Protests greet shoppers at Wal-Marts nationwide
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Wal-Mart workers and supporters marched in protest at a number of stores nationwide Thursday and Friday, blasting the wages, benefits and treatment of employees of the world's largest retailer.
The efforts seemed to do little to keep shoppers away, though — Wal-Mart said it was its best Black Friday ever.
In Paramount, Calif., authorities arrested a small group of protesters Friday outside a Wal-Mart. Elizabeth Brennan of Warehouse Workers United said nine people, including three Wal-Mart employees, were arrested shortly after 12 noon for blocking the street outside the store in Paramount. At one point, however, more than 1,000 people blocked traffic outside the store, Sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker told KNBC-TV.
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.
A union-backed group called OUR Walmart has said that it is holding an estimated 1,000 protests in 46 states. The exact number is unclear. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has refuted that estimate, saying the figure is grossly exaggerated and that the protests involved few of its own employees.
A number of demonstrations and walk-outs occurred last week at stores but were scheduled to culminate on one of the year's busiest shopping days. The size and impact of the protests varied greatly by site. OUR Walmart, made up of current and former Wal-Mart employees, was formed in 2010 to press the company for better working conditions. Wal-Mart has criticized the group for relying largely on other unions and non-employees to make up the ranks protesting outside its stores.
The retailer also filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board last week against the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. The company said that the demonstrations organized by OUR Walmart threatened to disrupt its business and intimidate customers and associates.
Wal-Mart estimated that fewer than 50 associates participated in Thursday and Friday's protests nationwide. Company spokesman Dan Fogleman said that the number of associates who missed their shifts during the two days of events is 60 percent lower than last year.
"It was proven last night - and again today - that the OUR Walmart group doesn't speak for the 1.3 million Walmart associates," the company said in a statement.
The union group estimated that "hundreds" of employees participated nationwide.
Victoria Martinez, 29, marched in front of the store in Paramount on Black Friday. The Wal-Mart photo department employee worked her shift on Thanksgiving but skipped work on Friday to "speak out". She said the company shows a lack of respect for employees, noting that she faced retaliation by local managers after speaking out about problems during an open discussion sponsored by the head office.
"I believe that when I started at this company, it was great," said Martinez, who's worked for Wal-Mart for seven years. "They've taken away everything that is great. "
Wal-Mart for many years has faced intense scrutiny over its wage and benefit policies and treatment of its workers. Fogleman says that the company provides some of the best jobs in the retail industry and that its wages and benefits typically meet or exceed those of competitors. The retailer maintains that it has many long-term employees and that its turnover rate is below the industry average.
The company, based in Bentonville, Ark., operates 10,400 stores in 27 countries.
Robert Jablon in Los Angeles and Peter Banda in Lakewood, Colo. contributed to this report.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Just noticed the spelling of "Walmart" on the store photo. Why do people and the media still refer to it as the hyphenated "Wal-Mart"?
Since there seems to be a few open minded individuals posting to this comment section, here is some additional information on the Person who bought out Hostess. It isn't the usual Huffingtion Post, Daily Kos or even CNN  that some of you are used to getting your hard news from but I'm sure you're open minded enough to get your information from a variety of sources.
 http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/11/24/Vulture-Capitalism-Not-Responsible-For-Hostess-Demise?utm_source=BreitbartNews&utm_medium=facebook You'll have to copy the web address and paste it into your browser to open it.
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 Enjoy!
Think outside the big box store.
Unions and their members never ending greed for more money and more benefits were the cause of GM and Chrysler to fail and nearly go bankrupt. It was the private sector that bailed out GM and Chrysler with their tax dollars. Unions have now succeeded in forcing the Hostess company to fail and put 18,000 employees on the unemployment line. All due to Union greed and extortion. We can all thank Unions for increased costs from apple fritters to automobiles. And now the SEIU parasites are protesting Walmart? It's bad enough that we have to suffer through another four years of Obama's depression without Union greed trying to destroy the remaining jobs we have left. The next time a school teacher is charged with rape, and it's discovered that he or she has already been transferred from another school for the same allegation, just remember it's the [Union] that protects the teacher.Â
 @last boyscout So you would rather we have slave wages, no unemployment, no workers comp, no OSHA, 16 hour work days 7 days a week, no overtime, no protection from harrassment, etc. etc.? Those are the things that the Unions had changed. Now I would very much like to see any cases you can show where a Teachers Union has moved a teacher around because they were molesting kids? I think you are thinking Catholic School and they are not Union. From what you say there must be hundreds of cases to show so let's see them. Oh BTW isn't that what the Boy Scouts did to protect thier molesters?
