Wal-Mart Denies Putting Workers in Danger
Wal-Mart Denies Putting Workers in Danger
Associated Press
Tuesday, July, 11 2006
MONTREAL -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was only helping police and not endangering employees when it asked them to search for a possible bomb at one of the chain's stores, a company spokesman said Tuesday.
The manager of the St-Jean-sur-Richelieu outlet was alerted to a bomb threat last Thursday, said Yanik Deschenes, who confirmed that 40 sales clerks were asked to help find the device.
One young employee, who was apparently shaken by the incident, told her mother about it later. She complained to the store manager and the media.
Deschenes insisted nobody was forced to search the store about 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of Montreal.
"We will never put in jeopardy the security of our employees," he said in a telephone interview.
"Never, never, never (will) we force them to do such kinds of investigations. If this associate had said or all the associates had said 'We don't want to participate,' there would be no problem. They would have been able to leave the building without hesitation."
Deschenes said police told the manager the threatening call had been made to 911 from a pay phone outside the store. Deschenes would not speculate on motives but said the store is not having any labor trouble.
Police ordered customers out but then told employees to look for any suspicious packages. Police said they would take over if any devices were found.
Deschenes said the manager asked the police officer -- one of five present -- if he was sure he wanted employees to do the search.
"They thought this was the right procedure to do and we trust them," Deschenes said. "Our procedure is very clear, to collaborate with the police officer all the time so that's what we did."
Nothing was found in the search.
Police are still investigating the incident, as is the Quebec workplace health and safety board.
Police said the store didn't violate any laws and only had an obligation to evacuate the store if a suspicious object was found.
© 2005 United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
This site is in no way connected with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. or any affiliate of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Associated Press
Tuesday, July, 11 2006
MONTREAL -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was only helping police and not endangering employees when it asked them to search for a possible bomb at one of the chain's stores, a company spokesman said Tuesday.
The manager of the St-Jean-sur-Richelieu outlet was alerted to a bomb threat last Thursday, said Yanik Deschenes, who confirmed that 40 sales clerks were asked to help find the device.
One young employee, who was apparently shaken by the incident, told her mother about it later. She complained to the store manager and the media.
Deschenes insisted nobody was forced to search the store about 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of Montreal.
"We will never put in jeopardy the security of our employees," he said in a telephone interview.
"Never, never, never (will) we force them to do such kinds of investigations. If this associate had said or all the associates had said 'We don't want to participate,' there would be no problem. They would have been able to leave the building without hesitation."
Deschenes said police told the manager the threatening call had been made to 911 from a pay phone outside the store. Deschenes would not speculate on motives but said the store is not having any labor trouble.
Police ordered customers out but then told employees to look for any suspicious packages. Police said they would take over if any devices were found.
Deschenes said the manager asked the police officer -- one of five present -- if he was sure he wanted employees to do the search.
"They thought this was the right procedure to do and we trust them," Deschenes said. "Our procedure is very clear, to collaborate with the police officer all the time so that's what we did."
Nothing was found in the search.
Police are still investigating the incident, as is the Quebec workplace health and safety board.
Police said the store didn't violate any laws and only had an obligation to evacuate the store if a suspicious object was found.
© 2005 United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
This site is in no way connected with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. or any affiliate of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
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