UFCW Lauds Decision in Saskatchewan Case

JON SPRINGER

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — Union leaders here lauded an appeals court decision that upheld the certification of United Food and Commercial Workers union at a Wal-Mart store in Weybern, Saskatchewan. The ruling overturned a lower court decision that disallowed the certification, which had been initially issued by the Saskatchewan Labor Board in 2008.

UFCW Local 1400 had first applied to have the store unionized in 2004.

"This is a victory for workers rights and the principle that no company is above the law," Norm Neault, president of Local 1400, said in a statement.

The controversy underpinning the appeal arose as a result of changing rules required of union certification, a three-judge panel explained in its decision. Although the union initially won certification by showing "documentary evidence of employee support" for a union, Canada's Trade Union Act was since amended requiring a secret ballot. Wal-Mart then successfully argued the certification was contrary to the law.

Wal-Mart Canada could not be reached for comment.