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Walmart Workers Will Protest Low Wages on Black Friday

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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Walmart employees will protest for 15 days leading up to Black Friday this year in hopes of getting minimum wage at the retailer raised to $15 an hour, reports Reuters. While the 15 for $15 is a catchy tactic, the protesters are also fighting for more full-time work opportunities and better benefits.

This will be the fourth year in a row Walmart has been affected by protesters on one of the US's largest shopping days, and the retailer surely hoped to avoid another protest when it raised its minimum pay to $9 an hour earlier this year. No such luck for the retailer, though, which will now face 1,000 protesters across all 50 states. Over 100 workers also plan to organize and fast outside of Walmart's stores.

One worker tells Reuters that she will fast all 15 days and claims that others will do a liquid fast or fast on most days.

In previous years, protests outside of Walmart were organized by OUR Walmart, however, that organization broke up into two separate pieces in September. Instead, a group led by a former United Food and Commercial Workers International Union member is heading up this year's efforts.

Walmart has responded with its plans to invest $2.7 billion in wages next year and said via a statement: "False attacks and media stunts from the unions have become an annual tradition this time of year."