The article in the url below signals an important development in Wal-Mart’s battle against allowing trade unions in its stores (Issues: Employee Relations, p118; Wages, p204):
“Wal-Mart, the US retail giant known for fending off organised labour in its home market, has completed collective bargaining agreements with unions in two Chinese cities.”
In the summer of 2008, Wal-Mart signed pay increases of 8% this year and next for all its employees in China:
“By comparison the average hourly wage in Wal-Mart's US stores, which are not unionised, has risen 12 per cent since January 2005, from $9.68 to $10.86.”
In addition:
“More than 48,500 people work at 105 Wal-Mart stores across China. All have been unionised over the past two years and their representatives are negotiating collective contracts with management.”
Have a good weekend.
Dave
Bill Werther & David Chandler
Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility
© Sage Publications, 2006
Wal-Mart signs 8% pay deals with unionised Chinese workers
By Tom Mitchell in Hong Kong
417 words
25 July 2008
Financial Times
01
http://www.clb.org.hk/en/node/100282
