Black Friday is the most infamous shopping day of the year in the U.S. And for Walmart workers, it is becoming an important day to call for increased pay and benefits.
By planning online on Facebook, Twitter and forums, organizers have coordinated protests at about 1,600 Walmarts in 49 states, from Ellsworth, Maine, to San Diego, California. The cross-country protests have grown in magnitude since 2012 when just 28 stores in 12 states participated.
The average salary for sales associates and cashiers at Walmart is about $9 an hour, according to Glassdoor. A Congressional study found that each Walmart costs taxpayers between $900,000 and $1.75 million because its workers rely on government aid, including food stamps.
"I have to depend on the government mostly," Fatmata Jabbie, a 21-year-old single mother who earns $8.40 an hour at a Walmart in Virginia, told Mother Jones. "Walmart should pay us $15 an hour, and let us work full-time hours."
Jabbie said the wage increase would change her and her kids' lives.
Wal-Mart workers are revolting today. What will you do? #buynothingday #WalmartStrikers http://t.co/E32b2V8NhJ pic.twitter.com/58Jg3Q4ENd— Adbusters (@Adbusters) November 28, 2014
AFSCME members protest at a NYC Walmart - Walmart needs to respect their workers! #1u #walmartstrikers pic.twitter.com/dWeO5lobVw— AFSCME (@AFSCME) November 28, 2014
According to the Black Friday protest website, workers at 2,249 Walmart stores -- including the 1,600 stores striking -- support a pay increase to $15 an hour and full-time employment. Full-time workers are offered better protection under state and federal law. However, striking can be a risky endeavor for at-will workers, which many Walmart employees are. But the online effort has made it easier to educate workers in every state about their rights.
Protests were planned throughout the day Friday at different Walmarts across the U.S.:
Toledo, OH standing up for #WalmartStrikers @ForRespect @ChangeWalmart pic.twitter.com/bGEfWelN7s— Kate Jacob (@katemjacob) November 28, 2014
Durham NC supports #WalmartStrikers #FightFor15 and F-T schedules! @LowPayIsNotOK pic.twitter.com/NOQb80h9dc— NC State AFL-CIO (@NCStateAFLCIO) November 28, 2014
over 100 supporters getting ready to deliver a letter to #Walmart in NJ asking 4 $15/hr #walmartstrikers pic.twitter.com/JnKegIXMck— ALIGN (@ALIGNny) November 28, 2014
Another great shot from #WalmartStrikers in Dallas! Folks are happy to stand up for justice and doing what's right. pic.twitter.com/AWxqYOzMDk— Making Change @ WMT (@ChangeWalmart) November 28, 2014
RT @CentralLaborNYC: Supporters are gathered at @Walmart in NJ in solidarity w #WalmartStrikers @WorkingAmerica pic.twitter.com/YRqMFcsQDc— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) November 28, 2014
Woo! So many supporters & #WalmartStrikers today! Here's a great shot from this morning in DC. Workers want RESPECT! pic.twitter.com/7cp5Bn5YSu— UFCW (@UFCW) November 28, 2014
While images of the protests spread across social media, Walmart released several press images showing Thanksgiving and Black Friday business as usual.
