IKEA employees in Montreal launch strike

An IKEA sign is pictured Monday, July 10, 2023. (Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)

Employees at the IKEA store in Montreal went on strike at midnight Saturday, citing inadequate pay offers from the employer.

The CSN-affiliated Syndicat d’Ikea de Montréal said the furniture shop’s unionized employees earn less than workers at other retailers like Costco, and are calling for a catch-up.

The union, which represents about 450 employees, wants higher-ups to earn around $30 per hour, but says they are far from it. Union President Elie Zetrenne says employees at the top of IKEA’s pay-scale currently earn $25.42 per hour.

Zetrenne says they were offered a five per cent increase over four years, while the union is asking for 14 per cent.

“When you consider the price of gas, of food, of houses, of rent; it’s really not enough,” he told CTV News from the picket line.

Union members adopted a 10-day strike mandate, but Zetrenne said the strike would end as soon as a collective agreement is signed. He said negotiations are set to resume Monday.

In the meantime, management is running the Montreal location and certain departments are temporarily closed, including:

• Småland
• Kitchen planning department
• IKEA Swedish Restaurant
• Bistro
• Returns
• Click + Pick-up service
• Delivery service

“We support and stand by our co-workers in their right to strike and remain dedicated to reach a collective agreement, and to resume regular store operations as soon as possible,” IKEA said in a statement on its website.

IKEA employees in Montreal have been without a collective agreement since January, according to the union.

Zetrenne says IKEA’s finances are in good shape, and the employer should work toward maintaining its employees’ purchasing power.

“The vision of IKEA is to improve the life of the many, and we want IKEA to also improve the lives of their coworkers by giving them a [proper] raise ... 50 cents is not enough,” he said.