In 2004, Wal-Mart employees in Jonquière, a city in the Canadian province of Quebec, made history when they became the first workers to successfully unionize an entire Wal-Mart store in North America. Rather than bargain with their workers in good faith, in 2005 Wal-Mart decided to close the store instead, just as contract negotiations were entering a period of binding arbitration.

Three years later, The Gazette reports that the Wal-Mart workers who lost their jobs when the company closed its 190-employee Jonquière store have taken their case all the way to the Canadian Supreme Court. They contend that, in closing the store, Wal-Mart violated their right to freedom of association and the Quebec labor code.

The court's decision will be hugely important, not just for the laid off workers in Jonquière, but for Wal-Mart employees throughout Canada. 10 employees at a Wal-Mart garage in Gatineau (another Canadian city) recently formed a union and there have been rumors that Wal-Mart may close that store as well, rather than negotiate a union contract.

I, and likely anyone concerned with justice and workers' rights, hope the Canadian Supreme Court will rule on the side of the workers.