Wal-Mart announced that it is raising wages and setting salary caps for workers at about a third of its 3,900 stores across the nation.
A spokesman for Wal-Mart said he was not sure if the wage increases would apply to Baltimore-area stores.
“We?ve haven?t broken them down by city yet, but I know there will be wage increases in some of the Maryland stores,” said Wal-Mart spokesman John Smiley.
The starting wages will go up about 6 percent at about 1,200 Wal-Mart and Sam?s Club stores, the company stated in its announcement.
Those employees not currently earning the starting wage will get a raise, the company said in a statement.
“Wal-Mart pays competitive wages and we continue to transform our pay plans as we grow,” said Susan Chambers, executive vice president of the People Division for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in a company statement.
“These start rate changes, combined with our competitive benefits like affordable health care, 401K and profit-sharing and annual incentives for our hourly associates, make us an even more attractive employer.”
Wal-Mart has about 1.3 million employees and is planning to grow by about 8 percent annually.
Wal-Mart Stores opened 32 stores in July, including some in international markets such as China.
Wal-Mart has come under increasing attacks from politicians, labor groups and communities who criticize the company?s wage and health care benefits.
“Like most of Wal-Mart?s recent publicity stunts, the company takes one step forward and two cruel steps backwards,” Paul Blank, campaign director of WakeUpWalMart.Com, said in a statement.
