Workers, Labor Activists Hold Black Friday Protest at Laurel Walmart

A group of activists and employees of the Laurel/Maryland City Walmart Supercenter took to the store's parking lot Friday morning as part of a national strike effort timed for one of the year's busiest shopping days.

Across the country, workers from dozens of the chain's locations spent Black Friday protesting what they view as low wages, poor scheduling practices, and intimidation on the part of the retail giant.

DCist reports that 400-odd people joined a demonstration outside Walmart's Laurel store, one of several held in the region. Many carried signs, distributed leaflets, and sang modified Christmas carols in the vein of “I Saw Walmart Fire Santa Claus," according to The Nation.

The campaign is organized by Making Change at Walmart and linked with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

Walmart has characterized the effort as an attempt by unions to advance their own political agendas, arguing that it treats and compensates its employees well. In a statement released Friday, the retailer also questioned estimates by labor officials on the scale of the protests.

Did you encounter any of the Walmart protests on Friday? How do you feel about them? Let us know in the comments.