 @swede760 To suggest that lessening Unions grip on companies would cause an instant regression to the dark ages is foolish at best. And 'slave wages'?, I wasn't there but I don't believe that 'slaves' were paid a salary. And as for 'harassment', there's non better than Union members with signs and hand held bullhorn loudspeakers intent on harming non Union companies during the Christmas shopping season. As for the teachers, there's an example on this site, but it requires reading, so good luck with that.Â
 @last boyscout You did not answer that question about the Boy Scouts there Scout. Actually history shows that many Slaves were in fact paid paltry amounts so they had something to spend occasionally. Some cultures actually treated thier slaves well so yes there were Slave Wages. We would not see an immediate loss of all the things the Unions have given us all but they would slowely go away without Organized Labor to fight for those things. I agree that in allot of instances that Union wages are too high but eliminating them is not the way to do it. Work with the workers to find ways to improve production and cut costs and if they all work together maybe they can all be willing to compromise and make things work. You know kind of like Adults are supposed to. BTW your petty insults just show what an out of touch Dweeb you are.
@swede760 ...."slave wages"........seriously?
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 @wahoo If any 'worker' wanted the CEO's job, all they had to do was take it. Simple, prove that you are smarter, more suited, and could make the company more profitable and you could have the job. The only jobs that pay more for doing less are Union jobs.
good point, but a lot of people want CEO pay without having to do CEO work or making the effort to climb the coporate ladder to get there
Tis the season to be greedy, Fa la la la la, la la la la
Office parties that get seedy, Fa la la la la, la la la la
Shopping with thier eyes all beady, Fa la la la la, la la la la
Pass by the Homeless and Needy, Fa la la la la, la la la la
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Wait for Walmart's doors to open, Fa la la la la, la la la la
Bargains they are all a scopin, Fa la la la la, la la la la
To stop thier Brat's endless moping,
Get there first is what thier hopin, Fa la la la la, la la la la
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Greed corrupts all of the races, Fa la la la la, la la la la
Getting into people faces, Fa la la la la, la la la la
Gun fights over parking spaces, Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Creditors on thier cases, Fa la la la la, la la la la
I don't care for the fact that some stores feel they need to needlessly disrupt their employees' holidays. So, I protested by not shopping there.
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Come on retailers, these people are idiots. If they're stupid enough to stand in line all day on T-day for a sale, they can certainly wait until normal business hours.
Ah, let's see - other than occupy anarchists dumbing down these protesters and telling them there was something or another to protest about over at Walmater, what was the point, again?Â
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They want to demand the right to tell Walmart how to run their free business. Just because? Anarchists with nothing better to do with turkey day. Are lying trying to make Walmart bad, bad, bad.Â
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No one is forced to work at Walmart. Go and work somewhere else if the terms of your employment at Walmartare not to your satisfaction. Isn't that why this country is a FREE ONE? No one is forced to do a danged thing.Â
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For the thousands of Walmart workers who agree to work there, agree to the terms of their employment - and  only need to work 32 hours a week or 15, it is a perfect fit. A job. A blessed place to work. And be provided the means to pay one's bills. And put food on the table.Â
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A second job in a family where two people don't need to work full time. A job for a retiree. JOBS FOR THE DISABLED and those that are challenged in other quantifiable ADA ways and means - who cannot work 40 hour work shift.Â
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But anarchal OCCUPIERS only want to portray Walmart as all big, bad and evil, all the time. What's that again, occupier liars? Come on....
