We've been hearing a whole lot from labor unions and progressive groups that Walmart is unfair to its workers and that the minimum wage must be increased, but the company's new plans to promote 125,000 employees for the holiday season are debunking the narrative.
According to Vice President of Walmart Communications David Tovar, the company will be hiring new workers, bumping temporary workers into part-time positions and promoting part-time workers to full-time.
"We are proud to hire 55,000 seasonal associates and elevate 35,000 associates from temp to part time and another 35,000 from part time to full time. Our associates achieve incredible things every day, and we are excited about continuing to expand the opportunities for them," Tovar said.
On average, full-time hourly Walmart associates are paid $12.57 per hour. Seventy-five percent of Walmart's store management teams started out as minimum wage, hourly workers, proving hard work will get a person ahead in the corporate world. Take for example Karisa Sprague, who started as an intern in a Colorado store in 2001 and is now a senior vice president for a Walmart division.
"Mr. Sam always said our associates are the key to Walmart's success. This is true across the company, from the folks spending time on farms as part of our locally grown commitment to long-term associates who've made their careers in a variety of areas. In fact, this month alone we have two 45-year associates, three 40-year associates and 23 associates celebrating 35 years with the company. They are part of the 300,000 associates who have been with Walmart for 10 years or more," Tovar said.
But it isn't just the workers inside Walmart stores who are benefiting from the corporation's pro-worker policies, truckers working for the company are benefiting as well. The average driver working for Walmart makes $85,000 per year.
Recently in big cities with high unemployment numbers, like New York and Washington D.C., we've seen construction plans for Walmart stores delayed thanks to protests, accusations of discrimination and unreasonable demands. After years of negotiations, the store in Washington is finally moving forward after the Mayor vetoed minimum wage legislation unfairly targeting the company, opening the door to employment for hundreds of people looking for jobs.