China: Wal-Mart tip of union iceberg

[Omaha Steve]

http://english.people.com.cn/90002/92169/92187/6286460.html

Having resisted unionization in China for so long, Wal-Mart, the world's leading retailer, is making the country's top unionist smile.

"We have cracked a world-class hard nut," said Sun Chunlan, executive vice-chairwoman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), referring to the establishment of 77 trade unions among the retailer's 84 branches in China.

The Wal-Mart unions are functioning well. For example, Wal-Mart unions in Fuzhou, capital of East China's Fujian Province, have persuaded management to raise part-time workers' wages to 6 yuan (75 US cents) per hour, above the minimum wage 5.5 yuan.

The stores also agreed to abolish the probation period for part-time workers. Meanwhile, the Wal-Mart union in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, has negotiated the right to have one day off a week.

As a delegate to the 17th Party congress, Sun said she aims to bring all Chinese Wal-Mart staff under the trade union umbrella.

"All overseas companies should follow suit, obey China's laws and set up trade unions as soon as possible," Sun said yesterday.


FULL story at link.

[Deja Q]

1. Wait, walmarts owners in America forbid unions like there's no tomorrow.

:wtf:

[robinlynne]

2. um they're bargaining for one day off a week and 75cents an hour....

walmart doesn't buy any american products anyway.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Well, this is in China, and Chinese reporting...

through their propaganda agencies of something Wal-Mart was likely required to do in order to open their stores.

Are there any domestic Chinese superstore chains competing with Wal-Mart, and do they have union labor?

Is this "union" a real union or one of the state unions the Soviets were famous for?