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Canadian Labor Board Backs Wal-Mart in Union Case

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA -- The British Columbia Labour Relations Board has ruled in favor of Wal-Mart Canada in a controversial case involving attempts by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) to unionize workers in the auto department of a Wal-Mart store in Cranbrook, B.C.

The union tried to isolate 10 workers in the store's Tire Lube Express department as a distinct bargaining unit separate from the rest of the store, which employs more than 200 workers. The union was attempting to unionize the 10 auto department workers after losing several storewide votes of Wal-Mart workers in various locations across Canada, according to a statement issued by Wal-Mart Canada Corp.

The labor board ruled that singling out the department was inappropriate, and thus the UFCW's application to certify the auto department workers in the Cranbrook Wal-Mart store was dismissed.

In a similar case involving a Wal-Mart store in Surrey, B.C, the UFCW had again attempted to isolate approximately 10 auto-department workers as a bargaining unit. In view of the Labour Board's ruling in Cranbrook, Wal-Mart Canada said it would file an application with the Board to have the union's application in Surrey dismissed as well.

Wal-Mart operates a single unionized store, in Quebec. The UFCW has failed at other attempts to represent Canadians who work for the world's largest retailer.
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