[Kilbey]

Quebec unions call for a boycot of Wal-Wart.

QUEBEC CITY (Reuters) - Unions for thousands workers in northern Quebec have urged a boycott of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) over its plans to close a store that last year became North America's first unionized Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart Canada, the Canadian unit of the Bentonville, Arkansas company that is world's biggest retailer, plans to close its store in Jonquiere, Quebec, on May 6, laying off 190 workers.

Workers at the store, about 215 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Quebec City, obtained union certification six months ago and were in talks with Wal-Mart on their first contract. Negotiations bogged down earlier this month, and the union turned to the Quebec government for arbitration.

Wal-Mart Canada said the application for arbitration indicated the two sides were not likely to deal a deal.

One of two good things will come of this. Either Wal-Mart will close it's doors and mom and pop stores will gain, or Unions will get into Wal-Mart and people will be able to earn a living wage at Wal-Mart.

It's a win-win situation!

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
Quebec unions call for a boycot of Wal-Wart.



One of two good things will come of this. Either Wal-Mart will close it's doors and mom and pop stores will gain, or Unions will get into Wal-Mart and people will be able to earn a living wage at Wal-Mart.

It's a win-win situation!

Yipee!

The problem is that all those guys will struggle some more before they can get a job. Living in Quebec is not as easy as it seems.

[olePigeon]

Support Fair Trade, not Free Trade. Here in the states, people hear Democrats and especially Republicans pushing "better free trade" agreements and assume it's a good thing. All that means is agreements to make it easier for other countries to exploit their own people to sell goods in world markets. Your shirt will now be made by 8-year-olds in Thailand AND Bangladesh.

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by olePigeon:
[B]Support Fair Trade, not Free Trade.

You bet!

Here in the states, people hear Democrats and especially Republicans pushing "better free trade" agreements and assume it's a good thing. All that means is agreements to make it easier for other countries to exploit their own people to sell goods in world markets. Your shirt will now be made by 8-year-olds in Thailand AND Bangladesh.

Aaah. Stupid Progress.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by olePigeon:
Your shirt will now be made by 8-year-olds in Thailand AND Bangladesh.

Not mine. I look for only USA union-made t-shirts.

Which I don't find at Wal-Mart. Which is why I think it's a good thing if they either unionize or close.

[Athens]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
Not mine. I look for only USA union-made t-shirts.

Which I don't find at Wal-Mart. Which is why I think it's a good thing if they either unionize or close.

I generally look for Canadian Made, and US made products. The only exception to that is cars I like imports for that.

[iDriveX]

I happen to think that Unionization is a bad thing. I don't have any statistics to back me up or anything but here's just how I feel. Recently in Southern California we were treated to a state-wide grocery store lock-out because the grocery stores were lowering benefits for their employees. So the employees decided to strike for the next 100+ days. Here's my sentiment: If you don't like who you work for, go to a competitor. You don't have to stand for it. Unions bully big business and are just a money making machine like the giant corporations. Vote with your feet, if everyone decided to go out and get another job, they'd have to rethink their policy. Unions, in my opinion, are for the apathetic. While I think they serve a purpose for people like that, I think people underestimate themselves and what they can do to change their own life.

[James L]

Originally posted by iDriveX:
I happen to think that Unionization is a bad thing. I don't have any statistics to back me up or anything but here's just how I feel. Recently in Southern California we were treated to a state-wide grocery store lock-out because the grocery stores were lowering benefits for their employees. So the employees decided to strike for the next 100+ days. Here's my sentiment: If you don't like who you work for, go to a competitor. You don't have to stand for it. Unions bully big business and are just a money making machine like the giant corporations. Vote with your feet, if everyone decided to go out and get another job, they'd have to rethink their policy. Unions, in my opinion, are for the apathetic. While I think they serve a purpose for people like that, I think people underestimate themselves and what they can do to change their own life.

Unions are unecessary when the employer respects their employees, otherwise they can be a very necessary evil. Note I said evil, because in principle I agree with you. The reality unfortunately is that there are times where they are required.

Case in point. I work in health care, and my employer is a health organization, essentially funded by the government. This employer dragged their heels on a contract with us for 2 years. We were asking for wage parity with similiar occupations in other areas. Nothing more, nothing less. It would have been a very small increase, not much more than COLA (cost of living allowance).

Finally, before an election, we all of a sudden got our new contract. Immediately after the election, however, the employer denied everything in the contract they signed in supposed good faith, and said grieve it and if you win we will pay it. We have now, several years later, grieved almost every clause of the contract, and have won 98% of these grievances. Each time they lose, they not only have to pay out what they agreed to pay out, but about $30,000 in legal fees. They have spent millions extra by not holding up their end of the bargain.

I have also been involved with cases of harrassment, of employee abuse, wrongful dismissal, etc.

If employees are getting shafted, they have every right to fight it. I completely don't agree with the mentality of "if you don't like it, leave and find a place you are happy in". You are right that unions unfortunately protect lazy, manipulative people sometimes too, but as long as certain employers chose to not respect their employees this will be the case.

I can think of many non unionized shops around where I live where the employer respects the employees, treats them well, and they have nothing to complain about. They work hard, go above and beyond where needed, and are so happy with the employer that they see no need to unionize.

Like anything else, when you see labor disputes it always takes two to tango. It is a shame that they really need to dance at all though.

[Athens]

Originally posted by iDriveX:
I happen to think that Unionization is a bad thing. I don't have any statistics to back me up or anything but here's just how I feel. Recently in Southern California we were treated to a state-wide grocery store lock-out because the grocery stores were lowering benefits for their employees. So the employees decided to strike for the next 100+ days. Here's my sentiment: If you don't like who you work for, go to a competitor. You don't have to stand for it. Unions bully big business and are just a money making machine like the giant corporations. Vote with your feet, if everyone decided to go out and get another job, they'd have to rethink their policy. Unions, in my opinion, are for the apathetic. While I think they serve a purpose for people like that, I think people underestimate themselves and what they can do to change their own life.

Problem with that is there is more then enough people willing to work for less so if all those people left, the store could get ppl in for less. Decent wages are vital for a good economy. And why should ppl that already have a job accept cuts or loss of benifits.