Trail Walmart employees approach UFCW about organizing

By Adrian Barnes

Yesterday morning Rossland residents who still receive junk mail found a pamphlet from the United Food and Commercial Workers in their boxes. Titled “Making Walmart and even BETTER place to work”, the flyer targets employess of the Trail Walmart and asks them to consider the benefits of unionization. The mailout is the result of a number of Trail Walmart employees approaching the union privately.

According to Cara Johnson of UFCW Local 1518, “At this point in time we cannot comment on how many associates approached the union, but suffice to say that there was enough of a critical mass of Walmart associates to pursue an organizing drive in the Trail store.”

If the employees decide to unionize, they face an uphill struggle. The only Walmart to successfully organize in North America, in Jonquiere, Quebec, was closed down by the corporation soon after unionization. Walmart has a policy of not allowing any unions.

Local public figures have been quick to support this initiative.

According to local MLA Katrine Conroy, “Good family-supporting jobs are what makes a community sustainable. In our democracy all workers should have the right to be represented by the union of their choice.”

Patsy Harmston, president of the West Kootenay Labour Council, say that “Walmart workers need a united voice so they can be treated fairly. Joining a union gets you respect and job protection.”

In a similar vein, Doug Jones, president of the United Steel Workers 480 says that “Over the years unions have improved the living standards for many, including women and young workers. Walmart workers deserve the benefits that unions provide. Unity and strength for all workers works.”

As for the UFCW, Johnson says that, “Our goal and the goal of the Walmart associates we’ve talked with is to make their store an even better place to work, as our union has done at numerous retail work places across BC. When a sufficient number of associates indicate interest in joining the union, we meet with the associates and encourage them to sign union cards. When the legal threshold (50% +1 of the associates) is met the union can then apply with the BC Labour Relations Board to be certified as the union representing those workers.

The biggest obstacle to unionization will be, Johnson notes, “Walmart’s well documented resistance to recognizing the right of their employees to join the union."