Protesters rally at Chatham Walmart on Black Friday
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By Tisha Lewis, FOX 32 News reporter - bio | email
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
Not everyone was in the mood for Black Friday. Some big box work workers were so frustrated that they protested outside a Chatham Walmart Friday morning.
About 200 protesters were forced from the Walmart property at 83rd and Stewart, after additional Chicago police officers were called and arrived on scene.
This protest was also part of a national movement by the group Our Walmart, made up of employees who did not agree with the company's decision to offer Black Friday deals on the day of the Thanksgiving holiday. Protests were scheduled nine cities, including Washington D.C. and Miami.
Many Walmart stores are usually open 24 hours, seven days a week. But the Black Friday move ruffled the feathers of many workers who claimed the company was being insensitive to employees wishing to spend the holidays with their families.
Although Walmart is not unionized, Our Walmart is a union group focused on the galvanization of support for better wages, work schedules and benefits.
Some workers around the country were even planning to walk off the job just as shoppers pursued Black Friday blockbuster deals, but the Chatham employee and others bussed to the location simply held their protest.
A company spokesperson said protesters had hoped to sway the court of public opinion and deter shoppers from turning out, but that failed. That spokes person also said these planned protests will not have a significant impact.
"I can tell you the only event that happened here in Chicago overnight is that our customers have been receiving some amazing deals," she said. "We kicked off our Black Friday at 8 p.m. Thursday night. We have had no disruptions in the Chicago area. What you've seen is customers coming into the stores. This is our best Black Friday ever. We have served more than 40 million customers nationwide, 5 million more than last year."
Walmart employs more than 1 million people across the country, and is the world's largest retailer.
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