Protests greet shoppers at Wal-Marts nationwide

PORTLAND, Ore. — Wal-Mart workers and supporters marched in protest at a number of stores nationwide Thursday and Friday, blasting the wages, benefits and treatment of employees of the world’s largest retailer.

The efforts seemed to do little to keep shoppers away, though — Wal-Mart said it was its best Black Friday ever.

In Paramount, Calif., authorities arrested a small group of protesters Friday outside a Wal-Mart. Elizabeth Brennan of Warehouse Workers United said nine people, including three Wal-Mart employees, were arrested shortly after noon for blocking the street outside the store in Paramount.

At one point, more than 1,000 people blocked traffic outside the store, sheriff’s Capt. Mike Parker told KNBC-TV.

In Lakewood, Colo., shoppers hesitated as they passed dozens of protesters outside a Wal-Mart but entered without incident. Some protesters held signs playing off of the retailing giant’s corporate slogan, “Live better,” accusing the company of corporate greed and underpaying its workers.

“This is the way you get a fair shake. You’ve got to fight for it. You’ve always had to,” said protester Charlie May of the Industrial Workers of the World labor organization.

A union-backed group called OUR Walmart said it was holding an estimated 1,000 protests in 46 states. The exact number is unclear. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has said the figure is grossly exaggerated and protests involved few of its own employees.

A number of demonstrations and walk-outs occurred last week at stores but were scheduled to culminate on one of the year’s busiest shopping days. About two dozen protesters showed up at Centre Pointe in North Charleston.

OUR Walmart, made up of current and former Wal-Mart employees, was formed in 2010 to press the company for better working conditions. Wal-Mart criticized the group for relying largely on other unions and nonemployees to make up the ranks protesting outside its stores.

Wal-Mart estimated fewer than 50 associates participated in Thursday and Friday’s protests. Company spokesman Dan Fogleman said the number of associates who missed shifts is 60 percent lower than last year.

The company, based in Bentonville, Ark., operates 10,400 stores in 27 countries, including about a dozen in the Charleston region.