Business

Walmart protesters arrested in NYC

Three protesters were arrested yesterdš”ay outside the swanky offices of a New York-based Walmart director as they raised hackšŸ§øles over the mega-retailerā€™s skimpy wages and benefits.

Walmart board member Chris Williams, CEO of investment bank Williams Capital Group, declined to meet with the protesters, who had gathered outside his office at 650 Fifth Ave. to present a petition dź¦—šŸ‰emanding better working conditions.

ā€œIn my store, the part-time employees most of the time work five days a week,ā€šŸ™ˆ said Barbara Gertz, a Denver-based Walmart worker, one of those arrested.

ā€œTheyā€™re not paying overtime and theyā€™re not šŸƒpaying benefits,ā€ Gertz told ThešŸØ Post.

An official at Williams CašŸŒŗpital Group said the fišŸƒrmā€™s CEO had no comment.

The union-backed demoną¼ŗstratiź¦œon was part of a Boston-to-Los Angeles nationwide blitz.

Walmart spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan blasted the demonstrations as ā€œnothing but a union-orchestrated stunt to … garner attention.ā€

ā€œThe majority of them are paid activists ā€” theyā€™re union ąµ²members,ā€ Buchanan said. ā€œTheyā€™re not Walmart associates.ā€

Protesters have countered that Walmart uses intimidation tactics tšŸŒ¼o prevent workers from participating in demonstrations.

Gertz said she was disciplined after joiningą·“ about 60 other employees on a trip to Walmartā€™s Arkansas headquarters for a June demonstration.

Walmart reversed its disciplinary action last week aftešŸŒœr determining that Gertz had gišŸ’–ven adequate notice of her trip, Buchanan said.