The Wal-Mart Union?

[FallenAngel]

Commie Canuks :). God....what's Canada coming to? ;)


Wal-Mart faces first unionized work force

Mon Aug 2, 9:01 PM ET

MONTREAL (AFP) - Quebec officials have accredited a trade union at a Wal-Mart in the French-speaking province, raising the possibility of the first unionized work force at a branch of the retail giant in North America.

The Quebec Labour Relations board gave the go-ahead for union representation for more than 150 workers at the store in Saguenay, 200 kilometres (140 miles) north of Quebec City.

"It's the first union at a Wal-Mart in North America," said Marie-Josee Lemieux, president of the local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

"I hope that (Wal-Mart) will accept the decision and negotiate a collective bargaining agreement," Lemieux said.

The firm still has the option to challenge the commission's ruling.

Wal-Mart, founded in the US state of Arkansas in 1962, is the world's largest company in terms of revenues and employees.

Wal-Mart employs a total of 1.4 million people, making it the world's largest private employer.

The company's strategy has been to slash prices to the maximum. This is reflected also in its labor costs -- mainly non-unionized -- which analysts say are 20 to 30 percent below those of its rivals.


unions were created origionally to protect the interests of tradesmen and skilled laborers. I know Wal-Mart employees get the shaft, but working there is about as far from "skilled labor" as it gets.

[duck]

Don't know about Wal-Marts policies but a rival chain doesn't have any toilets for their employees. They have to go to some public toilet during their breaks. They also didn't allow mobiles nore did they have phones in the store. Only changed this after several were robbed. p-)

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

I don't see the big deal about unions representing members of staff, as a manager myself I don't get wound up about it but I suppose if your a ****ty employer then you might have some concerns. :)

[soma]

Unions can be good, and unions can be bad. In this case good, but they can be complete **** HEADS when they disrupt and strike at well paying jobs.

[NcDeuce]

Besides the U.S. government, I think Wal-Mart leads all companies in # of employees...

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20040622/capt.sge.gtj95.220604155812.photo00.default-384x266.jpg

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

On the subject of union action by people in well paid jobs its worth looking at the reasons for industrial action; pay cuts, safety, benefits and the transfer of jobs overseas by the company are some of the main reasons people strike these days.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

IMHO unions are a waste of time for everybody except the union bosses.

I've been a teamster twice. Both times I paid union dues. Both times we were laid off because the companies could not afford to pay us during hard times. And the union simply kept our dues and waived back as we were led out the door.

Unions are obsolete in this era of litigation and labor law. 100 years ago, employees had no recourse other than to band together to pressure the business into meeting safety & other demands. Now there are innumerable labor laws, minimum wage law, OSHA safety laws, etc etc.

Unions only exist to extort money & benefits from employers. Imagine starting a business, only to be told by your employees how much you will pay them, or they will march in front of your store & drive you to ruin! This is free enterprise?

It's no wonder that unions form one of the largest supporter blocks for the Democratic party. The entitlement mentality is alive and well - don't rock the boat & we'll all get rich off of somebody else's innovation, investment and risk. We in the US are supposed to operate in an environment of fee enterprise - prices and wages determined by what the market will tolerate. Unions represent strong arm tactics and are a relic of a bygone era.

[kotrf]

Double

[kotrf]

I can't comment on the validity of unions but something needs to be done to help the Walmart workers. Walmart has to be one of the worst employers out there, ridiculous considering that almost half of the top 10 richest people are Waltons (the family that owns Walmart).

There are stores that force their employees to work overtime, and then don't give them overtime, or fail to simply pay them at all. In Tennesse there was a store whose butcher department fought for and won the right to unionize. Instead of allowing them to unionize, Walmart not only laid off that department, but closed down every meatcutting operation worldwide in all of its stores. In Texas (I believe) Walmart initiated a campaign to hire on more elderly/retired workers. Their intentions were anything but innocent as they were secretly taking out life insurance policies on the elderly workers and then naming Walmart as the benificiary, all done without telling the workers of these actions. Essentially they were hiring them hoping that they would die. Just search on google for anti-walmart or "walmart sucks" and you will find similar incidents and reports.

[Jack Mehoff]

I hate ****ing Walmart anyway. They came to a city, lower their prices just to slaughter the local stores own by the locals. After that they slowly increase their prices. Is that even legal?

[EvanL]

I hate f*** Walmart anyway. They came to a city, lower their prices just to slaughter the local stores own by the locals. After that they slowly increase their prices. Is that even legal?
Thats the beauty of capitalism. The way of life that you claim to love.
The big guy shafts the little guy. Fun aint it?

[Jack Mehoff]

That's not capitalism, that's monopoly. Honestly, I'd rather be a capitalistic pig than a socialist dog.

[EvanL]

That's not capitalism, that's monopoly. Honestly, I'd rather be a capitalistic pig than a socialist dog.
As would i. But monopolies are the result of a capitalist economy. Which i dont like the idea of very much. It leaves not much room for the little guys.
Im comfortable in my countries mixed economy. We dont hold too many monopolizing companies other than Canadian Tire and Tim Hortons. But as Canadians we would die without or tim bits and Canadian tire lawn furniture.

[Cassiar]

Good article on how Wal-Mart squeezes its suppliers to death.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

[2Sheds_Jackson]

I can't comment on the validity of unions but something needs to be done to help the Walmart workers. Walmart has to be one of the worst employers out there, ridiculous considering that almost half of the top 10 richest people are Waltons (the family that owns Walmart).

There are stores that force their employees to work overtime, and then don't give them overtime, or fail to simply pay them at all. In Tennesse there was a store whose butcher department fought for and won the right to unionize. Instead of allowing them to unionize, Walmart not only laid off that department, but closed down every meatcutting operation worldwide in all of its stores. In Texas (I believe) Walmart initiated a campaign to hire on more elderly/retired workers. Their intentions were anything but innocent as they were secretly taking out life insurance policies on the elderly workers and then naming Walmart as the benificiary, all done without telling the workers of these actions. Essentially they were hiring them hoping that they would die. Just search on google for anti-walmart or "walmart sucks" and you will find similar incidents and reports.

I'm no particular fan of Wal-Mart- but do you have any info to back up these claims you're making? How about some links to some reputable websites for example...

[memphiz]

They tried to Unionize a Wal-mart in Manitoba..actually they try and unionize it every year.
I hope they dont unionize the Wal-marts here.