Wal-Mart Ordered to Allow Union Contract in Quebec

[sabra]

Source: Bloomberg

Aug. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, will have to accept a contract for unionized workers at one of its North American locations for the first time after a Quebec arbitrator's ruling.

The three-year contract was imposed by the Quebec Labour Relations Board after workers at one of Wal-Mart's auto-body shops and the company failed to reach an agreement during negotiations, the United Food and Commercial Workers union said in an e-mail today. Wal-Mart shares climbed 2.2 percent in New York trading.

The contract is the latest development in a six-year attempt by the union to organize bargaining units at the company's Canadian stores. In the U.S., Wal-Mart faces criticism from the AFL-CIO and other worker groups, which say it's urging employees to oppose Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama because he supports labor legislation.

``We are disappointed that at first glance the agreement would appear to have a significant impact on the business model,'' Andrew Pelletier, a spokesman for Wal-Mart Canada, said today in an interview from Montreal.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=ah3zchwOFW1g&refer=canada

[liberal N proud]

1. That's what happens when you let those damn liberals run the government

:sarcasm:

[Critters2]

2. Wal-Mart will soon decide that store is unprofitable and close it...

and open another one 1/4 mile away.

[Javaman]

3. yeah, location is everything...

:sarcasm:

[usaftmo]

5. In the Walmart movie

they mentioned a Walmart Quebec that the workers voted to unionize. Those employees weren't fired...instead corporate HQ decided to close the entire store.
:grr:

[jeff30997]

6. True.And it's near were I live:

Canadian Press

Monday, August 02, 2004


"SAGUENAY, Que. (CP) - A Wal-Mart store in this city may become the first such outlet to be unionized after the Quebec Labour Relations Board accredited a union there to represent workers at the retail giant.

The Quebec Federation of Labour announced the accreditation on Monday. The store has about 180 employees in this city 200 kilometres north of Quebec City."

A couple of months later the scums closed the store due to "economic reasons." :grr:


http://www.alberni.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=811 (The first link that I found).

[Posteritatis]

7. They'll do it within days (nt)

[jeff30997]

8. Yep.

Just like they did 4 years ago.:(

[sasquatch]

4. Oh Canada!

:applause:

[jeff30997]

9. Union Yes !

http://www.cartoonwork.com/archive/union/Walmart+Unions.gif

[Canuckistanian]

10. Walmart's in a difficult position here

They're being forced to justify the closing of the Jonquiere store in this hearing. Walmart has always maintained that the Jonquiere store was closed because of poor sales.

Now if they close the auto body shop, it will be clear that they're only doing this to punish the unions. And that's against the law.

I'd love to see Québec achieve history by punishing Walmart for it's anti-labor practices.