My nine-hour Walmart shift this Thanksgiving began at 9am, when most people were probably putting their turkeys in the oven. It ended at 6pm, after most holiday tables were cleared and Black Friday shopping plans decided.
My Black Friday plans have already been decided: I’m working from 11am to 8pm, in my job as a produce associate in Winter Haven, Florida. At $9.90 an hour, I can’t even afford to buy the products I sell, despite our “super low prices”. It’s truly a shame that a company whose heirs have had more wealth than 42% of our country combined continues to profit off of the hard work of their associates, who are trying to make it on poverty pay.
Just like in years past, Walmart workers will be punched in around the clock on low wages to help other people buy the Black Friday deals we can’t afford. I need the hours to pay my bills, which is really unfortunate since my mother is in a nursing home, and this is one of the few holidays we’re able to bring her home to spend time with the family. I’ll miss the precious time with four generations gathered around the dinner table at my eldest daughter’s house just 10 miles from where I’ll be working.
While my family is eating, I’ll be on my feet. Walmart’s Black Friday deals began at 6pm on Thanksgiving, when associates like me work tirelessly to meet the needs of customers who will literally trample each other over saving 15 to 20 cents on an item. The department I work in is especially crazy this time of year, when everybody comes rushing in for last-minute meal ingredients.
Some of the customers are very patient and understanding. Others, however, think we are there to bow down to their every need. If Walmart runs out of a particular sale item, they take it out on us with aggressive commentary. They do this even though that’s far outside of our control.
Something has got to change. This year, I and hundreds of other workers are standing up to say enough is enough. Many of our supporters will be standing in solidarity with workers outside storefronts on Black Friday calling for Walmart to give workers the respect that you might expect from a company that calls itself a “family owned business” — including $15 and full-time employment. Even though I have asked for full-time, many times, my hours drop as low as 28 hours some weeks.
I’ve also been fasting in the 15 days leading up to Black Friday to draw attention to the fact that low wages mean Walmart’s own employees are going hungry. Others, like my friend Nancy Reynolds, a Walmart cashier who can’t fast as a result of diabetes, has started a petition calling on Walmart to extend its 10% discount program to all foods, like other retailers such as Target and Whole Foods have already done for their employees.
I live paycheck to paycheck, struggling to keep a roof over my head and put food on my table. I live in constant fear of getting sick – because if I do, Walmart doesn’t provide the health insurance or sick time so that I can go to the doctor and get better. Instead, I need to rely on food stamps and other government programs to get by. I visit the hospital when I’m sick, and have recently found myself in medical debt due to an infection that went untreated over the years. If I had health insurance through my employer, or even at the very least paid sick time (though that’s not mandated in this country), I would not have ended up in such dire straits.
I tell my grandchildren to stand up to their bullies – and I think we should stand up to ours. I work hard and I don’t want to have to rely on the government to pay my bills and cover my groceries. I deserve $15 an hour for the work that I do and to have the peace of mind knowing that I’ll have consistent paychecks with 40-hour work weeks.
Even if we could afford the personal time off, Walmart won’t approve requests through the busy holiday season. It’s a rule that you will work through the holidays, which I’ve come to terms with. What we’re asking for is the respect we deserve on the job – and that starts with a liveable wage and full-time, consistent hours.