Landmark Wal-Mart ruling released by Quebec arbitrator
18.08.2008 23:01
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- Source: cbc.ca
A Quebec arbitrator has imposed a collective agreement on Wal-Mart for the first time in the world's largest retailer's history. The arbitrator released the decision Friday on the contract for eight workers at a tire-and-lube garage at a Wal-Mart store on Maloney Boulevard in Gatineau, just across the river from Ottawa. The workers are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada. Guy Chenier, head of the local representing the workers, said the union is delighted with the deal, which gives the workers raises averaging 35 to 40 per cent effective immediately, as well as more vacation. A spokesman for Wal-Mart said the company is unhappy with the decision and it is "incompatible" with the company's way of doing business. Wal-Mart is the biggest company in the world, according to the Fortune 500 rankings, and recorded nearly $13 billion US in profits in 2007 yet its front-line employees make less than $20,000 US a year, on average, and the company has been cited for union-busting tactics by government agencies and independent watchdogs. Friday's precedent-setting contract is the first ever imposed on the Arkansas-based retailer by an outside agency. In 2005, Wal-Mart closed a store in Jonquire, Que., the same day Quebec announced an arbitrator would impose a collective agreement. Wal-Mart said the decision to close the outlet was unrelated to the government announcement, but the incident has led to the union's speculation that the Gatineau Wal-Mart store will close in the wake of Friday's decision. Independent mechanic Denis Guillemette, who was shopping at the Gatineau store Thursday, said closing the store would send a bad message. "That's not the way we do things in Canada," he said. "And that wouldn't be right for the people that work there.
If they want to unionize, obviously there's something not going well with management, but as far as professional ethics go, these people have rights and they should be voiced." Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada agreed to hear appeals from workers who lost their jobs in the closing of the Jonquire store and who allege that the closing was due to union activities. RelatedInternal LinksIN DEPTH: Wal-MartUnion goes to court to get Wal-Mart to re-open in SaguenayTop court will hear appeals over Wal-Mart store closureWal-Mart to appeal union decision in Saint-HyacintheWal-Mart to close unionized Quebec storeConsumer HeadlinesLondon, Ont., to vote on giving bottled water the bootLondon, Ont., may become one of the first cities in Canada to stop selling bottled water in municipal buildings.Next, federal government will weigh in on safety of printer inks, cosmeticsThe federal government is due to release on Saturday a draft assessment of chemicals including a pigment used in some printer cartridges, a colouring agent used in cosmetics and a dye used in detergents and cleaners.Magazine-sharing site running afoul of U.S. copyright lawThe magazine industry, already facing a decline in newsstand sales and falling ad revenue, is being besieged by a new foe: digital piracy.Manitoba offers thousands to homeowners who use geothermal energyThe Manitoba government unveiled new incentives Monday to encourage residents and business owners to switch to geothermal technology for heating and cooling.Visa introduces new anti-fraud pilot programVisa Inc. and a collection of Canadian and U.S. lenders announced a pilot project today designed to alert cardholders in real time of possible fraud attempts. Consumer Life FeaturesIN DEPTHEnvironmentHealth Canada to evaluate pigments, solventsECONOMYGlobal consumerismHow the world spends its moneySAFETYRecalls and AdvisoriesYOUR VOICEFound your calling?Tell us why your job is a dream job!BLOGFood BytesIn praise of old kitchen gadgetsBLOGComm-OdditiesBillionaire breaks real-estate record with $793M bidPeople who read this also read …
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