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UFCW Lauds Decision in Saskatchewan Case

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.

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

October 20, 2010

1 Min Read
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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.

About the Author

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

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