Ellicott City Walmart Workers May Join Black Friday Strike

Organizers of Making Change at Walmart are trying to encourage participation in a Black Friday demonstration at the Ellicott City store and stores around the nation to protest what some say are the company's low wages, poor scheduling practices and worker intimidation. 

The campaign is also linked with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, is planning demonstrations outside dozens of stores nationwide on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

In Maryland, Nov. 23 protests are scheduled for Walmart and Sam's Club locations in Laurel, Hyattsville, Bowie, Gaithersburg, Woodlawn, Severn, Clinton, Abingdon, Alexandria, and Fairfax. (Both chains are owned by parent company Walmart Stores, Inc.)

Organizers are also trying to drum up interest to hold demostrations in other locations, including Columbia, Ellicott City, Hanover and Eldersburg.

The strike action follows a series of demonstrations last month at Walmarts across the country and around the region, including a walkout of 11 employees at Laurel's Walmart Supercenter.

Walmart has characterized the campaign as an attempt by unions to advance their own political agendas, arguing that it treats and compensates its employees well.

"We have some of the best jobs in retail," spokesman David Tovar told the New York Times in October. "Our full-time average wage is $12.54 an hour, which is $5.00 above the federal minimum wage."

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