Pay raises for more than 72,000 Walmart associates in Texas go into effect

ByCommunity Report, Cleveland Advocate
Monday, April 13, 2015
This photo taken Nov. 14, 2011, shows the rain-soaked handle of a shopping cart outside the Wal-Mart store in Mayfield Hts. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)
This photo taken Nov. 14, 2011, shows a rain-soaked handle of a shopping cart outside a Wal-Mart store (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)
AP-AP

HOUSTON -- As part of Walmart's additional $1 billion investment in its workers this year, Walmart is giving pay raises to 72,478 associates in Texas for the pay period starting April 4, many of those here in the Greater Houston Area. With the raises, associates earn at least $1.75 an hour above both the federal and Texas minimum wage. The full-time average hourly wage in Texas is now $12.58.

"In my experience, Walmart is the greatest place to achieve anything," said Zoe Rodriguez, a merchandise reconciliation associate at the new Cinco Ranch Walmart Neighborhood Market in Katy who will see her pay check go up by $2.65 per hour.

"After starting in January, I've already been promoted three times, from a cashier to customer service, customer service manager and now to a merchandise reconciliation associate. Now I will receive another pay raise from this announcement. As a single mother, Walmart is the only company that has ever invested in me and I feel motivated to invest back in them through my work ethic," Rodriguez said.

Read more from the Cleveland Advocate, a Houston Community Newspaper partner.