On Wednesday 22 October, unionized employees from the Ikea store in Richmond, near Vancouver, signed a new collective agreement with the store's management, marking the end of a battle that has lasted 17 months. A mediator was required to help reach a settlement on the new collective agreement. This struggle is indicative of the complete deterioration of the relationship between the British Columbia store’s management and its 350 unionized employees.
The store was forced to reduce its opening hours after 350 employees — members of the Teamsters’ Union — went on strike in May 2013, following failed negotiations on the renewal of the collective agreement covering the next 10 years. The agreement, which was reached after the intervention of a mediator, involves improved wages and benefits, the details of which have not been made public.
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