Black Friday - Walmart Strike?

[denisenh]

Originally Posted by tvguy

This is the only way to change things. Walmart is just doing what all their competitors are doing, because this is what millions of shoppers want.

And if you don't want to work Thanksgiving (or other holidays) don't work in an industry that requires it. And I feel I can say this as I sit at work right on, my 33rd consecutive Thanksgiving working, at least the 33rd straight for my wife.

Well, I don't know about that. You do what you have to do and it is often with no choice.
(and I have worked my share (25 years+) of holidays as a floor nurse and didn't gripe about it) Now I am in an office!

Originally Posted by Kteacher

Speaking as someone who has worked retail for over thirty years, I'm glad that people are paying attention to the fact that we are losing touch with what some holidays are about. I have worked over thirty BFs, and the past few years have become crazier and crazier to work. I remember one BF about three years ago when I actually was afraid I was going to get trampled as shoppers pushed their way past the mgr. opening the doors at 4 a.m.
I'm lucky that this year the retail store I work p/t for is not opening until 6 a.m. tomorrow. I know some will say that other professions always work holidays, but I really don't see getting a good price on a pre-lit Christmas tree or an electronic device as being important enough to keep people away from spending time with their families.
Just my .02 cents

I agree with this.

And as for my thoughts on the Walmart walk out, I have many.
I am old enough to remember when stores were closed on Sundays. And over the years family life has taken a back seat to corporations and the all mighty dollar.
In my opinion that was the beginning of much of what we are seeing now as far as people mattering less and less. There are arguments to be made all around and I get that. Everyone has their own thoughts and these are mine.
Very few people these days are willing and / or able to take a stand in order to make any kind of impact or change. If you do you are labeled a whiner or a trouble maker or word/phrase of your choice.
Good luck to those willing to take a stand for what they believe in. It will take years for change to be made and most people can't see beyond the tip of their own nose nowadays.

[Albort]

Im sure there is enough workers who will want to work holidays. I heard that target employees, a lot of them volunteer to work holidays. I worked every single holiday for the past 5 years... christmas, new years eve, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, etc. I must say, i really enjoy the OT pay we get...

[maxiesmom]

I work retail, and I think the sympathy is misplaced. Most of us know going in we will work some crazy hours. It is part of the job. Where is the sympathy because we have to work weekends and miss that time with our families? Why is there no outcry over that?

I really don't get the whole They deserve to spend time with their family argument. The people that fly airplanes don't deserve that time? The ones who work at WDW don't? Do any of the other thousands of jobs that require working on holidays somehow not deserve that time with their families?

[Minerva Mouse]

I thought the strike was more about benefits and safety (didn't an employee die one year from a stamped of consumers?) and the workers decided to have the strike when it would hurt the retail giant the most, black Friday.

[Acklander]

Originally Posted by Minerva Mouse

I thought the strike was more about benefits and safety (didn't an employee die one year from a stamped of consumers?) and the workers decided to have the strike when it would hurt the retail giant the most, black Friday.

I believe it's about unsafe conditions in the warehouse and never getting enough hours to qualify for benefits. they are picking black Friday as the day it will have the most impact. Since many are unable to strike because they are in a right to work state many customers are planning to avoid Walmart in solidarity with the workers. Personally, I'm passing on the whole black Friday thing and focusing on buying American and patronizing the small mom and pop type places for this Christmas season.

[denisenh]

Originally Posted by Minerva Mouse

I thought the strike was more about benefits and safety (didn't an employee die one year from a stamped of consumers?) and the workers decided to have the strike when it would hurt the retail giant the most, black Friday.

Originally Posted by Acklander

I believe it's about unsafe conditions in the warehouse and never getting enough hours to qualify for benefits. they are picking black Friday as the day it will have the most impact. Since many are unable to strike because they are in a right to work state many customers are planning to avoid Walmart in solidarity with the workers. Personally, I'm passing on the whole black Friday thing and focusing on buying American and patronizing the small mom and pop type places for this Christmas season.

http://signon.org/sign/rob-walton-re...d&r_by=6206821

[PixieDust32]

[maxiesmom]

Originally Posted by denisenh

http://signon.org/sign/rob-walton-re...195881-bt1xdAx

Hmm. Again, as someone who has worked retail a long time, we never feel we have "sufficient staffing". And "regular hours" are not going to happen. And many people wouldn't like them. One great thing about retail is the flexible hours. You can make a Dr appointment for a Wednesday morning, and know it won't be a problem. You just work later at night, or on the weekend to make up for it.

A safe work place should be a given.

Can I comment on the JCP thing? I know someone who works for JCP, and not at a store level, but higher up. While they may claim they are not opening earlier so that their employees can spend time with their families, in reality it is because they know they can't compete with the crazy sale prices of the other retailers. Though saying it is all for the few associates they have left sounds better. JCP has not been very caring for their associates sense the change.

[rainydayplay]

Originally Posted by denisenh

And as for my thoughts on the Walmart walk out, I have many.
I am old enough to remember when stores were closed on Sundays. And over the years family life has taken a back seat to corporations and the all mighty dollar.

This, to me, is something of a catch-22. Somewhere along the way, a company stayed open a little later, and, lo and behold, people came in and spent money. Other companies saw what that one was doing and that it worked, so they extended their hours. Soon enough, you had businesses that stayed open past 5pm, stayed open on Sundays and holidays, and stayed open all night. And people came and shopped and validated those companies' decisions to stay open during those times.

