Uni Commerce has written to Wal-Mart headquarters in Arkansas, expressing support for the efforts of the German workers to get a collective agreement. For several months, the two commerce trade unions HBV and DAG have tried to get the company to either join the employers' association or to sign the general collective agreement. Until now, Wal-Mart has refused.

The letter to management was signed by Uni, Uni Commerce, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union UFCW of the United States and the presidents of all Uni Commerce regions. In the letter, Wal-Mart was reminded about its obligations under the fundamental ILO labour conventions as well as the European agreement on fundamental principles and rights at work, concluded by Uni-Europa Commerce and EuroCommerce last year.

Wal-Mart's refusal to join the collective agreement should be seen against the background of the harsh price war, which the company has sparked in Germany and The United Kingdom. The American retail giant is apparently keeping open the option of making its personnel pay part of the costs through sub-standard benefits. Until now, wages and benefits have been on collective agreement levels.

The Wal-Mart threat to wages and working conditions in commerce worldwide was discussed at the recent Uni Commerce and Uni-Europa Commerce meetings in Geneva.