小蓝视频

There has been a move by Weyburn Wal-Mart employees to decertify themselves, in reaction from a recent ruling by the Saskatchewan Court of Employees in favour of the union certification by the United Food and Commercial Workers.

"We were informed by the Saskatchewan Labour Board that our associates in Weyburn had filed to decertify themselves from the union," said Andrew Pelletier, vice-president of corporate affairs for Wal-Mart Canada. "Obviously this speaks to the fact that the associates were not happy that the store was certified without allowing them a vote. The application was purely associate-driven, giving them a voice in the issue."

The union finds "this quite surprising, especially when the members of the Weyburn Wal-Mart have not seen a collective agreement yet," said Norm Neault, president of the UFCW Canada Local 1400. He noted that the UFCW had recently filed an application to the Saskatchewan Labour Board to start first contract negotiations.

The Saskatchewan Labour Board has indicated to Wal-Mart that they will hear the decertification issue on Friday, Nov. 19 in Regina. The application for decertification from the associates was received by the Labour Board after the UFCW's application for negotiations.

"If the associates are successful with their decertification application, they will finally receive their right to vote to if they want to be unionized or not by the UFCW," said Pelletier.

"We have found it very difficult to communicate with employees at the Weyburn Wal-Mart," noted Neault, stating that representatives from the union were asked to leave the store location. "We are trying to get literature to them, and campaign the importance of communication to what the union offers."

The literature, which was delivered to the homes of associates, claimed that employees "don't have to pay any union dues until they have a collective agreement and that it would cost nothing to see what a collective agreement could do to improve their jobs at Wal-Mart."

"Unions are not foreign to the City of Weyburn, and it is hard to believe that the associates have filed for decertification before seeing a collective agreement, especially in the home of the 'Greatest Canadian', Tommy Douglas, who fought for human rights," exclaimed Neault. "We believe that the issue has become if Wal-Mart can be allowed to be above the law."

Neault added that it is a waiting game for the UFCW now. "We are waiting to hear from the Labour Board if our application for negotiations has been accepted, and we are waiting for the employer to start the negotiation talks. We still hope to develop a collective agreement for the Wal-Mart employees."

"The union has a history of typically running a very aggressive campaign," noted Pelletier. "Right now it is in the hands of the Saskatchewan Labour Board and we hope they make the right decision based on the fact that the Weyburn associates have made their voice heard."