@englishdaisy ..........daisy, a lot of these people may not even be wal-mart employees. They could be union shills paid by the union to demonstrate on "behalf" of wal-mart employees. It's a common tactic. Unions are despicable legalizrf extortionists that politicians use to get elected. Pathetic, the whole thing.
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 @HarryJuku HarryJuku - huh? Read my post, dude. Why falsely portray the workers at Walmart, or the CEO.Â
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But then why are public workers who are taking time off of their jobs for the state or the county or the city to occupy the streets and protest everything and anything - not willing to film a TRUTHFUL cinematic portrain all about their jobs, and their demands for terms that are very really BANKRUPTING the entire state today? And how it is they take a day off here, there and everywhere - just to protest. Just because.Â
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Hmmmmm - is that what it is all about? Or is it about this country being a free one. And no one being FORCED to work for the state, the county, the city - or for Walmart.Â
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Its'a thinker, Harry - THINK ABOUT IT.Â
If Walmart give a $100 bonus and good food all day to the employees who work on Black Friday there wonât be any problems. Many people shopped this year because the deals are goodÂ
 @Penny Workers who are unhappy anywhere - should seek another job.Â
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I cannot discern one problem here. Excepting occupiers wanting to protest - and make demands. Who have nothing of merit they are spewing about at the end of the day. Other than a disdain for a employer of tens of thousands of Americans and a free enterprise store than indeed did have tons of good deals on Black Friday and all year long. No one has to work there. No one indeed is FORCED to work anywhere in this free land of ours.Â
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Anarchal occupiers - say what again - about lawful tax revenue providing employers in this free country - and trying to make all of that - something "bad". Right...
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http://insidescoop.notlong.com
I was at the Wood Village WM last night. Tough time finding a place to park. No protesters. Nothing but folks spending money.
My stepmom has worked for Wal-Mart for over 20 years and seems to be happy with it. She never went to college, had kids young and got a job there at a young age, but they've treated her well as far as I can tell (she is paid well, gets vacation, benefits, days off when needed, etc).. Granted, she's been with the company a long time and as has earned pay increases over the years (also switched job positions, she works in the receiving area of the store with stock), but that's just my personal observation and one story of an employee. I'm sure there ARE reasons why there are people protesting over this, though, and Wal-Mart has its own entire set of socio-economic issues.
I work for WalMart and it is the best employer I've ever had! I work in the pharmacy and am happy to even have a job in today's economy...maybe they should look for another job if they're so unhappy!!
Losers!!! Be glad that you have a job. There are still a great deal of unemployed workers. Stop your damn whining!!!
There is nothing wrong with unionizing workers to ensure that they are paid and treated fairly by their employer. Unfortunately, unions often get it in their collective head that they can run roughshod over the employer and force them to institute policies that are no longer fair to either side, but act as a way for those in charge of the union to exercise their power and desire for more.
@Mikey .....unions, legalized extortion.
I'm not a big fan of Walmart so I don't shop there. Â But to tell any company when, why, and how to hire it's people is communistic in my book. Â It is what it is; a place to start or end a career. Â It's better than food stamps and it's worse than Nike. Â But what it does do for a person is help them get by until they find something better so suck it up butter cup, we've all been in a similar crappy job.
They should also protest the military. They are not union run yet. But then again, those that join do so of their own decision...just like those who choose to work at Walmart.
I hope no one buys Sony, they just been marked to Junk Status in the stocks...well at least this morning they were.
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 @lee986321 I still have fond memories of my first Sony Walkman in 1983.  As well as ALL other proprietary formats that Sony created for us that enriched our lives.  their products are generally upper-end and quite reliable compared to other competitors.
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Your comment has NO factual basis and is unrelated to the story. Â Seems you have too much time on your hands at the rate you post to a news commenting forum. Â Get away from your PC and go outside once in a while. Â Rather than waste your life putting your "two cents" into every story acting like we all care about YOUR personal opinion.
