Labor issues in Canada plague Wal-Mart
The Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (SLRB) has agreed to hear a complaint by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada) accusing Wal-Mart of engaging in unfair labor practices as defined by Saskatchewan law. What’s more, the SLRB has ruled that Wal-Mart’s actions outside the province of Saskatchewan can be taken into account in assessing whether it is engaging in unfair labor actions within the province.
This means that the SLRB can take into account the example of Jonquiere, Quebec, when ruling on UFCW Canada’s complaint. It was in that small town, just over 100 miles north of Quebec City, that Wal-Mart announced it was going to shut its doors after workers voted to make the Jonquiere store the first unionized Wal-Mart in North America. The closure put 190 employees out of work, served as a warning for workers at other Wal-Mart stores who may have considered unionization against the company’s wishes.
Board chair James Seibel said the board was not required to determine whether Wal-Mart had acted illegally in Quebec to consider whether its actions “intimidated employees in Saskatchewan” from exercising their right under the province’s Trade Union Act to “organize and be represented by a bargaining agent of their choosing.”
“The fact that the actions of Wal-Mart upon which the allegations are based were committed outside the geographic confines of Saskatchewan does not mean that they cannot constitute (a) violation of the restriction on intimidation of its employees in the province,” Seibel ruled.
As the UFCW Canada complaint moves forward in Saskatchewan, it will be interesting to see if Wal-Mart’s actions in Quebec play a significant role - the company’s labor issues have yet to fade away there. According to the National Union of Public and General Employees:
The ruling is the latest in a series of setbacks for Wal-Mart in Canada. The company recently shut down a second operation in Quebec – a tire and lube shop in Gatineau – after failing to stop a union contract from being imposed there. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court of Canada case arising from the Jonquiere closure is scheduled to be heard within months.
We’ll keep you posted.
Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board refuses to dismiss unfair labour practice complaint citing Wal-Mart store closure in Jonquiere
Regina (11 Nov. 2008) - The Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (SLRB) has ruled that Wal-Mart’s actions outside the province can be taken into account in assessing whether it is engaging in unfair labour actions within the province.
In a new blow to the anti-union American retail giant, the board agreed to hear a complaint by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada) accusing Wal-Mart of engaging in unfair labour practices as defined by Saskatchewan law.
Specifically, the board rejected Wal-Mart’s argument that the union was “frivolous” in citing the closure of a Wal-Mart store in Jonquiere, Que., as an “intimidation” tactic affecting employees in Saskatchewan.
Geography and the law
Board chair James Seibel said the board was not required to determine whether Wal-Mart had acted illegally in Quebec to consider whether its actions “intimidated employees in Saskatchewan” from exercising their right under the province’s Trade Union Act to “organize and be represented by a bargaining agent of their choosing.”
“The fact that the actions of Wal-Mart upon which the allegations are based were committed outside the geographic confines of Saskatchewan does not mean that they cannot constitute (a) violation of the restriction on intimidation of its employees in the province,” Seibel ruled.
“It is not tenable to say that an employer with its head office elsewhere cannot, by acts committed at or by that office, intimidate its employees in a different province....
“In the present case, the alleged unfair labour practice is not the Jonquiere closure per se, but, inter alia, the intimidation of the employees in Saskatchewan as a result – the closure in Quebec is merely the means by which intimidation was achieved. Accordingly, the act of closure is not the violation, but the act of intimidation is.”
List of setbacks for Wal-Mart in Canada
Seibel noted in his decision means the complaint filed by the UFCW Canada can be heard in Saskatchewan. It is not a ruling on the merits of the UFCW complaint itself.
The ruling is the latest in a series of setbacks for Wal-Mart in Canada. The company recently shut down a second operation in Quebec – a tire and lube shop in Gatineau – after failing to stop a union contract from being imposed there. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court of Canada case arising from the Jonquiere closure is scheduled to be heard within months.
Wayne Hanley, president of UFCW Canada, hailed the Saskatchewan ruling.
“Wal-Mart can’t hide behind provincial borders. The company can’t pretend that when you shut a store right after the workers unionize that it doesn’t frighten other workers.... Wal-Mart continues to show across this country it has no respect for Canada’s labour laws, or the Charter rights that guarantee its workers the right to organize for collective bargaining,” Hanley said.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada’s largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. NUPGE has signed a formal protocol with the UFCW supporting its campaign to organize Wal-Mart workers in Canada. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring that our common wealth is used for the common good.
