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Wal-Mart Workers in British Columbia Want to Unionize
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. workers at seven tire centers in British Columbia applied to join the United Food and Commercial Workers, expanding efforts by Canadian unions to make inroads at the world's largest retailer. The employees work at Wal-Mart Tire & Lube Express departments at stores in Surrey, Terrace, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Quesnel, Kamloops and Langford. Between 37 and 40 people applied to join the union, said Andrew Pelletier, a spokesman for Wal-Mart's Canadian unit. Union spokesman Tom Cameron-Fawkes said the figure is ``somewhere between'' 50 and 75. A Wal-Mart tire center typically employs five to 10 people, compared with about 200 people for an entire store, Pelletier said. The union has said it's targeting Bentonville, Arkansas- based Wal-Mart because it's concerned the company's expansion in Canada will put pressure on local rivals to lower wages. The retailer operates 234 Wal-Mart and six Sam's Club stores across the country, including 24 in British Columbia, where Wal-Mart employs more than 5,000. Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-11-02 |
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