Quebec Wal-Mart Workers Defer Going Union for Now
April 5, 2004
JONQUIÈRE, QUEBEC - Workers at a Wal-Mart store in Jonquière, Quebec have voted for now to defer creating a union at their store in Jonquière, about 200 kilometers north of Quebec City.
The vote, conducted by the Quebec Labour Commission (QLC), came on the heels of an organizing campaign led by Local 503 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW Canada). UFCW Canada is one of Canada's largest and most respected private sector unions with more than 230,000 members across the country, working in every aspect of the food industry, as well as other service, commercial, processing, manufacturing, technical and professional occupations.
"Over the next few days, we will take the time to analyze the vote results," said Marie-Josée Lemieux, president of UFCW Local 503. "It's clear to us that this is only a beginning, because we are convinced more than ever, that there is a growing desire by the employees to join a union. It is becoming more and more evident that Wal-Mart cannot continue to circumvent all union drives."
While a slim majority of the Jonquière "associates" voted to set aside unionizing for now, the campaign at the store will continue within the rules set by the Quebec Labour Code, according to Michael J. Fraser, UFCW Canada's national director.
"The tide is turning against Wal-Mart and we're not going away," says Fraser. "The Jonquière workers who want a union can make a new application here in a few months. And if it's not Jonquière, then the first union Wal-Mart store could be in North Battleford where the Saskatchewan Labour Board is about to rule on another application we've made."
"It's only our second vote at a Wal-Mart," said Fraser. " It took a number of votes before we organized our first Loblaws and Provigo and Safeway. The same thing will happen here. With the Wal-Mart campaign it's no longer a question of IF? It's WHEN?, and it will be sooner than later."
__________________________________________________
Union Vote Set for Quebec Wal-Mart
March 17, 2004
Québec City, Québec- A Wal-Mart store in Jonquière, Québec has moved one step closer to becoming the only unionized Wal-Mart location in North America following a decision Tuesday by the Quebec Labour Commission (QLC).
The ruling by the QLC struck down Wal-Mart's argument made during four days of hearings earlier this year, that store managers and administrative staff should also be granted voting rights in determining whether the Jonquière store goes union. Instead, in a decision delivered by commission chair Louis Morin, the QLC ruled it will conduct a vote limited to the store's general retail workers only.
While the commission agreed with the union's application that the bargaining unit be limited to the store's retail floor employees, the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada union (UFCW Canada) was disappointed the commission didn't go further and automatically certify the bargaining unit.
UFCW Canada Local 503 had applied for the automatic certification following a successful signup campaign at the Jonquière store conducted in late December.
"The commission's decision leaves us with mixed feelings," said Marie-Josée Lemieux, president of UFCW Canada Local 503. "On the one hand the QLC agreed with the position of the union that the makeup of the bargaining unit be similar to what is traditionally accepted at similar workplaces in Quebec."
"On the other hand we are disappointed the Jonquière workers now have to wait to realize their desire to get trade union accreditation."
"With the backing of UFCW Canada Local 503," said Lemieux," these Jonquière workers will have a singular opportunity to reconfirm to Wal-Mart they want a union; that they want to take their destiny into their own hands and decide their future."
"We will certainly continue to assist them in their battle of David against Goliath," declared Lemieux. "Thanks to his courage David beat the giant. We trust the Jonquière Wal-Mart workers will prove they have the same courage and determination."
 |
 |