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Sony rocks and I hope nobody listens to the garbage lee986321 is spewing. Â hoping a company fails because of a silly stock assesment is pure stupid. Â Sony's products enriched many of our lives. lee986321's endless opinions enriches nothing but un-healthy debate.
Boomers "anti-uinion idiots" comment, makes me wonder how many Hostess workers are now LOVING the union that caused the loss of 18,000 jobs.  But it's not only the unions. Our gov't regulations have increased the cost of having employees so much that many small business are going out because of it. All retailers used to pay wages, plus bonus's...then gov't required full time employees to get money contributed to 401k's and a lot of other stuff, so the companies just went with part time employees so no benefits had to be paid. Along with that, you get a LOT of low wage employees that know nothing about thier job. The old adage "you get what you pay for" includes low wage employees who could care less about their job...just give them their check.
They need to chant, "no jobs, no jobs, no jobs, just say no to employment".
Get and Education and a real job
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If people want to shop and work their let them. Just because you feel that way doesn't make it right to harass those who do. It their and your opinion or are you just looking for confrontation? If so go to a biker bar.
It's too bad that people have to work at  places like Walmart in order to have a job.  But, of course the anti-union idiots think this is OK.  Better to work for  peanuts and under less than good conditions than join a union and have a good job.  I'm not including the corrupt teacher's unions in this.  They are nothing more than a bunch of worthless losers who are of no value to society.
@boomer .......so people that have a different opinion than you are "idiots" ?? Speaks volumes about you !
 @boomer BOOMER - the public teachers UNION is the worst example of forcing unionization on any worker - of all.Â
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But then the legislature in Oregon had to FORCE Oregon's public teacher union to pony up known child molesters in their ranks - and stop shielding them.Â
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Come on, people. THINK for yourself. If you want to work at Walmart and you agree to the work terms there - do so. And appreciate the job.Â
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If you don't want to work there - seek another job. Stop lying about all of this. Just stop it.Â
 @boomer First off, no one HAS to work at Walmart. Slavery was abolished a long time ago so anyone who works there CHOSE to apply to work there. There are "places like Walmart" only because people choose to support places at Walmart by shopping there. The only way to get rid of places like Walmart is to get the masses to stop shopping there. Good luck with that.
@leapfrogger @boomer So if people stop shopping there, then everyone would be out of a job....nice thinking!
Under less then ideal conditions? Give me a break, I would submit most people work in under less then ideal conditions. My job requires me to work in crawl spaces and attics. You wont hear me crying my eyes out about less then ideal conditions.Â
 @boomer You're kidding right? The teacher's union is the epitome of unions.Â
 @boomer GO BOOMER GO
I am sure some people really like working at WM, they are called "Managers" Anyone less is just so much dirt on the floor to them.
 @disgustedman disgusted man - are you so sure. The person who needs only a party time job- hates the free choice to work there.Â
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The retiree who is grateful for a job that supplements his or her retirements - hates the free right to work at Walmart, too? Come on - the disabled worker who only can work party time - hates, hates, hates Walmart. Just because anarchal lawless OCCUPIERS tell them something or another.Â
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Or you, disgusted are just too stupid to think for yourself. And anarchal occupiers just love to LIE to people like "you" - because you are so dumb, you will believe anything LIE they tell you. Yup. Anytime. And the back to their public jobs - anarchal lying HYPOCRITES go.Â
Have you worked at WalMart or just heard the rumors?
I truly feel sorry for all those who have to work at WalMart. Working conditions are atrocious, schedules are arbitrary and salaries are barely above poverty level. Yet, as long as workers need jobs, they will continue to flock there for those jobs they need so much. If you need a job, what's the alternative? It's a job, yes; but is it a life? No! Â
 @jpk The taxpayers subsidize WalMart's profits by paying for foodstamp and subsidized housing for their workers because WalMart pays them so low that they are eligible for these poverty benefits. And guess who gets rich off of this arrangement? The CEOs of WalMart.
