Wal Mart

Wal Mart is almost as well known for its union free stores as it is for its low prices. The employer of some 1.8 million people worldwide has worked diligently to keep unions out. Canada has been a serious threat to that status with several union certifications. Today, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed Wal Mart's application to appeal a decision of the Quebec Court upholding a labour board decision granting certification to the United Food and Commercial Workers in Gatineau, Quebec.

Shortly after its Jonquiere store unionized in 2004, Wal Mart announced the closing of the store and workers found themselves without jobs and residents of this northern, remote town without the variety the big box offered. A good discussion of this can be found in Anthony Bianco's book, No Union Please -- We're Wal Mart http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_07/b3971115.htm