Walmart Has Its Hands Full With Protesters
By Sam Lewis
Three arrested in NYC after protesting against the retail giant
An alliance of union, religious, and civil groups began a protest on Thursday, September 5, aimed at Walmart. The movement, happening at Walmart locations in 15 cities, is the largest since last autumn. Three protesters in NYC were arrested on trespassing and disorderly conduct charges for an attempt to deliver a petition to a member of Walmart’s board.
These protests are part of a larger demonstration looking to organize low-paid workers. Protests, strikes, and other labor actions are being organized by unions in an effort to stop retailers from curbing compensation growth, as well as stopping the growing trend of turning full-time workers into part-time workers. The shift in workforce, being practiced by retailers across the country, is due largely in part to upcoming federal mandates on healthcare benefits.
Berlin Rosen, a PR firm representing the protesters, says the three current and former Walmart workers were trying to give Walmart board member Christopher Williams, CEO of The Williams Capital Group, a petition. The petition asks Walmart to offer employees full-time jobs with a minimum salary of $25,000; reinstate workers who were fired due to previous labor actions against the company; and to eliminate what the protesters are calling retaliations against workers wanting better jobs.
Brooke Buchanan, a Walmart spokesperson, offered a few figures regarding salary at Walmart. In the U.S., 60 percent of Walmart’s 1.3 million employees are full-time, with an hourly wage averaging $12.83. The average wage decreases to $12 hourly when part-time associates are added. So, after some mathematics, part-time workers average $10.76 an hour at Walmart. Part-time employees seeking full-time employment with Walmart would bring in $22,370 annually, falling short of protesters demands by more than $2,500. With figures like that, it seems that the gap to be bridged will need a federal injunction in addition to the protesting.
Barbara Gertz, a Walmart night-shift stocker making $10 hourly at a Denver location, was one of the three arrested. She spent about three hours in jail on Thursday. Gertz says that Walmart workers who speak publicly regarding labor practices are fired or face other retaliation measures. “We have not terminated any associates for their participation,” say Buchanan. Despite Buchanan’s reassuring words, the National Employment Law Project, a group focused on protecting the rights of low-wage workers, says Walmart has disciplined about 80 workers, 20 of which were fired, for their actions in legally protected, labor-related actions.
Those opposed to the Walmart-focused protests claim Walmart workers choose to work there and should find jobs with higher wages if they are unhappy. Supporters of the movement say Walmart’s employees earn less than workers of other retail stores, often seeking public assistance to survive. Arrestee Gertz, obviously supports the movement, but offers little hope for the situation to be reconciled, “There are a lot of retail businesses that follow their business model,” she said. “It’s going to be the same.
A wage of $12 hourly may be too low to adequately provide for a family, but most retail jobs are designed as entry level and are not necessarily meant as single-income, household-supporting careers. Many retail workers lack post-secondary education and specialty training for advanced jobs, keeping them from getting other positions. That’s not to say that education and vocational training programs aren’t available, sometimes even for free. Those who do choose to stay in retail have an excellent opportunity to earn a better income through promotion. Most retail management positions are filled from within companies. Investing a small amount of time, and perhaps a little money (much of which is available through grants for low-income people), into education, learning the skills of a trade, or doing the best job possible to move up the employment ladder can dramatically increase hourly wages, leading to fewer money related worries and better opportunities for family members. Low-wage workers in the U.S. are not chained to their current means of employment; they simply need to choose how to battle the cause of their unhappiness. For Gertz, and the other protesters, it seems that choice was taking a political stance in hopes of changing the minds of their superiors.