Wal-Mart to close unionized Quebec store
CBC NewsMISSISSAUGA, ONT. - Wal-Mart Canada is closing its store in Jonquiere, Que., the company announced Wednesday – six months after the store became the first Wal-Mart to be unionized in North America.
Wal-Mart said it was unable to reach a tentative agreement with the union that would "permit it to operate the store in an efficient and profitable matter."
In a news release, Wal-Mart said it had told the United Food and Commercial Workers union during negotiations for a first contract that the store's financial situation was "precarious."
The company said the union's demands would have required more hiring and added hours.
But the union disputed Wal-Mart's contention that the closing was for financial reasons. UFCW Canada spokesman Michael Forman told CBC Business News the closing was "a gross infraction of labour practice" and "an assault on all Canadians" and said the union would continue the fight.
But he acknowledged that it would make other Wal-Mart employees think twice before voting for union accreditation.
More:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/2005/02/09/walmart-050209.html
No surprise here, maybe not even a bad thing for others businesses, but can anything be done about chains that refuse to abide by Canadian labour standards, or are there any standards left in retailing(?)