MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Friday Bass Pro at the Pyramid had it’s first problem.
While most people were celebrating the store, not everyone was happy about it.
Planned for May Day protests, a local group rallied outside the mega store and Pinch District to say it was bad for the city.
The Memphis Socialist Party said Bass Pro didn’t pay it’s workers a living wage and has discriminatory hiring practices.
Chanting and marching through the streets of the Pinch District and downtown, The Memphis Socialist Party spread it’s message.
“Any corporation and any business in Memphis should be investing in the city of Memphis, which include economic justice and living wage for all workers,” said Brooke Shannon, with the Memphis Socialist group.
The group of about 30 people made their way by City Hall.
They were closely followed by police as they continued past Bass Pro but didn’t go on the property.
The group spoke out today because it’s May 1, International Worker’s Day.
They said they were the voice for exploited workers.
“We want to make sure when new businesses come to town that they can’t just take advantage of the people like they have been,” said Dana Asbury.
The group cited a 2011 lawsuit against Bass Pro filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
It claimed the company routinely denied management jobs to African Americans and Hispanics.
On Friday, Shannon said Bass Pro told them of 600 workers hired.
Three hundred were from minority groups but Shannon said that wasn’t good enough.
“That doesn’t account for their higher up management, resource salary position. If you’re going to hire half your employees from minority communities and only pay them minimum wage then that’s not justice,” she explained.