Black Friday Begins (Early): Walmart Workers Already Striking in at Least Seven States

The Nation ^

[matt04]

It’s on.

A year and a half after retail workers announced the founding of a new Walmart employee group, five months after guest workers struck a Walmart seafood supplier, and seven weeks after the country’s first multi-store Walmart strikes, the Black Friday strike has begun.

...

Expectations are high for a historic strike. Given Walmart’s role as the dominant employer of our era, the current wave of work stoppages is already among the country’s most consequential twenty-first century strikes. But in interviews this month, workers and organizers described today’s actions as a turning point, not a climax, in their struggle against the retail giant. “This is the beginning of something…” said Dan Schlademan, a United Food & Commercial Workers union official who directs the allied group Making Change at Walmart. “This is a new permanent reality for Walmart…2012 is the beginning of the season where retail workers are going to start to stand up.”

“There’s going to be more days that we’re going to strike,” said Rozier, “and it’s not going to stop. I’m not going to stop until they respect us and give us what we want.”

[xzins]

Why are these people not demanding that their employer pay their car insurance?!!

[xzins]

The really sad thing, Gene, is that WalMart doesn’t make anything that I know of. They just move other people’s creations.

Stocking shelves, sweeping floors, and pushing register keys does not create wealth. It just handles it.

Retail is important but it’s not production. Those jobs are going south and east.

[Grams A]

Don’t give them any ideas. We would be better off if health coverage would be more like car insurance. Policies are issued to a person, for a specific vehicle which has an accepted value, for what that person wants covered, for a specific maximum amount and there is no such a thing as pre-existing. Actually someone needs to acknowledge that you can’t insure your health - just your death and even then you decide how much your dying is worth to others. It’s all just crazy.

[bfree]

Then why are you getting involved in the discussion? According to you, it’s none of your business.

I think you aren’t bright enough to figure out that retail
is mostly entry level employment, thus keeping costs down for everyone.

[gunsequalfreedom]

If Walmart is smart, they will fire the ones who walkout, as soon as they leave the store.

I don't think four years from now the Republican party has a chance of taking the presidential election. Too much hostility within the party to those that are holding regular jobs. I see it at GOP functions I attend and I sure see it here.

We are in a race to a society where we have those that are well off financially and those that are poor or very poor. The middle class is dead.

[gunsequalfreedom]

No. The American way to get higher pay and better working conditions is to find an employer who is more willing to provide what you want than your current employer, then QUIT and tell your current employer that the guy down the street just outbid him for your services. If enough people quit for better-paying jobs, then the employer will have no choice but to either raise pay or close. THAT is the American, free-market approach.

I had a union organizing drive at my business. I won. But I never begrudge those on the factory floor their right to try and organize our employees. We won because we are very conservative with our business and treat our employees well.

The American way IS for employees to take action against their present employer. The American Way does NOT limit them to just going and getting another job.

Not sure I understand the point you are trying to make or if you understand my position but I can't see why I should be taking sides in a private matter between two private parties - the employees of Walmart and Walmart. It ain't none of my damn business...or if I can be blunt yours either.

Get back to me and let me know what I am missing. We may be arguing about to serperate points entirely. FReepRegards.

[gunsequalfreedom]

OK, so ask to work three ten-hour shifts (actually 10-10-9). Or work 15 and 14 hours two days a week, and work somewhere else one or two days a week. In retail, they don't care how you arrange your hours as long as they have people during the times that they need them.

Walmart does not let you work your shifts like that.

My neighbor works there and he has been complainin they regularly call him in for four hour shifts. He has to drive 20 miles to get to the store. The 40 mile round tripe cost him trip burns up about $8.00 in gas for a day that pays him $32.00 before tax witholding. That aint right.