Former secretary of state is the only Democratic presidential candidate who has not come out in support of a $15 minimum wage

Walmart protesters who attempted to deliver a letter to Hillary Clinton’s Brooklyn headquarters were turned away by security on Wednesday. The protesters – some current and some former Walmart employees – were hoping the former secretary of state and Democratic candidate for president would take up their cause and come out in support of $15-an-hour wages.

“I am going to Hillary Clinton’s office to demand that she speak up for me, for my daughter and for the tens of thousands of Walmart workers across this country working and living in poverty,” said Tyfani Faulkner, a former Walmart customer service manager from Sacramento, California. “One of the things I remember most from working at Walmart was my friends and I emptying our pockets to scrape together one meal we all could share for lunch. This should not be happening in America. We need a champion in the White House and we’re going to Hillary’s office to demand that she take up our cause.”

Faulkner was let go from Walmart for alleged activism. During the two weeks leading up to Black Friday, she is fasting to “try and improve the working conditions and wages for all of my friends still working at the store”. About 100 Walmart associates are participating in the fast, also known as Fast for 15.

Faulkner and the other protesters, all wearing bright green scarves the color of the current and former employee-led Our Walmart campaign, were barred from reaching the Clinton headquarters by the building security. The protesters delivered their letter to the campaign’s labor liaison outside the building.

Clinton’s campaign did not respond to Guardian’s request for comment.

Stand Up 2 Walmart (@OURWmt) Security refuses to let @HillaryClinton staff know #walmart fasters are the lobby w/ letter to deliver #Fastfor15 pic.twitter.com/jMuYeeUbBh

Stand Up 2 Walmart (@OURWmt) Jennifer: @hillaryclinton I am trying to do right for kids but at #walmart it's always been a struggle #fastfor15 pic.twitter.com/D6ieB9sF3F

Clinton, who served on Walmart’s board from 1986 to 1992, has attempted to distance herself from the company when she first ran for president in 2007. That year, she returned a $5,000 campaign donation from the retailer due to “serious differences”. Her then spokesman Howard Wolfson said in 2008: “As president, [Clinton] will fight alongside labor to promote the economic growth of America’s middle class” and strongly believes Walmart workers should be able to unionize.



The former Walmart board member is not the only Democratic candidate to be contacted by the Walmart workers. On Friday, prior to Saturday’s Democratic debate, Our Walmart sent a letter to all three Democratic candidates informing them that often some of the lowest paid Walmart workers “have to choose between paying the rent and having enough food to eat”.

'Poverty pay' leads Walmart employees to skip lunch – or steal it from coworkers Read more

“[W]e need a president who will champion our cause. While this is a problem nationwide, it is also a major problem in Iowa where you will be Saturday night. In Iowa alone, Walmart has nearly 700 stores and more than 16,500 employees,” the letter said.

The other two candidates, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and former governor of Maryland Martin O’Malley, have previously come out in support of the $15 minimum wage that Walmart protesters are campaigning for. Clinton has said she would support increasing the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour.

Earlier this year, Walmart increased wages of about half a million of its employees to $9 an hour, which is $1.75 more than the current minimum wage of $7.25. All Walmart employees will be paid at least $10 an hour next year, the company said.

“False attacks and media stunts from the unions have become an annual tradition this time of year,” Walmart’s spokesman told the Guardian last week when asked for comment on the Fast for 15 campaign and claims that Walmart workers could not afford food.

On Wednesday, in response to OUR Walmart’s meeting with Clinton’s labor liaison, Walmart spokesman said that the company is proud of the wages and benefits it offers its associates.

“Our average full time hourly associate earns more than $13 an hour in addition to the opportunity for quarterly cash bonuses, matching 401k and healthcare benefits,” he added. “Walmart is investing $2.7bn over this year and next in wages, education and training for our associates because we know they make the difference.”