ABSTRACT
Walmart is ubiquitous in the U.S. retail economy and is making inroads into other markets throughout the world. The company is a prominent employer in each of the towns and cities in which it does business. For both of these reasons, Walmart’s employment practices are increasingly the subject of public debate. Entering this debate are more than 4,000 current employees comprising the Organization United for Respect at Walmart, or OUR Walmart, who have staged protests outside Walmart’s stores to voice their concerns about company policies and seek public support for their efforts. High on OUR Walmart’s list of demands are full-time jobs with predictable schedules instead of part-time jobs with hours that can change every few weeks, wages and benefits generous enough to support workers’ families, and a company culture of respect for employees and the company alike. 1
