Please don't shop at IKEA in Richmond or Coquitlam
via the BC Federation of Labour
Sisters and Brothers,
On May 13, 2013 management at the Richmond IKEA locked out the nearly 350 members of Teamsters Local 213 who work at that location. Ikea is attempting to force these workers into a number of concessions, including a tiered wage system which will see some existing employees getting reduced wages and benefits.
- For more information see this article in the Tyee.
IKEA is not a franchised company. The Richmond and Coquitlam IKEA locations are both owned by the parent company, whose owners are among the wealthiest 100 families in the world.
Customers choosing to patronize the Coquitlam location, while the strike is on at the Richmond location, are assisting the company in breaking the strike.
The issue is the imposition of a tiered wage structure. Despite the Richmond location being highly profitable, management is seeking to impose significant wage cuts on the majority of its work force. Five years ago, the Teamsters fought the tiered wage structure and won.
Tiered wage structures such as the one proposed by IKEA poison work sites, creating resentment between co-workers. Moreover, they contribute to the part-timing of work, as management seeks to take advantage of the new, lower wage categories.
The BC Federation of Labour and PSAC BC are asking our members not to patronize either BC IKEA location until the dispute is resolved fairly and to the satisfaction of the Teamsters and its IKEA members.