Call it a plunger protest.
Workers from the closed Brandon Walmart and supporters from other stores displayed toilet plungers to dramatize their plight. Walmart closed that Brandon store, along with four others across the country, earlier this month. More than 400 people from the Brandon store were forced to start looking for other jobs.
David Alvarez said he worries a TV interview could cost him his job at a Lutz Walmart but he wants customers to know the closing is hurting people.
“They have families to support. They have rent to pay. We have lives to lead. We can’t fund lives. We can’t really find lives off the pay we get from Walmart when things are good,” Alvarez said.
The protesters asked why plumbing work has not started in the store and why the company hasn’t requested permits.
“I’m here to support them because I don’t believe Walmart’s telling the truth and I think that we all deserve the truth,” Nancy Reynolds said.
Michael Garafano, who transferred to Lithia, used to be in maintenance at the Brandon store. He worked with plumbers.
“And their indication to me was that the problems are very minor. There was nothing that they told maybe would take maybe a day, a few hours, and it wouldn’t disturb anybody, just might have to shut down a bathroom or two but that was about it,” Garafano said.
A Walmart spokesperson issued a statement saying the company is doing a comprehensive review of necessary work. The spokesman said the store will request the necessary permits when the review is completed.
The statement says Walmart is still identifying transfer opportunities and severance pay for those that qualify.
Walmart promises employees will have a chance to reapply for their jobs when the store reopens.
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