Did Unionization Make a Difference? Work Conditions and Trade Union Activity at Chinese Walmart Stores

Abstract

China today is the source of the great majority of the merchandise Walmart sells. China has also emerged as one of Walmart's largest and fastest growing retail markets, with close to two hundred giant Walmart stores spread across China's provinces. What happens when the world's largest corporation encounters the world's biggest country? There are two areas of special interest-the impact of the Walmart supply chain, including the impact on the Chinese workers who manufacture Walmart products; and separately, Walmart's retail business and its brand of management practices when imported across cultures into the Walmart supercenters inside China. In both respects, has Walmart succeeded in a Walmartization of China?