Wal-Mart Plans to Appeal Quebec Labour Board Ruling on Union

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Bloomberg

By Chris Burritt

Dec. 19 -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, said it plans to appeal a Quebec Labour Board ruling that granted union certification at a store in Gatineau earlier this week.

Wal-Mart plans an appeal to the Quebec Superior Court, requesting that employees in its store in Gatineau’s Hull district be allowed a secret-ballot vote on union representation, Andrew Pelletier, a company spokesman, said today.

The Wal-Mart location is among a few in the province already represented by a union. Earlier this month, a Wal-Mart store in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, also was granted union status after more than four years of legal challenges. The retailer closed a unionized tire and lubrication shop in October, citing costs tied to a labor contract imposed by the Quebec board.

Wal-Mart will argue in its appeal that only 63 of the Gatineau store’s 194 current employees were working in the location four years ago when employees signed union cards seeking representation, Pelletier said in a telephone interview.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=ayB.EkR9VQvA&refer=canada

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And just a few months ago they told their employees to vote for McCain to keep the unions out of their US stores.

[dipsydoodle]

1. I'd just love to see them pull that stunt in the UK.

Read and enjoy :

Employers or employment agencies are not allowed to treat you unfairly because you belong or do not belong to a union, or because you refuse to join or decide to leave one. In general, the choice is yours, and it's unlawful for an employer or employment agency to treat you unfairly whatever you decide.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/TradeUnions/DG_10027560

[pattmarty]

2. It really says something where this country is today...............

.........in regards the workingperson. Canada, and other "foreign" countries have unionized Wal Marts among many other business. Our dismal rate here is falling to about 12% today. Hopefully the Obama administration will fulfill their promises to be pro labor. Let's see how big time they get behind the Employee Free Choice Act AND start enforcing pro labor laws and regulations that are now current law.