Protesters at WalMart Ask for Higher Wages, Better Benefits

In a local part of a national effort to improve worker rights across the country at WalMart, Danbury protesters called for more worker rights and a balance between management rights and worker rights.

"Management has the power and it needs to be balanced," said Mike Toto, who is not an employee of WalMart.

Mike Dobservage, who represented Occupy Danbury, said he was protesting WalMart because smaller businesses that complete with it typically close.

The protests outside the Danbury store were part of a nationwide effort by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which has tried unsuccessfully to unionize Wal Mart stores in the United States.

In response to the UFCW’s planned protests, Wal Mart U.S. President Bill Simon said in a prepared release, "Only 26 protests occurred at stores last night and many of them did not include any Walmart associates.” In addition, the company did not experience the walk-offs that were promised by the UFCW. “We estimate that less than 50 associates participated in the protest nationwide. In fact, this year, roughly the same number of associates missed their scheduled shift as last year,” Simon said.