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."
Posted by UFCW 227 at March 24, 2004 02:04 PM