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As Walmart gears up for its biggest shopping day of the year, thousands of its employees across the country are threatening to walk out on Black Friday.

Workers backed by labor unions said the action will cause significant disruption, potentially leaving stores in the hands of replacement employees.

"We really think it's a publicity stunt by the UFCW, by the labor unions," said Walmart spokeswoman Delia Garcia.

She expects only a small portion of employees to participate in the walkout.

At issue are wages, benefits and working conditions.

Aaron Granillo, News Editor

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  • Abuse
    OneWonders wrote...
    I guess those
    November 20, 2012 3:57 pm
    employees didn't learn anything from the continued issues of Unions and Twinkies. Good luck and don't support Unions!
    Equal Justice, Not Social Justice.
  • Abuse
    disqgolfer wrote...
    I never
    November 20, 2012 8:36 pm
    could understand workers wanting to hurt the company they work for, if the company doesn't do well how do the emplyees think that will help them? It didn't work for the Hostess folks. If working for Walmart sucks then don't work at Walmart. If conditions are that bad and no one would take the jobs offered then Walmart would have to pay more to find employees.
  • Abuse
    Amishwmn wrote...
    as long as YOU CUSTOMERS
    November 21, 2012 3:37 am
    keep shopping on HOLIDAYS employees will have to show up , having worked at Walgreens Drug for 12 years it did not bother you that this chain is open 365 days and that employees are out collecting carts at ll pm New Years Eve, Counting out their till, or facing forward merchandise at midnight, Christmas Eve..there is always one customer who bangs their keys on locked doors after the store is closed citing a emergency purchase, I worked every holiday and every weekend for years, and no customers were upset that Walgreens is open 365 days a year..
    Tribute to None...Let Rome Burn...
  • Abuse
    nokidding wrote...
    Well Guess What?
    November 21, 2012 6:09 am
    In my younger days I did 12 years of retail and worked through all the holidays. I remember working at Pizza hut back in 1980 ON THANKSGIVING! I knew what I was getting into at the time and dealt with it. It made me work harder for a better life and was a learning experience. If the hypocrite shoppers that patronize them feel so strong about it DON'T GO SHOPPING! My step sister is a Walgreen's manager and goes in on T-Day and Christmas and never whines about it. They all allow them to work shifts so they can come in late or go home early to eat their holiday meal and spend family time.
  • Abuse
    Steve wrote...
    Unions are like spoiled brats
    November 21, 2012 6:19 am
    Don't get their way so they fall on the floor, kick their legs and cry. Don't like the pay or the work schedule then go find another job, you have that right. Unions are antiquated, having served a purpose some time ago, now it's just a political thug machine.
  • Abuse
    yrreta wrote...
    It's amazing how many of these
    November 21, 2012 6:18 am
    comments think this is just about working on the Holidays. This has been going on for a couple of months now, Black Friday is just being used as a tool to get the attention of management about the wages, benefits and working conditions that they have issues with. It'd be nice if people would read the whole article and not just the headline.
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    Let them walk
    November 21, 2012 7:02 am
    and let them go. There are plenty of people who want jobs due to this bad economy. Also, people seem to forget they work in retail. Most of these jobs are low paying jobs, but these people want more and more. Well, go get educated or find ways to move up the chain to make yourself successful. Stop feeling "entitled" to more for less. You work at walmart, you’re not an engineer at Boeing.
  • Abuse
    Azjoker wrote...
    Unions aren't the problem.
    November 21, 2012 7:45 am
    Unions aren't to blame. WalMart takes advantage of workers desparate for work. A few get rich. The rest never sniff the American dream. Never mind they contribute to the number of people who need charity or put other shops out of business through predatory pricing. Free market capitalism looks great on paper, but so does communism. Neither works. Investigate the wage stagnation and income disparity which has gone on the last 40 years. No industrialized/advanced society in the world has greater wage disparity. Research the GINI coefficient.
  • Abuse
    sjp wrote...
    Wow....
    November 21, 2012 9:40 am
    Serioiusly? So they have to work on holidays????? Get over it. If you don't like it, go work somewhere else. I work in the medical field. We work 365 days a year. So do people in the travel industry, restaurants, etc. No on is forcing anyone to work anywhere. Everyone is employed in these fields made a choice. Man up!
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    So many Walmart jobs can be automated
    November 21, 2012 9:41 am
    WalMart could save a lot of money and hassle by automating some of these jobs. Many grocery stores are cutting back on personnel and increasing automation. WalMart started going in that direction but stopped saying customers preferred human contact. But stunts like these might convince the company to give it another try as it would be a win-win. It would save them money and many workers wouldn't have to about working on a holiday - or any other day.

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