The employees of the IKEA store in Montreal hold a first day of strike, Saturday, causing longer waiting times for customers wishing to make their purchases there.
Without a contract since December 31, the approximately 500 employees of the famous furniture store voted on Friday evening, by a large majority (97%) to provide themselves with a bank of 10 days of strike.
During their first day of strike, Saturday, several employees went to the site to form a picket line.
“All union members respect [le mandat de grève] which has been voted”, has also confirmed Laurent Soumis, spokesperson for the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN).
The latter explained that the number of people on the picket lines remains difficult to assess, because it can change according to the usual shifts of the employees.
IKEA customers may have to wait as no employees are on duty. “If a customer is served by someone inside, it’s a manager,” said Mr. Soumis.
While the Swedish multinational is trying to use more and more subcontractors, the union is fighting to preserve the jobs of its members.
The question of wages is also an important part of the negotiations which have been going on since March.
Union members are asking for a pay rise.
Currently, a new employee earns $15.60 an hour, while union members are asking for a minimum hourly rate of $16.90.
– With information from Julie Côté, QMI Agency