WALMART-LABOUR/BLACK FRIDAY Walmart workers demand higher pay in Washington DC protest

Record ID: 172618

  • Title: WALMART-LABOUR/BLACK FRIDAY Walmart workers demand higher pay in Washington DC protest
  • Date: 28th November 2014
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 28, 2014) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING TOWARDS WALMART STORE SHOUTING: "If we don't get it, shut it down." DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING BANNER READING: "WALMART CHAIR ROB WALTON: FAILING ON GOOD JOBS, FAILING ON CLIMATE" DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) STRIKING WALMART WORKER, NED MESAL, SAYING: "We are here to let Walmart know that it's not treating its workforce right. It doesn't pay us enough to live on. It doesn't give us the respect and dignity we deserve. It doesn't give us enough hours to live on to get a decent paycheck." VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING: "You've got workers outside the store." (SOUNDBITE) (English) REVEREND GRAYLAND HAGLER, PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, SAYING: "We are here to demand that Walmart, Walmart, greedy Walmart share it's resources with workers, respect workers like they should be respected." SECURITY OUTSIDE WALMART STORE WALMART SIGN SECURITY SHUTTING DOORS TO WALMART PROTESTING WORKERS HOLDING UP THEIR WALMART IDENTIFICATION BADGES WALMART MANAGER INSIDE STORE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ERNEST REED, WALMART WORKER, SAYING: "People want to work here, for me that's what I read. It's a free country, people can protest all they want, I don't begrudge them that, but for me I love the company, I love my associates, and the customers are great." DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE WALMART STORE (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIKKI LEWIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DC JOBS WITH JUSTICE, SAYING: "We are here in solidarity with the DC Ferguson folks whose message is that black lives matter and we see when you are exploiting people with low wages so they can't even afford to feed their families that's also a sign that Walmart does not think that black lives matter. Se we are here today to tell them that we matter and we are worth more." DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR MICHAEL BROWN AND FERGUSON
  • Embargoed: 13th December 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7IVU6RIYUGWNKWE4QNG014616
  • Story Text: Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside a Walmart store in Washington on Friday (November 28) to demand higher wages.
    Activists joined the striking Walmart workers as they marched to the store location.
    OUR Walmart, a group of Wal-Mart employees pushing for higher wages and benefits, hoped to use Black Friday to spread its message with protests planned at 1,600 stores across the country.
    "We are here to let Walmart know that it's not treating its workforce right. It doesn't pay us enough to live on. It doesn't give us the respect and dignity we deserve. It doesn't give us enough hours to live on to get a decent paycheck," said Walmart worker Ned Mesal.
    Wal-Mart Stores Inc., owner of Walmart stores and the largest private employer in the United States, has been at the centre of the debate over proposals to raise the minimum wage.
    The group, which represents Wal-Mart's hourly workers, is pushing for a $15 per hour wage and consistent full-time work.
    A handful of demonstrators were able to enter the store on Friday, promoting security to briefly close the doors.
    One Walmart employee inside the store said he did not agree with the protesters.
    "People want to work here, for me that's what I read. It's a free country, people can protest all they want, I don't begrudge them that, but for me I love the company, I love my associates, and the customers are great," said Ernest Reed, who has been employed by the company for over one year.
    Wal-Mart released the following statement:
    "Perception is never reality with labor unions. The crowds are made up of paid union demonstrators and they are not representative of our 1.3 million associates across the country. This is our busiest time of the year. We're excited to kick off the holiday season and are focused on serving our customers. It's unfortunate that this group attempts to disrupt the holiday spirit to push their agenda. The reality is that Walmart is focused every day on providing our associates with opportunities for job growth."
    It was unclear what impact a movement to boycott Black Friday in protest of a grand jury's decision not to indict the police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager in Missouri might have on the holiday season, but supporters were in the minds of some demonstrators at Friday's protest.
    "We are here in solidarity with the DC Ferguson folks whose message is that black lives matter and we see when you are exploiting people with low wages so they can't even afford to feed their families that's also a sign that Walmart does not think that black lives matter. Se we are here today to tell them that we matter and we are worth more," said Nikki Lewis, the Executive Director of DC Jobs with Justice.
    Demonstrators also held approximately four minutes of silence to mark the time remember Michael Brown lay in the street after being shot.
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