Description: Quebec convenience store owner Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. is selling some of its outlets to franchisees in an apparent attempt to frustrate efforts to reach collective agreements.

Source: The Financial Post

Date: 01/31/2013

Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2013/01/31/couche-tard-turns-to-franchisees-as-organized-labour-steps-up-efforts-to-unionize-quebec-stores/

Related links:

• Montreal Gazette story
• Earlier story
• Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.
• Confédération des syndicats nationaux (French)
• The Quebec labour relations commission

Questions for discussion:

• Explain what Couche-Tard is doing with its unionized stores.
• How would this make things more difficult for the union?
• Review the section in your textbook on successorship rights. How do they apply here?
• The union says Couche-Tard’s founder should share “a piece of the cake.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
• What would you think of the company’s actions if you were a Couche-Tard employee? An investor?