Seems like there is an easy way to "defeat" Wal-Mart, if that is what the people really want. 1) don't work there, and 2) don't shop there. So, why does it take protests? Could it be that some people don't demand inflated union wages (those that can bring GM and other huge companies to their knees)? Could it be that some people like (and in some cases need) to get the lowest prices they can for what they buy? If we succeed in forcing them to accept the unions' inflated wages and force them to raise prices, how many low income families are we hurting? I have no idea but I do wonder.
The lady in picture 2 must be "Occupy" for showing a defaced American flag. Â It was probably damaged by the union.
 @RandyH I am sorry you pointed that out. I hadn't noticed. People who pervert the American flag for their purposes really annoy me.
I have yet to see a gun put to the head of anyone forcing them to work @ Wal Mart, or any other store for that matter. I'm sure if you don't like the hours, working conditions, or whatever I'm sure there's someone willing to take your place. As for labor unions their only problem is the fact they don't like working on days ending in "Y".
 @JLO you must not like the hollidays
@lee986321 If I had a dollar for every holiday I had to work, I wouldn't have had to work. I could actually care less about the holidays.
For the whirledworld: Back in the day, lat century, when I was busy working my way through school in NYC in the late 60's I worked at the Greater Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P) supermarket in NYC on E 54th St. I worked my rear end off for the minimum wage in NYC at the time, got to meet a lot of "famous" shoppers, but knew I was destined for greater things, so kept my mouth shut! I had to join a union, and got a retirement card when I left upon graduation. Have I ever needed my alleged benefits (none) from the Amalgamated Food Handlers and Butchers Workmen of the USA Local 400? Nope! Have I missed them? Nope! Â
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Thank you, we did that! LOL
 @JLO  @jpk Personally, back in the day,  I had  loved my job  at  a grocery store which was not unionized  but had/kept union style benefits because Fred Meyers  (competitors) was unionized and I got paid double-time journeyman's wages on holidays. Made the working the holidays mostly painless only because we were compensated well for it. We generally got paid a little more than Freddies employees did just to keep us from unionizing. We had livable wages. Not wealth, but livable wages. If Freddies had not been unionized back then,  all those jobs would have sucked like so many do now: poor wages/no medical/etc. and we all would have been eligible for foodstamps and housing assistance instead of paying our own way.
 @jpk You could do the college student solution:Put your clothes in the bathtub while taking a shower and stomp on them like grapes, rinse, repeat then wring them out to dry. Or you can go to the laundromat with a pal, some beer and a cribbage board. ( another college style of getting laundry done).
 @lee986321  @jpkÂ
1. I find it funny that someone who admittedly collects government benefits is again giving out monetary advice!
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2. "And having a Kid ..that is a real need" Yeah, a real need if you actually work and are productive instead of wasting time on the KATU message board instead of finding a job and working for a living instead of leaching off society(while at the same time lamenting the fact that people feed off the governments TIT on said message board)
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Ironic to say the least....looking it up....it is spelling IRONY!
 @jpk Meh, were losing the tranny on the car and my brother fixed on oil, water pump and timing pulleys all for 200 the parts alone were 178.. leak to have another spring up . This is why I am so angry on the forums lol..But I could see your dilemma with the washer and dryer. My Fiances Wire from a personal item got stuck in the pump a year ago...took the advice of the repair guy, Get a laundry sack..put personals in that other wise the water pump is your for the price of 180 bucks..ouch!..And having a Kid ..that is a real need.
As for the car, I think the next one will be a Subaru we get from a car lot, and we have a very reputable one at that . Sick and tired of getting use cars from people..they freaking do not take care of them. I am not saying were not thankful, but it is the repair bills we could do with out lol.
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Speaking or water pump, I need to tear down the dishwasher tomorrow and remove an object from the impeller. Kids, There always sticking something in things that don't be long lol
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 @jpk You could probably find one on sale today! LOL!
@jpk When people asked me what kind of reward/bonus I got for working holidays I told them "I got to keep my job".
While I was busy protecting the public, I ended up working more holidays than not. It does take a toll on family life, and overtime/holiday pay doesn't really compensate for that loss. On the other hand, my washing machine went on the fritz today. Just try to find a repairman today! Guess I'll wait till Monday. Grrr!