Jacksonville, FL – By Florida standards, the 30-degree morning on Black Friday, Nov. 29 was a chilly day, but that could not stop 15 local workers from protesting at a Walmart Supercenter.

Organizing as a part of the nationwide Black Friday protests of Walmart stores called by OUR Walmart, the Jacksonville protest drew a small, energetic crowd outside the store on the busiest shopping day of the year. Chanting and carrying colorful signs, the protesters demanded full-time jobs for Walmart workers, better pay, health care and an end to Walmart's harassment of union organizers.

“I'm a low-wage, part-time warehouse worker, so I have a lot in common with Walmart workers,” said Dave Schneider, one of the protesters and a member of Teamsters Local 512 in Jacksonville. “The main difference is that I have a union that protects me from supervisor harassment, guarantees me affordable health insurance and works to raise my wages. Every low-wage worker in the country, especially our sisters and brothers at Walmart, deserve the same.”

The crowd chanted, “Full-time jobs! Not part-time poverty!” and “Union-busting is a crime!” The latter chant refers to an ongoing investigation by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) of Walmart's harassment of workers who try to organize unions. For the first time in history, the NLRB has brought charges against Walmart management. The charges say that Walmart illegally intimidated and fired several of their workers who sought to organize a union. In the face of mounting pressure from workers across the country and these NLRB charges, long-time Walmart CEO Mike Duke resigned.

Marina Djordjevic, a lead organizer of the event, read a list of grievances from a letter to Walmart. Those gathered all signed the letter together and plan to deliver it to Walmart. Walmart workers want higher wages and affordable healthcare. Some Walmart workers are forced onto social welfare programs like food stamps and Medicaid while the company makes big profits. Despite making more than $17 billion in profits last year, Walmart seldom pays its workers more than $12 per hour. In Florida alone, a study by the Department of Children and Families found that more than 9000 of the state's food stamp recipients were Walmart workers, costing taxpayers approximately $2.6 million to subsidize the low wages paid by the corporate retailer.

Another demand was that Walmart stop purchasing from brutal and exploitative sweatshops in other countries.

The protest continued for more than three hours. As customers drove by the Walmart parking lot, the protesters received many honks and signs of support. Several Walmart workers and Jacksonville union members pulled over in their cars to talk with the protesters about their demands.

Marina Djordjevic said of the protest, “The few who stood in solidarity with the Walmart workers today encourage other workers to stand up and fight against the systematic oppression they face daily. It takes a spark to ignite a fire!”

Protesters voiced their plans to continue work with Walmart workers in Jacksonville and build the city's labor movement.

#JacksonvilleFL #WalmartStrike #OURWalmart #BlackFriday

St. Paul, MN – Black Friday protests are happening across the country today. Around 500 people took to the streets at the Midway Shopping Center here, Nov. 29, chanting, “Poverty wages have to go!”

The rally was organized by OUR Walmart (Organization United for Respect at Wal-Mart), Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha, Service Employees International Union, Take Action MN, Saint Cloud Workers Center and Minnesotans for a Fair Economy.

People marched through the shopping center, which brought the protest to the front doors of Walmart. A striking Walmart employee stated that not only do they work for low wages at the store but they are continually disrespected and harassed by management. The march continued into the streets, passing other stores and restaurants chanting, “Walmart, Walmart you are no good, treat your workers like you should,” while onlookers cheered and honked horns. Once the march entered an intersection, people circled around, blocking traffic. The Saint Paul police gave warnings to disperse but all stayed. About 30 people were arrested.

#SaintPaulMN #workersRights #WalmartStrike #OURWalmart #BlackFriday

Milwaukee, WI – Pickets were held outside of two local Walmart stores, Nov. 29, in support of workers who walked out demanding a living wage. Dozens of union members, Walmart employees, students, and community members marched in front of Walmart on 27th Street on Milwaukee's South Side chanting, “They say rollback, we say fight back!”

