Walmart protests expanding to N.M.

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Protestors plan on picketing several Walmarts in New Mexico on Friday as shoppers are out in force on the day after Thanksgiving.

As of midday Wednesday there were no protesters at the two Walmarts KRQE News 13 visited in Albuquerque.

Protests all across the country are planned because the company moved its Black Friday holiday opening to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Organizers say the workers are also unhappy with pay and benefits.
So starting Friday at 9 a.m. unions say about a dozen workers will join other protestors at the three n three Walmarts at I-40 and Carlisle, I-40 and Eubank, and Coors Bypass in Albuquerque plus stores in Taos and Clovis.

Representatives from the local United Food and Commercial Workers Union are organizing the protest and say they are supporting Wal-Mart workers even though they are not part of their union.

Occupy Albuquerque and Stop the War Machine say they will also have representatives at the protests to show their support.

While union reps say their goal is to get Wal-Mart to treat their employees better they do not encourage employees to walk off the job and leave customers hanging.

Wal-Mart has said there will be consequences for those actions.