On this day in Labor History the year was 1918 and someone was born who would forever change the retail industry in the United States. His name was Sam Walton.
Walton opened his first Walmart store in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas.
Just 20 years later Sam Walton was the richest man in the United States. He passed away just ten years later in 1992.
By 2014 Walmart had grown to the largest private employer in the United States, employing 1.4 million people.
It’s estimated that nearly 250 million people shop at Walmart globally each week.
The Wal-Mart company is staunchly anti-union. Recently a campaign has emerged to organize Walmart workers.
The campaign started because Walmart employees earn less than those at most other big retail chains.
Workers also often have to deal with erratic scheduling and part-time status even when they want more hours.
Many of the Walmart workers rely on government assistance just to make ends meet.
A study of stores in Wisconsin found on average workers from just one store use nearly one million in government aid annually.
But there is an effort to change all of that, it’s called the Organization United for Respect at Walmart, or OUR Walmart for short.
The group has gained media attention by organizing worker protests at stores across the country on Black Friday.
The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year. In 2014, Black Friday protests occurred at 1,600 stores.
Union and community members have joined Walmart workers in pickets and rallies.
Interfaith Worker Justice has also been a strong supporter of the campaign.
While Wal-Mart has done virtually everything in its power to break the spirit of the OUR Wal-Mart members there is evidence that the will of the workers is working.
In early 2015, Walmart announced that it would raise the base wage for part time workers to $9 an hour by April of 2015, and to $10 by 2016. Thus proving that there is power in numbers and organized workers can fight and win for a better future
Labor History in 2:00 brought to you by the Illinois Labor History Society and The Rick Smith Show