Very strange news
from the land of Walmart:
Employees of a Walmart in Brandon that abruptly closed Monday were among more than 2,000 employees nationwide who learned almost simultaneously they were being laid off.
In a nearly identical manner at every store, Walmart corporate officials visited the five locations, called an impromptu meeting in the back of the store and told employees that the stores would be closing that evening.
The locations include stores in Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and California. Even stranger is that Walmart doesn't seem to be ready to do anything about said
"plumbing."
According to Hillsborough County, Florida, Walmart didn’t notify the county’s permit department either. No one there has heard a peep from Walmart about any major repairs.
One thing is known, these "plumbing issues" are
pretty considerable.
A Walmart official also told 10 News repairs haven't started yet because they still need to organize the store after so many shoppers came out to take advantage of closing deals.
She added each of these five stores closed, there have been upwards of 100 plumbing or pipe incidents in just the past two years. That, and that alone, is the only connection, according to Walmart officials.
Or there haven't been
any plumbing issues?
The manager said she has worked inside the store since 2012, used the restroom daily and has never seen a plumber working in the store or witnessed a plumbing problem.
No plumbers or contractors could be seen at the Brandon Wal-Mart today.
There has been speculation in the past few years that Walmart's
superstore days were over. But it is anybody's guess at this point, as to what is going on with these closings. We know it isn't the
high wages they pay their employees.
The stores will potentially remain closed for at least 6 months.
UPDATE: I was contacted by someone at UFCW, Making Change At Walmart. They point out that the Pico Rivera Walmart workers (that's the California Walmart that closed suddenly due to "plumbing issues") has been one of the ore active OUR Walmart stores in the country. It is also the site of the first Walmart strikes, back in 2012.