Connecticut Activists Protest Low Wages at Avon Walmart on Black Friday

More than 30 people came to the Avon Walmart Friday morning, not to shop for Black Friday deals but to protest low wages at the nationwide chain. 

The protesters stood on the grass as close as they could be in front of the store along Route 44 and multiple media outlets were in attendance.

"We handed a letter to the manager and asked him if he knew that 80% of Walmart workers get some type of public assistance, He did not," Carlos Camacho, chairman of the Connecticut branch of the Justice Party, wrote in an email to Patch. "To their credit, Walmart security allowed us our freedom of speech."

Activate CT organized the protest, which the Justice Party of Connecticut also endorsed. The group is a grassroots "activist organization that is working towards educating people in our state on a range of issues, such as income inequality," Camacho said. 

Camacho, who also partook in the protest, found that the "passersby were very supportive and honking and waving."

"While the stock market may have surpassed 16,000, the majority of America are still facing a tough economy," Camacho said. "And while many people are watching the latest Hunger Games movie, ironically a story about a dystopian future, there are real Hunger Games going on right now in our society. Outrageous when you consider we have the world's largest economy. How can we tolerate workers making wages worse than their 1960s counterparts (when adjusted for inflation.) And how can we tolerate CEOs making over $18,000 an hour?"

Camacho said that many of the protesters were from middle-class and upper-middle class families. The participants handed out flyers about their cause to passersby. 

The Avon Walmart is located at 255 West Main St.

The protest was one of 1,500 protests nationwide involving "Walmart workers" and community allies, according to a press release from Activate CT. Kory Lundberg, a Walmart spokesperson, said that only 20 of 1.3 million Walmart "associates participated in these demonstrations today."

In a statement made available to media, David Tovar, vice president of corporate communications, did defend Walmart's pay and benefits.

“For our part, we want to be absolutely clear about our jobs, the pay and benefits we offer our associates, and the role retail jobs play in the U.S. economy," Tovar said. "Walmart provides wages on the higher end of the retail average with full-time and part-time associates making, on average, close to $12.00 an hour. The majority of our workforce is full-time, and our average full-time hourly pay is $12.81 an hour. We are also proud of the benefits we offer our associates, including affordable health care, performance-based bonuses, education benefits, and access to a 401K. 

“Of course, we have entry-level jobs and we always will," he continued. "The real issue isn't where you start. It's where you can go once you’ve started. Retail is one of the few industries that has jobs at all levels and ongoing advancement opportunities. Walmart promotes on average more than 430 associates a day. By year's end, we will have promoted 160,000 associates, including 25,000 this holiday season alone. It’s businesses like Walmart that can create opportunities for career growth and greater economic security for families.”

Despite the protests, Tovar said this year "the most successful Black Friday in Walmart's history, with customers receiving bigger and better savings and an overall safer shopping experience." 

"We're proud of the hard work our associates have put into making this a great Black Friday for our customers, and we’re pleased we can provide them with holiday pay equal to an additional day's work, as well as a 25 percent discount on an entire basket of goods for their extraordinary efforts." 

He called Black Friday "a big stage" and that given Walmart is "one of the biggest players in the retail industry" the corporation is "not surprised that those trying to change our industry are using this platform to get their message out, and we respect their right to be heard." 

"We expect some demonstrations at our stores today, although far fewer than what our critics are claiming and with hardly any actual Walmart associates participating," he said in Friday's statement.  

Were you at the protest or did you witness the protest? Why did you attend? What are your thoughts on the issue? Do you shop at Walmart? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments!