As if the annual reports of riots, tramplings and other bad behavior aren’t enough, Black Friday 2012 may be even uglier than usual at Walmart.
Black Friday deal hunters at Walmart may be crossing picket lines to shop.
Walmart employees from 28 stores in 12 different cities staged a walkout on Tuesday, rallying against the retail giant with claims of unfair labor practices and retaliation against employees who try to organize. Strike organizers United Food and Commercial Workers Making Change At Walmart (UFCW) and affiliated group OUR Walmart warn that if their demands are not met, a Black Friday strike is imminent.
“We feel like if they refuse to listen to our proposition we will make sure that on Black Friday we will take action inside and outside of stores,” said Colby Harris, a 22 year old Walmart worker from Dallas, Texas and OUR Walmart member. “We’ll make it known that Walmart’s deadline is Black Friday,” he added. Strike plans may include picketing, leaflets and flash mobs.
Dan Schlademan, a UFCW official, told Salon that to avert the Black Friday actions, Walmart must “end the retaliation,” including rehiring workers who allegedly were fired for speaking out.
If no resolution is reached by Black Friday, Terri O’Neill, President of the National Organization for Women, says that NOW members will join striking Walmart employees on the picket lines on Black Friday, asking customers “whether they really want to spend their dollars on a company that treats workers this way.” NOW’s involvement in the strike appears to be related to a class action lawsuit brought by current and former female employees alleging gender discrimination. The case landed in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, where it was eventually dismissed. Support for a Walmart Black Friday strike also comes from the National Consumers League and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.
“These strikes are an attempt by the unions to further their own political and financial agendas,” said David Tovar, Walmart VP of communications in an interview with The Huffington Post. ”More than half of Walmart’s one million hourly store associates have an hourly wage at least $10.00 or higher. In fact, in many metropolitan areas in which we operate, our entry level start rates regularly exceeds that of new hires for comparable positions under the UFCW contracts.”
Walmart is no stranger to controversy, from allegations of retaliation against activist employees to the recent firing of an elderly greeter who instinctively grabbed onto the clothing of a customer who pushed her as she fell.
With a possible strike looming at Walmart and Target refusing to participate in the holiday price wars, who will come out on top in the Black Friday race? If a Walmart Black Friday strike happens, then we’re looking for Target to take the prize. Their press release about holiday prices came early enough in the shopping season to be largely forgotten by November 23rd. We’re also betting on Kohl’s and JC Penney making significant gains as they pick up a share of the shoppers who would have gone to Walmart otherwise.
Where will you shop if Walmart workers strike on Black Friday? Take our poll and tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
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About Rebecca Lehmann
As a data analyst and sometimes blog author, Rebecca helps the team keep an eye on Black Friday news and trends. Her favorite Black Friday purchase was a quilted down-filled winter coat.
If there is a strike.. why would you “go to walmart anyway” there wont be anyone working to check you out, or help you if you need it… why would you still go?
Because most Walmarts have self checkout. So in reality when I use the self checkout I work for walmart?
There will be workers there,,,to many people need a job,,they will hire other workers to come in for those 2 days,,,,,there will NEVER be no one in there,,,it will go on,,,an thw workers who leave will be missing those hours,,,an have a shorter pay check before Xmas ,,,,,
The strike might happen but Walmart will have more people hired for the holiday anyway. So this strike will not hurt Walmart. People will still shop at Walmart, I hate Walmart but still shop there because NOONE can beat the prices that Walmart offers. NO other store can compare to what Walmart offers, everything in one store, food, clothes, home, sporting good, and paint. Like where can u go get dinner for tonight and ammo for your gun at the same time. So these lawsuits arent really hurting Walmart.
I work for a wal mart and not getting anything close to $10 per hour where are those stores at that are paying that kind of money i want to work there … It amazes me that the millions of dollars that wal mart makes every day nation wide and they still only pay their workers minimum wages … I bet the CEO’s of walmart are earning big dollars … It’s time to share some of the walmart wealth with the little guys that sell the products to pay for your CEO wages …
Walmart Employee I have no idea what Walmart you work at but I know people who work in our local one and they all start at $9.00 and above depending on the job. Say they need to spread the wealth also tell me you are a socio-communist who believes companies are evil and the government ought to run everything. I am sure the CEO of Walmart makes a million or more a year but he has a million times the responsability of the floor workers.
I agree i worked for walmart for 5 years before i made ten dollars an hour.
I hear ya from the Walmart employee on the salary pay…I live in NH and they actually advertise “now hiring” with a wage of $8.40 an hour to be a cashier?????
