News

IKEA’s US operations are being investigated for anti-union practice after preventing the formation of a union at the Stoughton branch.

“Workers have been subjected to threats, coercion and misinformation – the company has tried everything to prevent a union,” says Head of UNI Commerce Alke Boessiger, to the magazine of the Swedish union Handels.

“Stoughton employees have been denied their right to organise and IKEA have violated US laws. IKEA must act now to repair the relationship with their workers.”

Last year UNI Global Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union worked hard together with locals in Stoughton to form a union. In October, it was demonstrated that the majority of employees were favourable to forming a union, yet IKEA refused to accept and approve. They did not trust the result and asked that the National Labor Relations Board hold a secret ballot on the 27th June. The union lost after it failed to achieve a majority.

However, according to UNI Global Union and the UFCW the conditions of the secret ballot were hostile and threatening. Management in the US is now under investigation for anti-union activities including interrogation, reprisals, threats of dismissal and loss of wages.

“Workers have suffered enough and IKEA management continues to harass those who wish to be part of a union. They violate their own company rules and US laws, yet continue to wait on the NLRB’s investigation,” says Alke Boessiger.

“UNI will continue discussions with IKEA groups, but talks seem to have been brought to a standstill. IKEA must engage in meaningful talks now to stop the situation escalating further.”

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