Skip to content
  • (413) 834-4284
  • [email protected]
  • 21 Grinnell St, Greenfield, Massachusetts
Search
Close
Sprawl-busters
  • Home
  • About
  • Resources
    • Links
    • Books
    • Movies
    • Home Towns, Not Home Depot
    • The Case Against Sprawl
  • Victories
  • Blog
    • Share Your Battle
  • Contact
Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • Resources
    • Links
    • Books
    • Movies
    • Home Towns, Not Home Depot
    • The Case Against Sprawl
  • Victories
  • Blog
    • Share Your Battle
  • Contact
  • Uncategorized

Wal-Mart Agrees To Union Demands

  • Al Norman
  • June 30, 2006
  • No Comments

Wal-Mart gives all of its managers a copy of their Manager’s Toolbox to Remaining Union-Free. The company says in that manual that it is strongly opposed to third-party representation. But Asda, Wal-Mart’s operating front in England, has had to capitulate to union demands to avoid a costly and embarrassing confrontation with organized labor. The media June 29th. carried a story about how Wal-Mart had worked out an agreement with the powerful British labor union, the GMB. “We’re pleased to have signed an agreement acceptable to both sides to end the current dispute — good news for our customers and colleagues alike,” Asda’s CEO said. The New York Times suggested that the deal was evidence that Wal-Mart was “softening toward organized labor.” One labor organizer was quoted as saying, “This means the company must begin to realize that they can’t ignore the will of their employees to join and be represented by trade unions.” The workers involved are not retail store clerks, but employees at Asda distribution centers in England. The union’s threat of a 5 day strike, with more actions to follow, at one of the busiest shopping weekends in Britain (world cup soccer finals), was enough to push Wal-Mart to the table. The retailer apparently has agreed to engage in nationwide collective bargaining for workers at distribution centers, instead of requiring shop by shop contracts. The agreement also involves workers in decisions about health care and workplace safety. The union will also be allowed to solicit union membership at the workplace — something that would horrify American Wal-Mart management. Several months ago, Asda had to pay a fine of nearly $1.5 million for violating British labor law. The company was “bribing” employees with bonus pay in return for relinquishing their rights to collective bargaining. Wal-Mart/Asda is the second largest retailer in the United Kingdom, with a market share of roughly 17%. Tesco is the largest retailer.

If this distribution center agreement leads to organizing of Asda’s retail workers, it would be a major victory for worker’s rights. For earlier stories on this subject, search Newsflash by “unions.”

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on Facebook
Share on twitter
Share on Twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on Linkdin
Share on pinterest
Share on Pinterest
Al Norman

Al Norman

Al Norman first achieved national attention in October of 1993 when he successfully stopped Wal-Mart from locating in his hometown of Greenfield, Massachusetts. Almost 3 decades later they is still not Wal-Mart in Greenfield. Norman has appeared on 60 Minutes, was featured in three films, wrote 3 books about Wal-Mart, and gained widespread media attention from the Wall Street Journal to Fortune magazine. Al has traveled throughout the U.S., Barbados, Puerto Rico, Ireland, and Japan, helping dozens of local coalitions fight off unwanted sprawl development. 60 Minutes called Al “the guru of the anti-Wal-Mart movement.”

Leave a comment

Find Us

  • 21 Grinnell St, Greenfield, MA
  • (413) 834-4284
  • [email protected]

Helpful Links

  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
Menu
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Recent Posts

CHRISTIAN SMALLS, FIRED AMZN WAREHOUSE WORKER, FILES RACE DISCRIMATION LAWSUIT. …

November 16, 2020

DUE TO THE SURGE IN CORONA CASES, WMT IS LIMITING SHOPPERS TO 5 PER 1,000 SF. A…

November 16, 2020

AMAZON RECENTLY ANNOUNCED FREE 1 HOUR GROCERY PICK UP FOR PRIME MEMBER ORDERS &g…

November 15, 2020

AFTER BEING REJECTED BY THE DEERFIELD, MA PLANNING BOARD, DOLLAR GENERAL APPEALS…

November 15, 2020

WILL TRUMP ALLOW ORACLE & WALMART TO INVEST IN TIK TOK? The deadline to ban …

November 14, 2020

AMAZON ACCUSED OF BREAKING ANTITRUST RULES IN EUROPE. “Data of 3rd-party sellers…

November 14, 2020

WALMART PET CARE NOW SELLING PET INSURANCE. My 3 year old mixed breed cat would …

November 13, 2020

WALMART’S GOING TO THE DOGS. 90 M OF ITS CUSTOMERS HAVE DOGS. You’d be Goofy not…

November 13, 2020

WALMART CASHIERS STILL LOOKING FOR A SEAT. They won a $65 M lawsuit in 2019, but…

November 12, 2020

4 DAYS BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION,THE CO-FOUNDER OF HOME DEPOT SAID: “Pres…

November 12, 2020

Recent Tweets

Al Norman 16 hours ago

WALMART ADMITS IT “MADE A MISTAKE” IN FL. VACCINE ROLLOUT. Several thousand people under age 65 with underlying conditions were given appointments. https://t.co/VPF3CBeezv

Read More
Al Norman 16 hours ago

WITH TRUMP GONE, TIK TOK DOESN’T HAVE TO DO A DEAL WITH WALMART. “The deal was mainly designed to entertain demands from the Trump administration. But Trump is gone, & the raison d’être of the deal is gone with him.” Politics + Biz = Bad BIz. https://t.co/U3chrquEuN

Read More
Al Norman 2 days ago

"No nation can succeed that tolerates violence or the threat of violence as a method of political intimidation, coercion, or control. We all know that. Such conduct must be fiercely opposed and firmly prosecuted.” DJ TRUMP, 10/18. https://t.co/s1dClpyRru

Read More

Ⓒ 2020 - All Rights Are Reserved

Design and Development by Just Peachy Web Design

Download Our Free Guide

Download our Free Guide

Learn How To Stop Big Box Stores And Fulfillment Warehouses In Your Community

The strategies written here were produced by Sprawl-Busters in 2006 at the request of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), mainly for citizen groups that were fighting Walmart. But the tips for fighting unwanted development apply to any project—whether its fighting Dollar General, an Amazon warehouse, or a Home Depot.

Big projects, or small, these BATTLEMART TIPS will help you better understand what you are up against, and how to win your battle.