Walmart making labor relations headlines outside the United States


Wal-Mart location in Moncton
Image via Wikipedia

Giant retailer facing labor issues in Canada, South Africa

Several stories related to Walmart and labor unions broke this week, including the following stories.  Much of this information is taken from press releases put out by the labor unions involved.   It is almost a sure thing that appeals are forthcoming.

A court in Saskatchewan upheld a union certification from 2008

The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has upheld a decision to certify a union at a Wal-Mart store in Weyburn, Sask.

The certification of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1400 had originally been issued by the Saskatchewan Labour Board in December 2008.

Wal-Mart had successfully challenged the certificate in a lower court but that court’s decision was struck down by the appeal court and the store’s union certification upheld.

150 UFCW Canada employees gain union contract in Gatineau, Quebec

150 UFCW Canada Local 500 members in Gatineau, QC, have become the third group of Walmart Canada associates to gain the benefits of a union contract. The new collective agreement comes after several years of efforts, including a lengthy mediation and binding arbitration process.

“It’s been a very long, hard fight for the Gatineau workers,” says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. “But through their perseverance they’ve become the newest group of Associates to prove that workers can challenge the largest corporation in the world – and win.”

Following a similar settlement currently in place at the Walmart mainstore in Saint-Hyacinthe – which is serviced by UFCW Canada Local 501 – the new contract awards the unionized Associates annual wage increases, benefit enhancements, seniority protection, and an impartial and binding grievance procedure.

Court ruling brings Jonquiere Walmart workers one step closer to justice

Nearly 200 former Walmart workers are one step closer to justice after an October 13 decision by the Quebec Superior Court, which upheld an earlier arbitrator’s ruling that found the world’s largest retailer acted illegally by laying off 190 employees at its Jonquiere store on April 29, 2005.

This lst story is a couple of weeks old, but fits the theme of the article.

UNI calls for Walmart Global Agreement as retailer makes African bid

UNI Global Union is calling on Walmart to start talks for a Global Agreement that would set a standard for worker and union rights for the company’s global work force as the retail giant pursues its bid to buy South African-based Massmart and enter the African market.
UNI, which represents more than 4 million workers in the commerce sector globally, joined its member unions in the United States and South Africa in voicing its concerns that Walmart’s proposed buy out of South Africa retailer Massmart could lead to lower wages and loss of union rights throughout the retail industry in the region.

150 Walmart workers gain union contract in Gatineau
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