This is despicable.

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Martin

Lifer
Jan 15, 2000
29,178
1
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Link

Wal-Mart (WMT:NYSE - news - research) said Wednesday that it will close a store in Canada where workers were close to establishing the retail giant's first labor union, according to The Associated Press.

The company plans to close the store in Jonquiere, Quebec, because it says union negotiators are making unreasonable demands that threaten the store's business.

Last week, the United Food and Commercial Workers of Canada asked Quebec labor officials to appoint a mediator in its talks with Wal-Mart in hopes that it would help break a logjam in negotiations.

"We were hoping it wouldn't come to this," Wal-Mart spokesman Andrew Pelletier told the AP. "Despite nine days of meetings over three months, we've been unable to reach an agreement with the union that in our view will allow the store to operate efficiently and profitably."

Any success enjoyed by the Canadian union with Wal-Mart could have ultimately impacted the company's business in the U.S. One of Wal-Mart's competitive advantages is low labor costs. That was especially apparent throughout its recent foray into the grocery business, which prompted massive labor strikes across Southern California as traditional grocery chains attempted to cut health and other benefits to their workers in an attempt to compete.

"Is Wal-Mart sending a message here [about organized labor in its stores] ? It's too soon to tell," said Richard Hastings, retail economist with Variant Research. "It's all about expenses, and Wal-Mart is all about expense controls. The unionization of that store ruins the expense budget for that store, so Wal-Mart definitely looks at it as something to eliminate."
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yllus

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
Well, I guess the community wins? Where one big box store down, neighbourhood stores can flourish.
 
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spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: mcvickj
Wow. That seems like a pretty drastic move.
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Business is about profit. No profit, no business.

Not all that drastic. Just good business sense.
 
Babbles

Babbles

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2001
8,253
14
81
I am usually anti-union, however in a twisted way it is kind of funny to see Wal-Mart act this way when faced with the prospects of a union.

I hate unions, but I really friggin' hate Wal-Mart.
 
MrDudeMan

MrDudeMan

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
15,069
94
91
Originally posted by: Martin
Originally posted by: spidey07
good for them.

unions = teh devil
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yeah, you're sooo different from the "walmart = teh devAl!!!!!" crowd :roll:
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yeah, even though you are being a tool, he is different than that crowd.
 
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spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: Martin
Originally posted by: spidey07
good for them.

unions = teh devil
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yeah, you're sooo different from the "walmart = teh devAl!!!!!" crowd :roll:
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Except I have over 12 years of business experience when it comes to dealing with Unions and the BS demands they require. Big difference bucko.

I don't like walmart's practices anymore than the next guy, but lets face it - they own retail. Don't wanna play by walmart demands? No walmart for you.

It all goes back to money.
 
3chordcharlie

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
Unions brought employees out of industrial revolution poverty, i hardly equate them with 'teh devil'.

This is hardly a surprising move by Walmart, but I don't think they deserve any sort of applause; it's pretty safe to say there were never good faith negotiations by Walmart in this case.
 
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drnickriviera

Platinum Member
Jan 30, 2001
2,456
266
136
Better article
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u...20050209/ap_on_bi_ge/wal_mart_canada_8

At the bottom
Wal-Mart spokesman Pelletier said the company was closing in Jonquiere because of unreasonable union demands over scheduling and staffing, and the UFCW's refusal to detail its pay requirements.

The union's demands would have forced the retailer to add 30 people to the existing payroll of 190, and guarantee many workers additional hours, he said.
 
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91TTZ

Lifer
Jan 31, 2005
14,374
1
0
People usually hate unions until they're about to lose their job and they realize that a single voice has no weight.
 
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alent1234

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2002
3,915
0
0
not the first time

wal mart used to have a butcher department until they tried to unionize at one store. wal mart closed all butcher shops in all it's stores
 
meltdown75

meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
37,548
7
81
I can't hate my union since they negotiated our last contract and will be doing so again at the end of 2005, but that's just me. A lot changes when you are a member of one - don't knock it until you've tried it.

I would guess that Wal-Mart doesn't like the idea of spending millions of dollars anually on benefit packages, which is usually the first thing unions negotiate for when contract talks come around - well that and wages, hours of work, job description... you name it.
 
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spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: drnickriviera
Better article
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u...20050209/ap_on_bi_ge/wal_mart_canada_8

At the bottom
Wal-Mart spokesman Pelletier said the company was closing in Jonquiere because of unreasonable union demands over scheduling and staffing, and the UFCW's refusal to detail its pay requirements.

The union's demands would have forced the retailer to add 30 people to the existing payroll of 190, and guarantee many workers additional hours, he said.
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I rest my case. Labor is the biggest cost and they demanded it be pushed over the edge. If the store CANNOT be profitable then there is no store.
 
iamwiz82

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
People usually hate unions until they're about to lose their job and they realize that a single voice has no weight.
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Why shouldn't they lose their jobs?! Thats the beauty of it, the bad workers get chopped. Companies don't (for the most part) go firing random employees for fun. They trim the dead weight to help the company. If they make the wrong choices, they could end up going out of business.

 
DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
It's too bad some of you see unions as evil... you usually only hear about the negative things (like when they fight for someone's job that deserves to be cut).. It's unfortunate that the positives aren't heard.
 
iamwiz82

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: DrPizza
It's too bad some of you see unions as evil... you usually only hear about the negative things (like when they fight for someone's job that deserves to be cut).. It's unfortunate that the positives aren't heard.
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In modern unions, there are VERY few positives. My old prof. was a negotiator for unions in the 80's and has nothing but bad things to say about them.
 
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