Workers at the Yorkdale location of luxury retailer, Holt Renfrew, sought to strengthen their collective voice and improve their working lives through unionization.  More than 50% of workers signed cards indicating their desire to join a union, thus an application was filed with the Ontario Labour Board by Local 1000A of UFCW Canada. Ontario labour law requires two steps for union certification – first the signing of cards, and then, one week later, a vote in the store.  During that week, the company held many meetings and focus groups in order to dissuade workers from voting for the union. When the vote was held, a majority of workers voted against the union.

I spoke with a number of workers at Holt Yorkdale and was very impressed with their intelligence, drive, and strength.  Read news coverage of the vote here.

Inspired by their co-workers at the H&M in Square One in Missisauga, Ontario, workers in Joliette have chosen to join a union as part of making their jobs, and retail work overall, better.

More and more workers are choosing to join Local 500 of the UFCW in Québec, including those at a Future Shop store in Montréal.  For their story, click here.