Second Canadian Wal-Mart Store Gets Union Certification

Toronto, Asecond Wal-Mart store in Quebec received union certification after a majority of the store’s employees signed cards indicating the Canadian arm of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union was their official agent for collective bargaining, the union said.

Andrew Pelletier, spokesman for Wal-Mart Canada, said the company is reviewing all of its options, including a legal challenge to the decision by the Quebec Labour Relations Commission that automatically certified the union after the majority of the 200 employees of the store, located in the town of Ste. Hyacinthe, signed union cards. In remarks to Dow Jones Newswires, Pelletier said the store associates were not given the opportunity to express their views about the union in a democratic, secret-ballot vote.

The union and Wal-Mart Canada, a unit of Wal-Mart Stores, already are negotiating a contract for another store in Quebec. The store was automatically certified in August. An arbitrator was appointed at Wal-Mart’s request and meeting dates have been scheduled through March 15.