Walmart protests draw crowds, shoppers largely unfazed

Chicago Tribune ^

[Arthurio]

By Emily Bryson York, Chicago Tribune reporter

3:52 pm, November 23, 2012

Dozens of local workers, and hundreds nationally, took advantage of Black Friday crowds and camera crews at major retailers like Walmart to call for wage increases.

But there was little evidence that the chanting disrupted holiday shoppers.

Steven Restivo, a spokesman for Wal-Mart Stores, said the chain had done its "best Black Friday event ever" despite protests organized by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union in Chicago and other cities.

At a Walmart in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood on the south side, only one of the store's 500 employees took part in the demonstration, the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer said. "Almost all the folks you'll see protesting today are not Walmart associates," Restivo said. "I guess you can't believe everything you read in a union press release."

[GeronL]

One worker.

lolz. Probably off that day too.

[cashless]

Every business that was protested should put a sign in their window, “Special Union Offer” and only when they get ready to pay, add a 20% union activity surcharge to the bill. When the 1st union thug protests, replace the first sign with a second, “Non Union members get an additional 10% off”. Call their bluff!!! Time to start calling these Marxist redistributionists what they are: Anti American Communists!!

[FlingWingFlyer]

It’s tough to “faze” black Friday shoppers. They’ll bust you in the head if you get in their way. This was a stupid idea by the greedy, union knuckledraggers.

[Arthurio]

Whenever union picketers show up in front of the store, Wal Mart should announce 70% off on Air Jordans.. See if the union thugs are willing to stand in the way of that...

[FlingWingFlyer]

LOL! They’d trample the “black Friday” shoppers! This didn’t seem to work out very well for the commies. Walmart is breaking records today according to what I just read. Union knuckledraggers lose again. Shades of Wisconsin.

[ThunderSleeps]

I can't remember the last time I went shopping on black Friday. But today I went to Walmart and bought some ammo I'm going to take to the range tomorrow.

I'm in the market for a 5.56 AR style rifle. The local store had a Colt 6920 (forget the exact model) for about $1150, and a Bushmaster for $800. Still looking...

[Repeal 16-17]

This was a desperate act by the unions and, unsurprisingly, it failed. Walmart is a union-free zone and may that always be so.

[Red in Blue PA]

LOL!

Too true.

[Iron Munro]

So shoppers didn’t think it was a good idea to pay workers more that they are worth and to increase prices to pay for it?

I Wonder why.....

[Ciexyz]

Walmart has to keep their prices at a reasonable level so retirees like me can afford to shop there. Also they have competition from retailers like Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS - drug stores in my western PA area where I also shop. Even the grocery stores are selling many of the clothing and food items that Walmart carries. Then there’s the discount grocery stores that are shaving Walmart’s profit margins. Savvy consumers price shop and will migrate accordingly.

[M-cubed]

I hear they're hiring in Mexico....so whats the problem????

[GeronL]

lolz