DETROIT - Workers at a Home Depot in suburban Detroit began voting Friday on whether to make theirs the first unionized Home Depot in the country.
If the approximately 170 workers in the Harper Woods store vote in favor of the union, it would be a major victory for the United Food and Commercial Workers, whose attempts to organize workers at Wal-Mart and other national big-box retailers largely have been unsuccessful.
"Any successful organizing that occurs in the discount big-box stores would be significant," said Robert Bruno, a professor of labor relations at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "While they (Home Depot) are not as big, they are as present" as Wal-Mart.
Home Depot has more than 1,500 stores in North America.
UFCW Local 876 said it began its campaign in Harper Woods after it was contacted by workers there and at several other Home Depot stores. The local represents about 22,000 Michigan workers at retail chains including Kroger, Farmer Jack and Rite Aid.
The workers in Harper Woods are seeking greater job security after a rash of firings, said UFCW organizer Mark Charrette.
"It got to a point where you were wondering when you came to work if you were going to be fired that day as well," said Alicia Franklin, a 36-year-old cashier at the store.
Home Depot said its employees are better off without the union.
"We recognize the right of our associates to examine third-party representation but are confident that in the end they will choose the positive, open and rewarding business environment they currently enjoy," the Atlanta-based company said in a statement.
Posted by Gary K Best at July 30, 2004 06:20 PM