Wal-Mart v. Black Friday

Wal-Mart appreciates the hard working that serve, Worth $$$$$ paying minimum what a lot of nerve...

Courtesy: uncoveror.com

(CLEVELAND) -
Is this a correct title well, actually no it ain’t,
But, neither is it as far off as some might think,
The biggest shopping day of every single year,
So does the giant retailer have anything to fear?

27 countries and 69 banners, over 10,000 stores,
Are hourly employees justified in seeking more?
2 million workers serving 200 million every week,
Sales for 2011 reached 443.9 billion as their peak.

Wal-Mart uses the term, “associates” to describe,
Those paid hourly but that’s not true, here’s why,
That term means partner, companion, etc., friend,

Yet they chose Black Friday for a strike to begin?

Wal-Mart appreciates the hard working that serve,
Worth $$$$$ paying minimum what a lot of nerve,
While last years net sales increased by 5.4 percent,
And many of the faithful struggle to pay their rent.

Wal-Mart’s financial position is its ability to grow,
Strong, steady, adding 52.2 million sq. ft, it shows,
In worldwide acquisitions South Africa & the U.K.,
Just over $8.00 an hour is all they can afford to pay?

William Fletcher asked for a move, he hurt his knee,
Then Wal-Mart cut his hours because of the injury,
2005, workers formed a union in Canada’s Quebec,
Wal-Mart closed the store a few months after that.

Jacksonville, Texas, butchers formed a union one-year,
So nationwide Wal-Mart closed that department in fear,
Workers would gain leverage to bargain for better pay,
Year 2,000 and in 2012 they’re still closed to this day.

Black Friday expect 1,000 protests at stores & online,
Once again the monster retailer will be doing just fine,
More disturbing? Their treatment of woman is scary,
Well, sexual harassment abounds in the U.S. Military.

Don’t think for one minute the President will give aide,
Because his wife & two daughters already have it made,
Wal-Mart, Micro-Soft, McDonalds, the big money talks,
While strikers carrying signs in circles continue to walk.

50 thousand signatures v. 50 million continuing to shop,
Ultra-mega discounts and savings will shoppers stop?
Hostess workers called management's "Twinkie" bluff,
Over 18,000 out of work, no pension, now that's tough.

Did the Hostess CEO really receive a 300% raise in pay?
As 160 million in employee benefits has been baked away?
However, news media reports continue to set the blame,
On those at the bottom of the barrel it's downright insane.

By Luke Easter

Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke heals the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com