While the nation's largest retailer is welcoming thousands of holiday shoppers, it is not welcoming a nationwide group of protestors, a group made up largely of Wal-Mart's own employees.
While management quickly shooed a group at the Tillman's Corner Wal-Mart off the company's parking lot, protestors here say they wanted to stage a prayer vigil to bring to light what they see as Wal-Mart's "anti-family policies" and "immoral business practices."
Issues, according to opponents, such as low wages that don't keep pace with the cost of living, poor health care coverage and a punitive absentee policy.
Seven days in six months, if you have three or four kids, you can use seven days in a hurry, and after seven days, you're gone," said long-time Wal-Mart employee Brenda Stringfellow. "There's no negotiation. You are gone."
The local vigil was one of dozens taking place this week, organized by a faith-based non-profit called "Wake-up Wal-mart," which is asking Wal-Mart to change its policies by Christmas Day.
"This happens nationwide," said Donald Wright of Wake-up Wal-Mart. "A company making just over $11 billion in profits can't afford to take care of its associates? That is atrocious."
Equally atrocious, according to this group: Wal-Mart's health care coverage, which critics contend does not adequately cover its employees. "Things like that impact the community by the drain on our tax dollars to cover what their insurance doesn't pay for," added Wright.
These protestors say that many more employees wanted to participate, but were afraid of losing their jobs. But Stringfellow, a department manager who's worked for Wal-Mart almost 15 years, says she's not afraid. "I think somebody has to," she added. "If you don't stand up for yourself, who's going to?"
NBC-15 News tried contacting Wal-Mart officials for comment on this story, but has not received any response.
