Freedom is a Two-Way Street
Forever have my ears been accustomed to hearing about how labor has the right to organize, seek to bargain collectively with management, enter into contracts, and withhold their labor if deemed necessary. Without quibbling with a derivative issue or two, above, I generally agree.
But, how many see this as a two-way street? In other words, is your support of labor based on all the principles implied by men dealing with each other as free traders–to the one trading his dollars for labor as well as to the one trading his labor for dollars? Or, is your support of labor based only upon your disdain for "big business"?
In Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, there’s a charming pub called the Hog’s Breath Inn. Created and owned by Clint Eastwood, we never fail to stop by when we go to Carmel, which is usually a few times per year. It has a wonderful sunken courtyard with trees, cobblestones, and brick fireplaces to sit around. I even modeled our cobblestoned backyard after it, with its magnolia tree in the center, in-ground spa, raised rock garden, fire-pit and teakwood furniture.
Several years ago, he closed it abruptly. I was told by a proprietor of one of the shops in The Eastwood Building, just adjacent, that he had closed it because the employees wanted to "unionize." Don’t know whether it’s true or not, but I like to believe it is. Sounds like something Dirty Harry would do. It has since reopened, and I understand it’s now owned by a friend of Eastwood’s.
Now we have Wal-Mart in Canada exercising their freedom to "go on strike." Good for them. Jon Henke has some apt economic analysis.
More: Colby Cosh’s brain is drowning in WTFs.
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This situation is far from being resolved for Walmart. Politicians at all levels have already entered the dispute. It has become a political hot potato for Walmart in Canada. Quebec differs from the rest of North America in that it is the most heavily unionized jurisdiction.(40% versus 12%)The cultural values in Quebec differ dramatically from english Canada as well as the United States.
This battle between big labour and big business will most definitely become a textbook case in labour studies. I believe in the end, Walmart will find its entire Canadian operation unionized and it will be paying the Canadian market(union) wage for its retail clerks.
Perhaps Wal-Mart will exercise their freedom as the store owner and close that branch since there seem to be so many unhappy employees there! I'm sure they can take their highly marketable skills elsewhere for better job conditions.