associate from Lancaster Texas, said in a UFCW press release. "Unfair labor is seeing your health care premiums skyrocket year after year. Unfair labor is being denied the hours needed to support your family. Unfair labor is being punished for exercising your freedom of speech and association."

The size and enthusiasm of the protests varied from store to store. None of those protesting at a Walmart in South Philadelphia actually worked there. CBS Philadelphia affiliate KYW-TV spoke to one worker who didn't agree with what was going on outside. "Everything they're saying is wrong, wrong, absolutely wrong," the employee said. "They give us benefits, they give us extras, they give us parties, we get bonuses, this is all wrong."

At a Walmart in Northeast Philadelphia, however, at least two of the protesters were employees. "There's not enough staffing in the stores, we don't get enough hours," one man told KYW-TV.

Walmart claimed Friday had been the retail giant's best Black Friday ever sales wise.

Shoppers were expected to spend more than $11 billion on Black Friday, considered the first day of the holiday shopping season. Retailers expect to make up to 10 percent of their all-important holiday profits this weekend.

[buckeroo5]

I guess by benefits requested is used to convey income received but not considered income to be taxed. So these Wal-Mart workers wish the rest of us workers who do not receive such income not taxed should just accept that fact and go on. We are paying thousands yearly for health insurance and our retirement must come from after tax savings. Perhaps the press should notice this inequity. But then everyone has their own agenda ... don't they & equity is not the goal for all workers just a few.

[eroteme2]

So Walmart unskilled workers demand higher wages. They are lucky they are not receiving minimum wage. The cashiers do not need to know how to make change, those who add goods to the shelves could easily be replaced by robots. Without marketable skills these people are lucky to be employed by Walmart.

[marcie10000]

Actually, cashiers have the most-difficult job as there's a multitude of ways things have to be rung up - sorting and keying in WIC and food stamp items are the most demanding. Then comes produce -there's over 200 codes for produce. Finally, the cashier is the "happy face of Walmart," when he wants to cry and scream many times due to rude customers. Ero - surviving a cashier stint at Walmart opens up many doors to better jobs.

[BigBadFatAl]

I really hate seeing all the WalMart employees having to wear those leg shackles and irons keeping them working there.

[Boufordv]

this is a free country. if they do not like it then they can quit.

[mjvwsr]

When you've done nothing to improve your station in life other than master the phrase "Welcome to Walmart," you deserve what you get paid.

[panjok2]

She says she doesn't like to cross picket lines but does anyways...all in order to save a few bucks! Thanks LADY...Maybe if Americans would stand together we could get Walmart to bring half their employees off of Welfare? I think it is sad that these single moms have to be on welfare while working at Walmart! I think it is sad that just 1/8 of one of Waltons daughters money a year could bring All Walmart employees above $10 dollars an hour! This is why Americans have the "live on Welfare" attitude!

[truthsayer1]

Only 500 actual Walmart workers participated. The violence was caused by the thousands of Obama's SEIU union workers.

[fly_on_da_wall]

Wow! alot of comments,,,,and opinions, So now heres mine:)
Sam Walton is probly turned over in his grave and said HUH? I will first say that i have worked for Wal Mart, i have held many positions, I loved working at Wal Mart. I loved what i did at Wal Mart, i loved the customers (99% of them haha) at Wal Mart, i enjoyed the whole retail atomosphere. Now working for Wal Mart is another story. Unless you have worked there or in retail period, you all dont know what it really takes to be a under skilled, under educated, under appreciated, under paid, food stamp wielding associate. The hard work all the hourly associates put in to those stores. Shelves stocked, product on shelves straight, legible, clean..having to throw 60to70 cases per hour, aisles clear of all hazards for us THE CONSUMER. Ive seen a 70yr old man pull a pallet of produce from the backroom to the front of the store so it can be put away. Ive seen and coached both associates and customers during disagreements infront of a store full of on lookers and in the managers office. Ive seen, as many associates have, daily sales numbers, weekly, even hourly sales and then its payday,,,,,and your 9-10 dollar a hour WM paycheck becomes a insult. Follow some suggestions from WM, enroll into this, sign up for that and before you know it you pay stub looks like a tax return. Work for WM shop at WM,,hahaha their money keeps spinning right back to them and it gets bigger every time so ya,,why the heck wouldnt they give them associates more? You cant work at WM, live in the city and survive alone, dont see no WM's in small towns though.
A associate walked into a Reno NV WM, district office, walked to the backroom, pulled out a weapon and shot a few employees including the District Manager of HR Rick Burns,im sure we can all figure out the motive. Ive known associates who were getting evicted for rent being due, then fired for calling in so that they can move. Ive seen associates go to great lengths to satisfy a upset customer and WM wouldnt even give back to the customer.

