Protesters at Duarte Wal-Mart demand better pay and hours [Video]

Outside a Wal-Mart in Duarte about 7:30 a.m. Friday, nearly 50 protesters in lime-green T-shirts walked in a circle outside the supercenter, beating a drum, pumping their fists in the air and waving signs that read “On Strike� and “Freedom to Speak Out.�

The group, Organization United for Respect at Wal-Mart, is advocating for higher wages, better healthcare and more consistent hours. OUR Wal-Mart organizers said 1,000 protests were taking place across the country on Black Friday.

Wal-Mart said 26 protests occurred nationwide and involved fewer than 50 associates, U.S. Walmart Chief Executive Bill Simon said in a statement Friday.

Richard Reynoso, 19, of Baldwin Park, walked out of his shift a half-hour early to join the protests. He picked up a megaphone and led supporters from the United Food and Commercial Workers union in a series of chants.

“Who’s got the power?� Reynoso shouted.

“We got the power,� the crowd responded.

“What kind of power?�

“People power!�

In the year he’s been working at Wal-Mart, managers have increased their demands and done little to improve working conditions, Reynoso said. Since joining OUR Wal-Mart, he said he’s worked fewer hours.

“They don’t treat us with the respect we deserve,� Reynoso said. “They think we’re robots.�

George Woodley, a 63-year-old Wal-Mart cashier, was also outside. He is a few years away from retirement, and wants to fight for current and future employees, he said.

“I know times are tough and people need jobs,� Woodley said. “But the question is, what kind of jobs are we getting?�

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