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WalMart Workers to Receive Pay Raise

As part of the largest single-day, private-sector pay increase ever, more than 1.2 million Walmart and Sam’s Club associates in the U.S. will receive a pay raise in their March 10 paycheck.

In Pennsylvania, more than 45,000 associates will be impacted by the increase including more than 11,400 throughout southwest PA and 328 in Armstrong County.

The increases are part of the company’s two-year, $2.7 billion investment in higher pay, better training, clearer career paths and additional educational opportunities for its workers.

In addition to the pay increase, Walmart associates are eligible for quarterly cash bonuses based on the performance of their store. For the full fiscal year, Walmart associates across the country earned more than $550 million in bonuses, including $29.8 million in Pennsylvania.

Alvin Peoples, 24, started at the North Versailles Walmart in 2013 and rose to the role of Automotive Care Center Department Manager.

“There is no question the new wages are a big benefit for me and my coworkers. But beyond a paycheck, this increase shows how much Walmart values its associates and is willing to invest in opportunities for us to grow,” Peoples said.

Last year, Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club promoted more than 200,000 associates, including 9,100 in Pennsylvania, to jobs with higher pay and more responsibility. In addition, more than 150,000 associates, including 5,723 in Pennsylvania, were converted from part-time to full-time. This month’s pay changes include:

All associates hired before Jan. 1, 2016 will earn at least $10/hour.

The average wage for full-time associates in Pennsylvania is now $13.31/hour.

New entry-level associates hired after Jan. 1 will continue to start at $9/hour and will move to at least $10/hour after successfully completing the company’s new retail skills and training program known as Pathways.

Associates already earning more than $10/hour will see their annual pay increase starting in March rather than waiting until their anniversary date.

Walmart is raising the starting rate of its non-entry level hourly pay bands. Anyone earning below the new minimum will automatically move up to the new minimum.

Associates at or above their pay band maximum will receive a one-time lump sum payment equal to 2 percent of their annual pay.

In Pennsylvania, the company operates 161 retail units.

In January, Walmart announced the closing 154 stores in the U.S. and 269 stores total around the world. The stores represented less than 1 percent of its global revenue, but affected 10,000 workers in the United States.

Local News | jweaver March 9, 2016