Posted by Corey Himrod on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Click Here for a Printer-Friendly Version
COMMENTS
Hey SDV,
I have a question for you, but first, some background:
Stock Price:
Costco: (1 year ago) $65.10/share
(NOW) $47.13/share
Wal-Mart: (1 year ago) $43.88/share
(NOW) $52.08/share
Costco stock, has LOST almost 1/3rd of it’s value, while Wal-Mart stock has INCREASED in value, by almost 1/4th!!
As stock price indicates investor ‘confidence’ in a businesses performance, based on it’s ‘business model’, we can see a difference in ‘confidence’ here!!
If the main difference between Costco and Wal-Mart is the union and ‘higher wages’ at Costco, what ‘good’ is making MORE money at Costco, to an employee, if the company goes down the drain and they end up losing their job?
RDS in
Thursday, November 13 at 12:30 PM
To Walmart home office executives.
It’s not going to stop. We will rise up every time you try to hold us down.
“I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery.” ~[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]
R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Thursday, November 13 at 12:54 PM
RDS,
Far be it for me to appear I am siding with SVD, but Costco isn’t going anywhere (in fact, they, and Wal-Mart are pretty much the only retailers getting the customers in their stores).
In other words, shoppers are abandoning the malls and home/fashion-centric stores like Macy’s and Target in droves favor of “back to basics” places like Costco and WM.
bbrd in
Thursday, November 13 at 12:58 PM
bbrd,
In the warehouse arena, BJ Wholesale, is catching up, for the last year, they are UP almost 18%, while Costco is DOWN almost 26%!!
The point I was trying to make for SDV, was that being a unionized company, doesn’t mean that your company will end up more successful than a non-union company, and that in times like these, a Wal-Mart business model will fare better than a Costco model!!
Basically, I was just using with Costco, the same thing that SDV and Ken V. are doing, when they say that Wal-Mart is hanging on by a thread!!
But, you are right, as with the ‘downtown’ small business model going away, so now shall the Mall and Higher End stores see a smaller share of the retail market!! People will ‘learn’, that paying ‘lower prices’ is a ‘good’ idea always, not just in economic downturns!!
RDS in
Thursday, November 13 at 03:17 PM
<i>...when they say that Wal-Mart is hanging on by a thread!!</b>
...after reading today’s news, we see how that’s working-out for those two! :o)
bbrd in
Thursday, November 13 at 03:24 PM
“"People will ‘learn’, that paying ‘lower prices’ is a ‘good’ idea always, not just in economic downturns!!"~RDS(Bob)
Your low prices come at a cost though. Imported consumer goods have taken jobs away from North America.
Poor quality has climbed with some products being deadly.
Third world countries populatons are being exploited by foreign bosses.
Environmental standards are being compromised.
Safe workplaces are of 2nd importance behind profit.
Raw materials are being shipped across the ocean only to be manufactured and sent back. Extra energy, extra carbon footprint.
Price is only one factor of many. I believe that you are a little bit sick Bob since you have such a tunnel vision.
Alex the more I read from you Bob(RDS) the more I believe that you are out of touch with what is going on around the world. You live in ignorance and possibly you like it.
R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Thursday, November 13 at 04:32 PM
“labor issues in Canada Plague Walmart”
Change Canada to GLOBAL!
Michelle in
Thursday, November 13 at 04:48 PM
“Change Canada to GLOBAL!”
Have you compromised your country just for some two bit retailer?
We’re not going to.
R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Thursday, November 13 at 05:54 PM
I mean the labor issues that plague walmart are of Global proportion!
Michelle in
Thursday, November 13 at 08:52 PM
Thanks for the clarification Michelle.
I agree. Walmart disrespects all.
R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Thursday, November 13 at 09:35 PM
Alex,
“the more I read from you Bob(RDS) the more I believe that you are out of touch with what is going on around the world. You live in ignorance and possibly you like it.”
And, I believe that you are so hung up on Protectionism, that you refuse to see what is actually being tried to accomplish!! You grab at every little thing and blow it out of proportion to fit your view!! ALL of the things you mentioned, have been going on since the 1950’s, but, a global economy can work to fix those things!! Just look at how much things have changed in China, to see what I mean, wages have been raised, unions have been formed and they are cleaning up their operations!! And, as for North American jobs, you should start to see them returning soon!!
“I believe that you are a little bit sick Bob since you have such a tunnel vision.”