Mom (eeyore344 here) works at Walmart (no unions here, though.) There was a day an uncle came in on a holiday and made some comment like how it was a shame that it was a holiday and she was working her response to him was, "If it weren't for people like you who come in and shop on a holiday, companies like this wouldn't be open." Which is true. (But, then, if stores/businesses like that weren't open, we'd just have to stay home.) Mom gets next to no holidays off (she asked for Labor Day and got it, but she only asked for it because my DD was out of school and my school system was in session on Labor Day, the daycare that she goes to when I have to work was also closed, so somebody had to be off that day.)

Also, I had a friend once that had moved from a city out West to a relatively small (yet relatively progressive) town here in the South. He couldn't stand it because if you wanted to go do something in the city, there was always something open, 24-7. Most everything in the small town closed by 9, midnight at the latest. You couldn't explain that this set up was just how it was, and that it was NORMAL for the area.

I think, to an extent, I like the way that Walmart is doing the sale this year. Staggered...with the things I'm interested in at 8 tonight, which is still fairly reasonable of a time to be out. The big items that everyone would usually be fighting over at 5am are now going out at 10, with the guarantee that, if you are in the store during that first hour, you'll be able to get the item by Christmas at that price (three of those items, anyway...) Plus, many of the stores are already 24 hours and have been open on Thanksgiving for years. Just a shock for us this year that they made department managers (like Mom) work. She's been there for an hour and a half already, will get off at 8 tonight, then go back at 430 in the morning.

[denisenh]

Originally Posted by rainydayplay

This, to me, is something of a catch-22. Somewhere along the way, a company stayed open a little later, and, lo and behold, people came in and spent money. Other companies saw what that one was doing and that it worked, so they extended their hours. Soon enough, you had businesses that stayed open past 5pm, stayed open on Sundays and holidays, and stayed open all night. And people came and shopped and validated those companies' decisions to stay open during those times.

Mom (eeyore344 here) works at Walmart (no unions here, though.) There was a day an uncle came in on a holiday and made some comment like how it was a shame that it was a holiday and she was working her response to him was, "If it weren't for people like you who come in and shop on a holiday, companies like this wouldn't be open." Which is true. (But, then, if stores/businesses like that weren't open, we'd just have to stay home.) Mom gets next to no holidays off (she asked for Labor Day and got it, but she only asked for it because my DD was out of school and my school system was in session on Labor Day, the daycare that she goes to when I have to work was also closed, so somebody had to be off that day.)

Also, I had a friend once that had moved from a city out West to a relatively small (yet relatively progressive) town here in the South. He couldn't stand it because if you wanted to go do something in the city, there was always something open, 24-7. Most everything in the small town closed by 9, midnight at the latest. You couldn't explain that this set up was just how it was, and that it was NORMAL for the area.

I think, to an extent, I like the way that Walmart is doing the sale this year. Staggered...with the things I'm interested in at 8 tonight, which is still fairly reasonable of a time to be out. The big items that everyone would usually be fighting over at 5am are now going out at 10, with the guarantee that, if you are in the store during that first hour, you'll be able to get the item by Christmas at that price (three of those items, anyway...) Plus, many of the stores are already 24 hours and have been open on Thanksgiving for years. Just a shock for us this year that they made department managers (like Mom) work. She's been there for an hour and a half already, will get off at 8 tonight, then go back at 430 in the morning.

different strokes. i personally am not interested in going shopping and even less interested in fighting for something that I probably don't need.
i hope your mom sleeps well though!

[rainydayplay]

Originally Posted by denisenh

different strokes. i personally am not interested in going shopping and even less interested in fighting for something that I probably don't need.
i hope your mom sleeps well though!

I really just like going for the $4 character pajamas...my DD always needs pajamas. Usually, I see things I want, set a time for myself (like, say, 8 am), and, well, if it's not there by the time I get there, it isn't meant for me to have it. 2 years ago, they had the DS Lite on sale for $80 or so, and they still had a whole case full in the color I wanted when I got there. Last year, I wanted a camera (which was Mom's Christmas gift for me, but they can't shop while they're on the clock.) When I got there around 8:00, there was ONE left.

Mom will probably not sleep until she gets home around noon tomorrow.

[Pooh67_68]

The only reasons the stores are doing it, is because its what a good portion of the consumers want. Stop blaming the stores.

[willowsnn3]

Love your post, lol. Last Thanksgiving my 2 daughters and I were at Family Dollar at 8am on Thanksgiving Day. Back home in time to put the meal on the table. Then off to Kohl's at midnight.
This year we're just staying in.

[Kteacher]

Originally Posted by maxiesmom

Hmm. Again, as someone who has worked retail a long time, we never feel we have "sufficient staffing". And "regular hours" are not going to happen. And many people wouldn't like them. One great thing about retail is the flexible hours. You can make a Dr appointment for a Wednesday morning, and know it won't be a problem. You just work later at night, or on the weekend to make up for it.

A safe work place should be a given.

Can I comment on the JCP thing? I know someone who works for JCP, and not at a store level, but higher up. While they may claim they are not opening earlier so that their employees can spend time with their families, in reality it is because they know they can't compete with the crazy sale prices of the other retailers. Though saying it is all for the few associates they have left sounds better. JCP has not been very caring for their associates sense the change.

I've worked for JCP p/t for 18 years. They (mgt.) have actually treated employees quite well. It has been a good organization to work for for the most part. In the store I work employees who celebrate the traditional polish Christmas Eve are always given the time off without question. Not only have I never been turned down for any time off request, mgt. has always been great about working around my crazy schedule. In addition, JCP allowed a union photographer to do a photo shoot for a national union magazine that was doing an article on me (long story). The company has had its ups and downs over the past two decades I've been there, but for the most part I've been treated fairly.

[DebbieB]

We were talking about this at dinner, my niece works at Walmart. They are open 24/7 except for Christmas Day. So they were always open on Thanksgiving. She said no one is planning to strike at her store, she's excited about overtime and getting a shopping bonus (20% off).