Wal Mart,,,why you need all that money? Whats a couple bucks a hour per associate gunna do to your wallet? MAKE IT BIGGER CUZ THEIR GUNNA SHOP AT WALMART!

[zebra62]

The unions are so hungry for more dues and pension money that they are attacking good non-union companies. Without any recall elections to picket, they pay and send their union members around the country to try to stymy Walmart. Evidently, they would prefer these Walmart employees be unemployed like 18 million other people. When you realize that the unions only represent less than 10% of America's employees, you see how effective they are. The unions are more about collecting dues and pension money than they are about helping employees. Google the "Underfunded Union Pension Accounts" and see the surprise there. They milk these accounts to use the money elsewhere.

[Lindag20]

Unions PROTECT their workers from employer abuse. For example my daughter is a union (AFTRA/SAG) background actor in NYC. On the Sunday ofter hurricane Sandy the production company took advantage of the fact the SAG office was closed and after busing the cast to a northern suburb of NYC, left them to find their own way home at 10:00 p.m. with the transportation system barely working. The union made the company pay a hefty fine which translated into COMPENSATION for the people left in a bad situation. Wal-Mart LOVES to take advantage of its employees and most of them make very low wages and only work part time so they don't get benefits. Unions aren't the thugs that you seem to believe they are.

[makemyday2da]

SLOWNEWS and LINDAG20 - You do realize Wal-Mart can only keep their prices low by paying lower wages and paying less for their products. There's NO way they can afford to pay union wages AND keep their prices what they are. No one I know of is being forced to work there so if they don't like it, go work somewhere else.

Our local Wal-Mart is trashy and I rarely shop there - once a year, if that. The people that work there are earning about what they deserve and never try to help anyone.

Unions served their purpose in the PAST. Now they try to take control of everything - all in the name of - oh, just like the big corporations they despise - MONEY! That's right, those union dues are keeping the union bosses living high on the hog, and they ONLY care about getting more workers in their 'cult' for MORE money. Talk junk all you want about the big companies and their profits - then take ANOTHER look at union 'big shots'. Their goals are ONE and the SAME!

You're brainwashed with union rhetoric if you think they care diddly about their members! As much as I can't stand Wal-Mart and everything they've done to this country, I hope they stand STRONG against union takeover!

[erika05]

Who are these people who think their fellow Americans should have to live on wages that can't begin to support a decent life? I understand why more WalMart workers didn't strike - they knew they would be fired. WalMart makes incredible profits and plays games with its workers in terms of benefits. And why is it that Costco can pay its workers living wages and give benefits?

Walmart is a people unfriendly company. Its wages are shameful. I won't be going anywhere near a WalMart until it treats its employees with respect. And I can't understand why decent people don't boycott its stores in mass until the situation changes.

[takacrat]

Lets see here! Go uNION, pay a higher wage, less workers that can't be fired, more Rules for less service and the uNION fat cats is now taking the private plain rides to OJ Vegas! But don't tell anybody!!

[Lindag20]

IDK Slow: I'm curious about the plain rides and where OJ Vegas is located. LOL

[MurdochSucks]

LOL, how plain are the rides to OJ Vegas? With "less workers that can't be fired," would you support the uNION mantra?