Reference no: EM132680906

Wilbrod's is a major Canadian retailer of articles for the home, including the bathroom and kitchen. It is also the most well known gift supplier in the country. Wilbrod's was founded by Wilbrod Bureau, a Franco-Ontarian from Cornwall in Ontario. The company has 90 stores across Canada, with 45 in Ontario and 35 in Quebec, and would like to open additional stores elsewhere in the country in the near future. It is the month of March: last week the company and the union signed a new collective agreement after a very bitter strike of more than four months in all the Ontario stores. This was the first time Wilbrod's had experienced a situation like this, where relations between the unionized employees and management deteriorated to such an extent. Because both the employer and the union made concessions to reach an agreement, neither party could claim to be the victor.

A number of relevant facts are set out below.

1. The union decided to launch the strike just before the Christmas holidays, believing that this decision would pressure the employer to accede to its demands;

2. The employer had prepared an excellent contingency plan; due to help from its management team, the employer was able to keep some 20% of the stores open and deliver Internet orders;

3. The employer now fears that management and the non-unionized employees will gloat over the unionized employees;

4. The managers, who had been paid for a lot of overtime, even displayed their pay checks in the window to the unionized employees, who were without any income just before Christmas;

5. Some dismissals owing to physical assault were maintained, but disciplinary measures for vandalism and more minor incidents were not enforced.

6. Even though 98% of the union's members adopted the new agreement, the unionized employees are still angry.

7. Management, particularly store managers, is worried about the first day back.

8. Everyone will be back at work in five days. Today, the company president has just asked you to implement a plan to facilitate a harmonious return to work for everyone.

• He wants your organizational development team to handle this task because he believes these employees are perceived as being more neutral since they did not take part in the negotiations. As a result, he hopes to quickly restore an organizational climate favourable to operating a retail business. He is concerned, however, because he knows that the strength of Wilbrod's stores has always been a friendly atmosphere created by the employees, their expertise and the quality of their customer service. Wilbrod's employees are noted for knowing their merchandise and providing good advice to their customers, which as a result, encourages their customers to return. This is the most important project of your career; you and your organizational development team will have to outdo your selves. Everyone in the company will lend you a hand if you ask for help.

Problem 1. What problems do you anticipate? List five only.

Problem 2. What can you propose? What is your plan to overcome these problems?