UFCW Launches Campaign Urging Walmart To 'Bring Back Holiday Pay'

MARTINEZ, CA – A labor demonstration surrounding holiday pay for Walmart workers kicked off Monday outside the Martinez Walmart. Beginning at 11 a.m., union members, activists, organizations and local leaders were slated to be on hand outside the store on Arnold Drive to hand out fliers and collect petition signatures "demanding Walmart bring back holiday pay for its employees," according to a statement from organizers with the United Food and Commercial Workers labor union.

Organizers say Monday's demonstration is part of UFCW's "Making A Change At Walmart" campaign, and is the first of several coordinated actions at Walmart locations across the U.S. meant to deliver this message to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon: "Don’t be a turkey on Thanksgiving, bring back holiday pay for your workers."

In a statement Monday, Amy Ritter of UFCW said:

"In 2016, Walmart eliminated holiday pay, sending a strong message that there is nothing special about the holidays when it comes to how Walmart treats and pays its workers. If Walmart is going to remain open on major holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year’s, then it should honor all that its workers sacrifice to make the holidays happen and bring back the holiday pay they’ve earned and deserve.

"These grassroots actions at Walmart locations across the country are part of MCAW’s multi-pronged holiday campaign to denounce Walmart’s “War on the Holidays” and will continue throughout the holiday season via TV ads, social media, email blasts, online videos and additional store actions."

In response to a Patch inquiry about the company's policy surrounding holiday pay, Walmart spokesman Blake Jackson emailed the following statement Monday afternoon:

"Walmart’s Paid Time Off program is designed to give associates more stability in their lives. Both full- and part-time associates receive a paid day off for each Walmart holiday, and it’s important that our people have the control and flexibility to decide how they use that extra paid time. At the end of the year, hourly associates can rollover some unused PTO and can cash out the remainder to use as they please. Those who work on Thanksgiving this year will also receive an additional 15% off an entire basket of goods, for a total of 25% off."

Under Walmart company policy, full-time associates can earn 304 hours of PTO per year, based on tenure, while part-time associates can earn 144 hours of PTO per year, based on tenure. Both full- and part-time associates may roll over up to 80 hours of unused PTO, and any remaining PTO hours are automatically cashed out and paid back to the associate.

(Associated Press file photo by Tony Gutierrez)