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Wal-Mart Employees Threaten 'Black Friday' Action

WASHINGTON — Making Change at Walmart, a group backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union here, said Wednesday it plans to "take action" against Wal-Mart inside and outside its stores on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, if the chain does not change the way it treats employees.

That action, which the group said would be non-violent, could take the form of rallies, flash mobs or other efforts to make the public aware of the group's allegations.

The group said Wal-Mart workers walked off the job Tuesday in more than a dozen cities to protest the allegation Wal-Mart has ignored their calls for change and retaliated against workers who speak out. In addition, it said 100 workers traveled to Rogers, Ark., where the company was hosting an investor conference, to protest against the company's policies.

A Wal-Mart representative was quoted as saying, "These [actions] are an attempt by the unions to further their own political and financial agendas."

More news: Tennessee Women Sue Wal-Mart

According to Colby Harris, a Wal-Mart employee in Lancaster, Texas, “Wal-Mart’s efforts to try to silence us is only building support among our co-workers in calling for changes at the store. We will not be silenced, especially on Black Friday when Wal-Mart wants us to cut short the holiday with our families to help the company profit. If Wal-Mart wants workers fully committed to the stores on Black Friday, Wal-Mart needs to do more for us the rest of the days of the year."

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