Walmart Workers Seek $25,000 Annual Salaries

Protests held in 19 cities

Walmart workers at a store on Chicago's south side spent Wednesday rallying for higher wages.

The protestors enacted the one-day strike at the Chatham store in advance of the company's annual shareholders meeting Thursday in Arkansas.

The workers are seeking minimum salaries of $25,000 a year, and held protests in 19 cities across the country.

"My working family is forced to supplement its income with another part time job due to Walmart's low pay," demonstrator Linda Haluska said outside the Chatham store. "We deserve the right to voice concern and be free from retaliation."

Anna Pritchard, a 65-year-old grandmother, says she's seen her fellow co-workers struggle so much over the years that she needed to come out and show her support.

"When my pregnant sister, coworker, is in harm's way because Walmart will not accommodate her pregnancy, I hurt," Pritchard said.

According to Walmart's web site, 75 percent of its store management started out working on an hourly basis, and got promoted to positions that often pay six figures. The company also says benefits for hourly associates include health care plans that begin at the $17 per hour pay rate.

Approximately 75 protestors attended the Chatham strike.

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