You are the one with tunnel vision, thinking that the only way to do things is YOUR way!! I find it strange, that billions of people around the world disagree with you, yet, you think you have it right and they are all wrong!!
“To Walmart home office executives.
It’s not going to stop. We will rise up every time you try to hold us down.”
You keep saying that, but, in the end, you gain NO ground!! Your problem is, even if you were to win, Wal-Mart could make you lose, they could make it hard on unionized employees or ‘pick up their marbles’ and go home!!
RDS in
Thursday, November 13 at 11:57 PM
“"China, to see what I mean, wages have been raised, unions have been formed and they are cleaning up their operations!!""~Bob(RDS)
Life is good in China? When are you moving there Bob?
“"You keep saying that, but, in the end, you gain NO ground!! Your problem is, even if you were to win, Wal-Mart could make you lose, they could make it hard on unionized employees or ‘pick up their marbles’ and go home!!""~RDS (Bob)
Have you always been a capitulater?
“I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery.” ~[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]
R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Friday, November 14 at 10:03 AM
Alex,
“Life is good in China? When are you moving there Bob?”
I just said things were getting ‘better’ in China, that doesn’t mean I would want to move there!! If anyone should want to move to China, it should be YOU, because YOU think that North America is going down the drain and China is taking all our jobs and money!!
“Have you always been a capitulater?”
No, and I have not always been an adult either, so, what’s your point?
BTW: I was willing to share the jobs I have worked at, care to share your work history?
RDS in
Friday, November 14 at 11:39 AM
RDS,
You are the kind of capitalist that thinks he is ahead in life because you went to Las Vegas in your $20,000 car and then came home on a $150,000 Greyhound bus. You just don’t know when to quit.
WalMart- America’s advanced payday loan dream job in exchange for cheap Chinese crap. Bon appetit suckers!!
SanDiegoView in another Ayn Rand book burning parade
Friday, November 14 at 01:49 PM
“BTW: I was willing to share the jobs I have worked at, care to share your work history?"~RDS (Bob)
No
R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Friday, November 14 at 02:22 PM
Alex,
I thought not!! Do you use the words, “Would you like fries with that?”, in your line of work?
RDS in
Friday, November 14 at 11:31 PM
“Alex,.....I thought not!! Do you use the words, “Would you like fries with that?”, in your line of work?"~RDS(Bob)
Don’t think so, but I will tell you this Bob. If you are ever up here go to Harvey’s. They have the best hamburgers for a chain of fast food restaurants. Better the McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s (though Wendy’s would be my second choice). If you like a bit more of a greasy burger go with A&W;along with a big mug of root beer.
And yes I have said to the fries (or onion rings) on the side.
There is also the option of poutine which is French fries topped with fresh cheese curds, covered with brown gravy and sometimes additional ingredients. Way too many calories so be careful with that one.
R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Saturday, November 15 at 01:53 AM
Hey Bob(RDS)
Are you a patriot? Do you prefer your jobs where you live or where you can exploit cheap labour?
Just wondering.
R E M E M B E R’
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
G A T IN N E A U
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Saturday, November 15 at 03:17 AM
Hey SDV,
I have a question for you, but first, some background:
Stock Price:
Costco: (1 year ago) $65.10/share
(NOW) $47.13/share
Wal-Mart: (1 year ago) $43.88/share
(NOW) $52.08/share
Costco stock, has LOST almost 1/3rd of it’s value, while Wal-Mart stock has INCREASED in value, by almost 1/4th!!
As stock price indicates investor ‘confidence’ in a businesses performance, based on it’s ‘business model’, we can see a difference in ‘confidence’ here!!
RDS in
Thursday, November 13 at 12:30 PM
=======================================
How are those 26 stocks you own doing, RDS?
If there has been one uninterrupted trend of the past century, it has been the steady socialization of risk—especially financial risk. ~ Wall Street Journal
Ken V in Texas
Friday, November 14 at 06:14 AM
=======================================
Ken V,
“How are those 26 stocks you own doing, RDS?”
Not that great, but I now own 30 stocks (bought some cheap), but, until I sell them, I haven’t lost a dime and believe it or not, they will go back up when the economy settles out!! I’m not worried, are you?
RDS in
Friday, November 14 at 12:39 PM
=======================================
And so once again RDS bites the dust with his trash truck philosophy driving through the front doors of WalMart’s public relations and crashing into his palatial 1970 mobile home and crap shack.
WalMart- We are arsonists burning down America’s economic house as the suckers believe in our ‘creative destruction’.
