NDP Labour critic Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite Patrie) made the following statement in response to the Supreme Court ruling on the Walmart closure in Jonquière, after the store’s employees were unionized under the United Food and Commercial Workers Union:
“The NDP strongly supports the Supreme Court ruling today, in which it found that Walmart had breached Section 59 of the Quebec Labour Code, which places a freeze on current working conditions for employees while the ratification process is underway.
“Walmart’s anti-union practices are unacceptable and should not be tolerated. We are very satisfied that the Supreme Court has called this multinational American corporation to order, as the company seems to think it can get away with anything.
“Let’s not forget that the purpose of unionization is to improve employees’ working conditions and wages. In this era, where social inequality continues to grow and the middle class is having to bear the brunt of rising levels of debt, improving employees’ working conditions and wages through unionization continues to be relevant.
“I hope that this decision will urge other companies, such as Couche-Tard in Quebec, to follow the Labour Code more closely and respect union rights. Of course, these rights are non-negotiable and are not intended to impede companies, but to help their workforce and promote community development across the country.
The Harper government and big business like Walmart must end their attacks on workers. Support Alexandre Boulerice and the NDP in their fight for the right to organize and to get better working conditions.
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