Wal-Mart ordered to allow union contract in Canada

[Omaha Steve]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iegqSGzu-7-R_PaiyyJ1wELCrwtAD92J0UFG0

3 days ago

MONTREAL (AP) — A Quebec arbitrator imposed a labor contract Friday at a unionized Wal-Mart outlet there, marking the first such deal involving the retail giant in North America.

While other Wal-Mart stores have been unionized, a group that is critical of the company's labor policies called it a "landmark" collective agreement.

Wal-Mart Watch director David Nassar issued a statement Friday congratulating the local United Food and Commercial Workers Canada union and workers at Wal-Mart's Gatineau, Que. tire and lube operation, saying it was "the first Wal-Mart location in North America with a collective agreement in place."

Wal-Mart Quebec spokesman Yanick Deschenes would not immediately comment on the details of the arbitrator's 43-page decision.

"At first glance, this will have a significant impact on our business model, which is to offer the best prices to our clientele," Deschenes said.

In his decision, arbitrator Alain Corriveau wrote: "The employer does not want to modify his business model. This is likely the reason why negotiations stalled and why the parties could not reach a deal at the end of the first labor agreement."

FULL story at link.

[applegrove]

1. Bye bye mon cowboy adieu mon rodeo. (I always sing that mitsou

song whenever I see walmart in honor of those brave quebecors who did unionize their store and then had walmart close the store down.)

[MichiganVote]

2. Awwwwww...are the Walmart kids gonna suffer?

[Earth Bound Misfit]

3. HUUUUUUUUUGEEEE!!!!!

:applause: :applause: :kick: :kick: :woohoo: :woohoo:

K & R!

[davidnc76]

4. Great news!

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. You know I had to say it....