I’m going just to watch the flash mobs! HaHa!
I make less than that and I dont even work at Wal-mart. McDonalds pays less too. I agree they are an awful company but, the reason they are still around and aloud to treat their employees like dirt is because the employees need their jobs. I think they should strike-but its October why wait till black friday and ruin everyone elses day-do it now and get paid that much extra on black friday…
I worked at walmart 2 years ago and it took me 5 years just to get to $8.75. I agree with the strike, walmart makes billions and I believe they could treat their employees better and respect them way more than simple work horses. I don’t agree that different type of jobs should be paid more than others, should be the same on all levels when hired or due to experience. Walmart is good at making their employees shift to higher sections/departments without the benefit of the pay. Everyone at my store would have loved to strike but they were too afraid. When someone mentioned the word union they would say “you will get fired for saying that”. Black Friday is the perfect time for striking because it would bring attention of bad publicity and so what if they hire temp workers it will still be chaos.
This company has become a monster with too much power. they import billions and billions from China. Employees are treated like Surfs. I support the strike and will not shop there no matter how much money I would save which by the way…ain’t that much
I may be right there with you Mary. I do not do much shopping at walmart as I said in my comment. Only for health and beauty and seasonal item, and to be honest there is not anything else real close to me. The more I hear and the more research I do though, I am most likely going to stop there all together. And you are right about the saving money….I buy diapers for young girls who get pregnant and need help….do I buy them at walmart???? NEVER….because I can get Luvs at Ingles once a month when they go on sale for cheaper than Walmarts brand….Never really do great Black Friday at walmart anyway…..just once again, helping the young folks out…(my kids are grown, and do well on their own) by buying the little kids pjs on black friday for cheap….
A strike isn’t going to do anything anyway. The only thing that is or would do any good if for customers to not shop there at all. Then they would have to go out of business, and could bring Richway back. lol I hate walmart. Do I shop there? Yes, because I do have to watch prices and they are closest to me. However, there are only a few things that I do buy at walmart. Mostly health and beauty and seasonal will about do it for me…..I have no idea how they treat their employees, but I would assume not so great at all, because all the cashiers seem to hate being there!!!! One of the reasons I do NOT go there unless I really have to, is because I think it is absolutely ridiculous when you have 30 cash registers and only 2 are being ran….then you have the self serve ones…to be quicker. I have never had so many problems until I started going thru them…..I really do wish they had some competition, then maybe things would change. To me, Target is alot higher than walmart, and is not considered competition at all….
Kohls employees should go on strike as well. I am proud yet jealous of the Walmart employees who had enough courage to do this. Kohls is just as bad if not worse. It took me over 2 years to get 7.50 an hour. We Never get over 20 hours a week. If we do not keep spamming kohls charges we are black listed. If you close you may not leave until the store is recovered it may be midnight or later and they do factor all of that into scheduling. If you can’t do full time availability you will be pushed out in a matter of weeks. The Sedgwick company that handles leaves and absences will try to screw you out of your original scheduled time off. We can not strike because we will be replaced in a matter of seconds. There is no way you can work your way up the corporate ladder. I know a woman who got a lead position but was screwed out of a raise.
I love shopping at Walmart! Do I agree on all their polocies? No… I mean what store has 20 something registers and only 4 open when its busy. I also have a friend that works at walmart. He was told if he didnt start working night shifts they would fire him. Who does that? Why should he be fired if he doesnt want to work the overnight shift. The man has a family!
I used to work at Walmart in Mooresville NC, they railroaded me out of there because too many girls had too much drama and they wanted me to take a drawer as a cashier and would not let me count it first!! Wtf?!?!? When I asked why the old battleax said u don’t have time! Well perhaps if scheduling would have been more adequate, I would not have been put in that situatuon!
Walmart management has become a huge joke! They snap and snarl at staff members and under schedule according to ridiculous budgets!! They r the leaders in sales for department stores! I am seriously considering not shopping there any longer! They make bad life choices where staff is concerned! Myrtle beach stores fire people weeks before they r due to retire then watch them lose everything! They fight unemployment with ridiculous lies and other staff they give small raises to help them lie at the unemployment hearings, these stores should be under some type of monitor for its morals and ethics especially where staff is concerned!!
Our Walmart has more than enough employees that appreciate having a job in this economy. How foolish to give their hard earned wages to a union that has only their own interests at heart. I hope the employees ask for the union to put their claims in writing, as they are creating a marketing scam on the backs of our employees. Please Walmart staff, do not be short cited and stiff the company that places food on your table!
i worked for walmart for 17 years and did not make $15.00 an hour