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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.

CTV News in Halifax spotlights the struggle for Zellers workers. Watch the clip here.

Workers and community members stood together in Windsor to ask for fairness for local Zellers workers.