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Wal-Mart in Cranbrook, B.C. goes union

Date: Wednesday September 14th, 2005

B.C. Labour Board certifies Cranbrook Wal-Mart Tire & Lube Express as a union shop

BURNABY, BC, September 14, 2005 – The B.C. Labour Relations Board (BCLRB) has certified a union at a Wal-Mart Tire & Lube Express (TLE) in Cranbrook, British Columbia after a majority of the workers there voted to unionize with UFCW Canada Local 1518.

The Cranbrook workers are the latest Wal-Mart members of UFCW Canada (United Food and Commercial Workers Canada). Workers at three Wal-Mart locations in Québec are already certified as UFCW Canada bargaining units and first-contract talks with Wal-Mart are underway there.

The Wal-Mart in Cranbrook was certified after a majority of the shop's employees voted to unionize. Under B.C. labour laws, if a majority of the employees within a defined workplace vote to unionize, the Board can certify their workplace as a union shop and certify their union as their agent for collective bargaining.

It is the first time a majority of workers at a Wal-Mart location in Canada have voted to unionize and a sign that the tide is turning against Wal-Mart's union busting tactics according to UFCW Canada's national director Michael J. Fraser.

"Wal-Mart says that, given a chance to vote, their employees always reject the union. Those days are over," says Fraser.

"Along with the Wal-Mart units in Québec, the Cranbrook vote is proof that a growing number of Wal-Mart Canada workers aren't scared by Wal-Mart's bully tactics," says Fraser. "They realize nothing will change at Wal-Mart unless they have a union and a fair collective agreement."

Two additional B.C. Wal-Mart locations may also soon be certified. Applications for certification of two Wal-Mart TLE's in Surrey are pending a decision of the BCLRB. Wal-Mart is challenging those applications but UFCW Canada is confident the applications will succeed.

For more information:

Tom Cameron-Fawkes, UFCW Canada Local 1518

Andy Neufeld, UFCW Canada Local 1518

Tel: (604) 434-3101

Michael Forman, UFCW Canada Communications

Tel: (416) 675-1104

Back to news

http://www.walmartworkerscanada.com/news.php?articleID=00114

Sent a e-mail to see if they can say any more on this, whether or not walmart is appealing the ruling to be certified, and how the negotiations are going, because i seen a website that says negotitions are going forward.

I may be able to find out some info on this for you guys. One of my friends from my internship belongs to the local that the Wal Mart store is in. I'll see if she knows anything more about it.

thanks for greatly appreciate any information that you can find out and are able to share.

Lies/Reality [email protected]

i came across an article that i will post if i can find again that says that walmart is negotions with 2 other stores that might be certified in canada as a whole. probably to show good faith to the courts, especially have the latest ruling against them in canada.

JVB----LEt us know if you find out anything.

This is what Andrew sent me:

Thank you!

Negotiations have yet to begin as we continue to wait for a decision from the B.C. Labour Board re two more Tire and Lube Express depts in B.C..

Negotiations continue in St Hyancinthe Que.. A mediator has been appointed and if an agreement can't be reached we will file for first contract binding arbitration. Two additional Tire and Lube Express departments have been certified Que.. Wal-Mart is appealing the Quebec Labour Commissions decisions regarding the two Tire and Lube's which is holding up the Commission from issuing a decision on the certification of another store in Quebec.

Andrew Mackenzie

UFCW Canada

Thats good news please keep us posted..thanks again

Andrews a great guy. I met him at the CLC (Canadian Labour of Congress) convention in Montreal (June 12-18th). We also had the chance to meet Shane Dawson who is UFCW Canadas main organizer as well as Michael Frasier who is UFCW Canadas national president.

THeKid007---Will do if i hear any more.

JVB---Sounds like a cool guy.

Has always been helpful for me.

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