I do not comprehend the issues of wages at Walmart or fast food places. People are free to not work at jobs if they don’t think they pay enough. Walmart is singled out for this sort of crud when I doubt Kmart and Target pay is not much higher if any.
If employees want higher paying jobs they need to find out what qualifications such jobs require and do whatever they need to do in order to qualify for that type of job.
My first job was in fast food, my second job was in retail at a department store, that is how I see that type of job, as a starting point- stepping stone. If working fast food or retail is your cup of tea then bust your butt and/or take night classes so you can move up into positions at those stores that pay what you want to make. Not everyone at Walmart or McDonalds is making minimum wage.
I know several people that work at my area Walmart and none of them are depending on that income to survive. Most are already retired and just want something to do or a little extra money. A couple people I know that work there are college students that are just there for spending money/work experience.
If employees want higher paying jobs they need to find out what qualifications such jobs require and do whatever they need to do in order to qualify for that type of job.Got to be careful these days. For my employer (and most IT companies) one of the qualifications is "Never have worked retail, fast food, or manual labor." You did? Resume gets File 13ed. You want to leave that stuff off.