SanDiegoView in WalMart is a hyperconsumption cult
Saturday, November 15 at 12:49 PM
Hey another thing Bob(RDS)
Harveys advertises ‘your burger your way’.
All the condoments eg. mustard ketchup mayo lettuce tomatoes onions pickles hot-peppers etc are custom made for your order. Truely these are fantastic burgers.
R E M E M B E R’
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
G A T I N N E A U
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Saturday, November 15 at 02:08 PM
Alex,
“Are you a patriot?”
Yes I am, but, that doesn’t mean I have to be a Protectionist!! It is actually possible, to care about your countries people and other countries people at the same time!! It doesn’t have to be an US or THEM thing!!
“Do you prefer your jobs where you live or where you can exploit cheap labour?”
I would prefer that there be enough jobs in my country, but, I feel others in the world deserve to have jobs as well!! That’s why I believe in ‘trade’!! As for ‘cheap labor’, that is an effect of becoming an ‘emerging country’, the U.S. went through this same ‘cheap labor’ phase in the 1800 & early 1900’s and is a process needed to build up an industrial base!! Many people made less than 25 cents an hour back in the 1940’s here in the U.S., in fact, back in 1962, I was making only $1.25 an hour as a janitor, in today’s eyes, that would be ‘cheap labor’, but was NORMAL for a janitor at that space in time!! It took us 200 years to get to where our wages are today, why should we expect some other ‘emerging nation’, to get to ‘top wages’ in a matter of a couple of years?
BTW: Why do you refuse to tell what you do for a living, are you ashamed of it?
RDS in
Saturday, November 15 at 09:27 PM
Your statements are full of fluf Bob. If you really cared about these other countries then there is an option for you. Purchase what is called Fair Trade Products. We have them and I am sure you do too. But the real truth is you are just ofter exploitation masked as if it were good works.
R E M E M B E R’
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
G A T I N N E A U
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Sunday, November 16 at 12:04 AM
Alex,
“Purchase what is called Fair Trade Products.”
I have never seen any products labeled “Fair Trade Product”, where do you find the ones YOU buy?
RDS in
Monday, November 17 at 02:05 AM
A lot of places. Major retailers are sell them now also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade
http://www.devp.org/devpme/eng/fairtrade-eng.html
One way to help people living in developing countries is to purchase “Fair Trade” products that are sold here in Canada.
Fair Trade is a strategy designed to alleviate poverty and to promote sustainable development by creating opportunities for producers who have been disadvantaged economically, or marginalized by the conventional trading system.
Fair Trade proves that greater justice in world trade is possible. It also highlights the need for change in the rules and practice of conventional trade and shows how a successful business can also put people first.
The Fair Trade concept encourages a safe and healthy working environment for producers, sane environmental practices and responsible methods of production. Prices are determined through dialogue and participation, and take into account regional or local contexts. The Fair Trade concept also provides for equal pay for equal work by women and men. Fair Traders ensure prompt payment to their partners and, whenever possible, help producers with access to pre-harvest or pre-production financing.
For additional information about Fair Trade, click on the following links.
Ethiquette
www.ethiquette.ca
BC/Yukon Just Coffee TM
www.justcoffee.ca
For the Just Coffee Program in the Archdiocese of Toronto and surrounding areas
efedorkow@sympatico.ca
Equator Coffee
www.equator.ca
TransFair Canada
www.transfair.ca
Global Exchange - Fair Trade Certified Coffee Companies
www.globalexchange.org
Fair Trade Federation
www.fairtradefederation.com
Ten Thousand Villages
www.tenthousandvillages.com
R E M E M B E R’
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
G A T I N N E A U
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Monday, November 17 at 10:21 AM
Alex,
I guess buying ‘Fair Trade’ would be ‘good’ if all you wanted to buy is COFFEE and TEA, but from the sites you posted, it seems it would be hard to find anything else!!
RDS in
Monday, November 17 at 09:37 PM
Reach out and touch somebodies hand make this world a better place if we can........What day does that go into effect?
Debra B in New York
Friday, November 21 at 08:20 PM
I’m not worried, are you?
Are you kidding? We have a Democratic President and a majority in both houses of Congress! Now is not the time to worry. Now is the time for hope. Four more years of Republican rule and the US would have been a vacant lot.
I don’t think someone getting a good deal on toilet paper at Walmart is, through their purchase, endorsing Walmart’s business practices. ~ Greg Spotts
Ken V in Texas
Sunday, November 23 at 03:05 PM
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