h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There's a problem with this rosy picture of Adli as the consumer's paradise. In Ireland several workers were fired for joining a union.

Isn't that illegal under European Law? You'd think a German company would do better than that by their workers!

They're claiming that since part of the workers contract said that they waived their right to join a union they've broken their terms of employment. I'm not too sure of the legality of it, but it doesn't sound right to me.

I for one won't go near Aldi again.

Strange that. It does seem a bit silly, though, to sign a contract saying they wouldn't join a union and then joining one. Probably if they really went at it that clause would be illegal. But it just goes to show that you should read and re-read and re-read again before you sign anything.
I heard that here in Germany Aldi pays it's Management Trainees well (ie. better than most other places).

They pay area management trainees really well in the UK as well. ~37K + fully expensed Audi A4 from day one. Incidentally, there normal staff get paid a lot better than those at 'normal' supermarkets. at least £2 more per hour than Tesco's staff. i think it is a trade off between 'rights' and 'wages'. As the wage compensates for some potential (though not fully illegal) disadvantages.