Wal-Mart May Finally Get a Union

A Canadian Wal-Mart store may become “the first affiliate of the retail giant to be unionized,” according to the Associated Press.

A labor board in Quebec accredited a union in the Saguenay area, a couple of hours from Quebec City, to represent the workers.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Canada says that Wal-Mart is likely to fight the ruling. According to the AP, in the past, “Wal-Mart has cited Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms in its legal challenge of the Saskatchewan Labor Relations Board’s authority.” The company, in other words, isn’t happy with Canada’s laws regarding the forming of unions. An August 20 hearing will be held to finalize the makeup of the union. It’s also possible that Wal-Mart could choose to close the store.

Michael J. Fraser, the food worker’s national director for Canada, tells the CCNMatthews wire service that “What’s happened in Quebec can happen at any Wal-Mart store in North America.” This union drive, he says, “is only the first of more to come.”