Wal-Marts great fight North

[demosincebirth]

For years, Wal-Mart's North American stores have been entirely free of unions. That's changed very quickly over the past weeks. On Dec. 17, more than 150 Wal-Mart workers in Hull, Quebec, became members of the United Food and Commercial Workers <1> when a provincial labor board awarded them the right to do so. On Dec. 8, in a similar decision, a labor board certified a union in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, after a four-year battle between the union and the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer.

These are certainly dramatic developments, but unions—even in relatively pro-union Canada—have a very tough time when up against giants like Wal-Mart. Compared with U.S. labor law, Canadian labor law is far friendlier to workers seeking to join unions. While the United States requires a Byzantine and contentious election process, Canada requires an employer to recognize a union after enough workers sign cards or take a quick vote. Canada also places far more restrictions on employers' anti-union campaigning.



http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11576

[AndyTiedye]

1. The EFCA Would Make It Just as Easy to Unionize Here, Wouldn't It?

[demosincebirth]

2. It certainly would, as long as it forces Cos to bargain in good faith

[Omaha Steve]

3. Remember a few months back?

Walmart told it's employees to vote McCain to keep the unions out.