A tow truck, a police van, multiple police cruisers and private security vehicles roamed the Walmart parking lot waiting to tow protesters’ vehicles. But out on the street, protesters received a flurry of honks in support from the Black Friday shopping traffic.

The actions in Milwaukee were part of a national day of walkouts organized by worker group OUR Walmart. According to OUR Walmart, about 1500 actions were scheduled for this Black Friday.

#MilwaukeeWI #LivingWage #picket #workersRights #WalmartStrike #OURWalmart

North Miami Beach, FL – Around 45 people stood outside of the Walmart here with signs and banners on Black Friday to protest the company's unfair treatment of its workers. OUR Walmart and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) organized this event as part of a nation-wide call to action against the egregious working conditions faced by Walmart employees.

Workers from Walmart throughout the area were joined by family members, community organizers and activists. They demanded living wages, benefits, vacation time and respect from the company that currently offers none of that to its workers.

Most of the workers in attendance were immigrants from Haiti and Central America, and they most addressed the crowd with pride and anger in Spanish and Creole.

“I'm standing here as part of the fight by Walmart associates,” said Walmart worker Theresa Charles in her native Haitian Creole. “Walmart does not give us good pay, it does not give us any rights and it does not give us any justice!”

The message was one of international solidarity among workers, as those in attendance spoke also about the garment workers in Haiti and Bangladesh who work for Walmart and other major companies and who are in the process of striking for better conditions as well.

“Walmart, Walmart you're no good, treat your workers like you should,” the crowd shouted in unison, along with, “From Haiti to Miami, raise the wage!”

Drivers, pedestrians and members of the community honked and waved in solidarity and many even joined the crowd. They were drawn in after hearing the words of the workers themselves through the megaphones.

“The only real way to topple this company is from the inside! The only way to bring change to this company is from the inside!” said UFCW organizer Shannan Reace to the crowd. “So I am very happy to stand with workers here and throughout the world and put the money behind the people and not behind the rich Waltons!”

Members of the People's Opposition to War, Imperialism, and Racism (POWIR), Rapid Response Network, South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice and other progressive organizations were present as well and addressed the crowd.

“Every worker deserves a living wage, benefits and dignity,” said Kim Miller of POWIR. “And the billions that Walmart has made has not trickled down to the worker, and that has to change because without the workers there is no Walmart!”

#NorthMiamiBeachFL #UnitedFoodAndCommercialWorkers #LivingWage #workersRights #WalmartStrike #OURWalmart

Hialeah, FL – In coordination with other Walmart workers across the nation, fourteen Walmart workers walked out of their workplace in Hialeah, Florida on Monday, November 25, 2013. They were joined by a group of around 50 demonstrators rallying in solidarity with the workers.

Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) is gearing up for larger walk outs planned for Black Friday on November 29. Last year, about 300 workers walked out, and this year 1,500 workers are expected to participate. This activity marks the first organized labor resistance to Walmart’s employment practices.

Workers are demanding wages of $25,000 a year, full time positions for those who want them, and an end to retaliation against striking workers.

OUR Walmart points out that the Walton family heirs own more wealth than the bottom 40% of Americans put together. To demonstrate their frustration with income inequality, demonstrators in Hialeah broke open a golden Walton turkey.

Energy was high as workers and supporters chanted, “Who’s Walmart? Our Walmart!”

Supporters can join demonstrations on Black Friday in their area by searching the action network list of events: https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/black-friday-near-you

#HialeahFL #walkout #workersRights #WalmartStrike #OURWalmart #workerStrikes

Chicago, IL – On a clear, sunny day here, June 7, over 150 supporters of striking Walmart workers gathered outside the downtown Walmart store. Speakers condemned Walmart's greed, low pay and harsh conditions at its stores in the U.S. and around the world.

The Chicago action was one of many that took place across the U.S and coincided with Walmart's annual shareholder meeting.

The Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) organized the protest, which received support from members of the Chicago Teachers Union, Jobs with Justice, SEIU Healthcare, and Warehouse Workers for Justice.

#ChicagoIL #workersRights #Strikes #WalmartStrike