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Wal-Mart closes Quebec store early to avoid protests
 'Every
bully is a coward and Wal-Mart was afraid.'
Jonquiere - Wal-Mart Canada shut down its unionized Jonquiere store a
week ahead of schedule in an obvious attempt to escape a growing wave
of criticism directed at its anti-labour policies.
Rather than wait for the May 6 closing date it had announced, Wal-Mart
closed the doors of the store on April 30, claiming merchandise had
run low on the shelves.
The closure was announced after the store was organized last year by
the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada). Rather
than permit a legal union to gain a toehold in its vast global empire,
the Arkansas-based giant chose closure as a means of chilling
organizing efforts across its huge empire.
Meanwhile, the UFCW Canada has been certified as the bargaining agent
for employees at a second Quebec outlet in St-Hyacinthe.
The UFCW campaign is being supported by the National Union of Public
and General Employees (NUPGE). NUPGE and the UFCW Canada signed a formal
organizing protocol dealing specifically with Wal-Mart earlier this
year.
Labour commission hearings
The early closure at Jonquiere comes only days after the
Quebec Labour Commission agreed to consider an application by UFCW
Canada that would obligate Wal-Mart to remain open until a series of
unfair labour practice charges against the company have been
processed.
The UFCW was not surprised by the company's tactics.
It appears that Wal-Mart deliberately emptied the store early and
accelerated its timetable after becoming aware that a national day of
action was planned by labour activists on May 6 at various Wal-Mart
locations in Quebec, and on May 7 at Wal-Marts across the rest of
Canada.
One of the cities on the list of protest events is Ottawa, Canada's
national capital.
“Wal-Mart’s decision to sneak out of town early was no surprise,” says
Michael Fraser, national director of UFCW Canada.
“Every bully is a coward and Wal-Mart was afraid if they waited till
next week the media and outraged local citizens would be there for the
closing. They were also scared that the labour commission might order
them to keep Jonquiere open. Once again Wal-Mart has demonstrated that
the only rulebook it plays by is its own.” NUPGE
Web posted by NUPGE:
2 May 2005
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