Jamie Walsh faced a shopping dilemma: take advantage of Walmart’s deals at the Salem, N.H., store or support union-backed protesters demanding better pay and benefits. In the end, the Black Friday deals won the day.
Walsh, 42, wearing a sweatshirt from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2222, where her late brother-in-law was vice president, said she was aware of the union protests planned at Walmart locations around the country Friday. Still, she decided to buy an $89 electric ride-in Jeep, a LeapPad tablet, a dollhouse, a Sony Corp. PlayStation and a $78 flatscreen television.
“It bothers me, but their prices are so good,” said Walsh, who is from Dorchester, Mass., and works as a medical assistant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union had planned more than 1,000 demonstrations online and at Walmart stores around the country to protest what it says are the retailer’s manipulation of hours and benefits, efforts to keep people from working full time and discrimination against women and minorities.
The protests failed to reduce traffic at the world’s largest retailer. Walmart said Friday that it had larger crowds than last year and drew about 22 million customers Thursday. The retailer said that it had sold more than 1.3 million televisions, 1.3 million dolls and 250,000 bicycles since its promotions began at 8 p.m. Thursday.
In Paramount, Calif., authorities arrested a small group of protesters Friday outside a Walmart. Elizabeth Brennan of Warehouse Workers United said nine people, including three employees, were arrested 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.
One worker walked out of the Walmart in Miami Gardens, Fla., Muhammad Malik, a community activist connected to the union, said in a telephone interview Thursday night. He organized what he estimated to be about 70 people, including what he said was about 30 Walmart employees, outside that store from about 7:45-9:15 p.m. Thursday.
In Dallas, protesters had been to two stores by 8 p.m., Janna Pea, another union organizer, said in a telephone interview. Pea said the group protested at the first store for 10 minutes before security kicked them off the property. The group ended up standing on the side of the road near the entrance to the store’s parking lot, she said.
The protests take place as the National Labor Relations Board weighs a complaint Walmart filed against the union Nov. 15 accusing it of violating federal labor laws by illegally picketing. The company said the union has tried to force the company to the bargaining table although it does not officially represent its employees.
Walmart asked the board for an investigation and injunction. If the board rules in Walmart’s favor, it would seek an injunction in district court to stop the protests. On Tuesday, organizers from the nonprofit OUR Walmart fought back by filing their own complaint with the labor board accusing Walmart of intimidating workers.
The protesters are demanding more-predictable schedules, less-expensive health care plans and minimum hourly pay of $13 with the option of working full-time.
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