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IKEA dispute heads into 12th week www.richmonddaysofsummer.com
Page 28 · Richmond Review
28 PAGEs
Mediator on board to find common ground on tiered-wage system
Police report on fatal crash could take a year
by Matthew Hoekstra
by Martin van den Hemel
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
Approximately 325 unionized IKEA workers are heading into their 12th week on the picket line following a third session of mediation that failed to resolve the labour dispute. “We need to find a fair resolution that gets everyone to work as soon as possible so we can get on with business. We’re hopeful that mediation will get us there,” said IKEA spokesperson Madeleine Löwenborg-Frick. Teamsters Local 213 and the Swedish furniture giant met with a mediator this week to address the union’s concerns of a tiered wage system and the union’s expulsion of 27 workers who crossed the picket line and returned to work, according to Löwenborg-Frick. “We don’t think this strike is in anyone’s interest,” she said. “IKEA is committed to finding a fair resolution for everybody.” Löwenborg-Frick said the company’s original offer involved no wage reduction for current employees and “exceeds industry averages.” A tiered-wage system is something the union previously fought to eliminate. It was successful for some employees, but not all. Now IKEA wants all employees on a tiered system, putting it at odds with unionized workers. Teamsters Local 213 representative Anita Dawson said although the company’s initial offer didn’t cut employee wages, it did cut their chances to move up the pay scale. Meetings between the two sides and the mediator are scheduled to continue Monday, according to Dawson. “Having somebody else look at it from maybe a different perspective can help and offer suggestions, ideas and remedies to resolve this thing,” said Dawson. A crowd of 200 people—unionized workers, labour leaders and politicians, including B.C. NDP leader Adrian Dix—rallied outside the Richmond store July 20 in a show of support for the picketers. The B.C. Federation of Labour issued a statement following the Saturday rally calling on the public to boycott the Richmond and Coquitlam stores—the
It could take many more months before the Richmond RCMP investigation is completed into the fatal May 8 collision involving a $200,000 sports car and several vehicles stopped at a red light at Knight Street and Westminster Highway. Richmond RCMP Sgt. Cam Kowalski said the passenger in the Aston Martin—estimated by one witness to be travelling at 200 km/h at the time of the crash—remains in hospital. Last month, the driver was still in the intensive care unit, though Kowalski didn’t have an update on her condition. One part of the investigation is looking at the mechanical condition of the Aston Martin, with an inspection searching for clues as to the cause of the crash. That also includes a look at the vehicle’s black box, which should give collision reconstructionists an idea of the speed and direction of the vehicle, when and if the air bags deployed, and when and if the vehicle’s brakes were engaged. Speaking in generalities, Kowalski said an investigation of this complexity could take six to 12 months. But that becomes more complicated when those involved are seriously injured, which can impact the length of recovery and the time when investigators can conduct interviews. Once the RCMP’s report is completed, if it decides that charges should be recommended, investigators will forward the report to the Crown. If the Crown agrees that there’s a substantial likelihood of conviction and files charges, that decision will be made public, Kowalski said.
Matthew Hoekstra photo Witold Piwowar, a 14-year employee, and Margaret Horvath, a 26-year IKEA worker, on the picket line with co-workers Thursday afternoon.
company’s two B.C. locations—until the dispute is resolved. “[C]ustomers choosing to patronize the Coquitlam location, while the strike is on at the Richmond location, are assisting the company in breaking the strike,” the statement says.
Pickets went up at the Jacombs Road store May 13. The Richmond store is one of two IKEA retail locations in North America that is unionized. The other is in Montreal, Que. The local store remains open with reduced hours, but its restaurant and children’s play area are closed.
From now until September 2nd, return your empty beverage container for a chance to win one of three eco-friendly rides! Look for the official ballot box at all Regional Recycling Locations. For Contest details, visit: www.regionalrecycling.ca
No purchase necessary. Open only to BC residents age 19 or over. Limit one entry per person and per household per day. Contest closes September 2, 2013. For full contest details, visit return-it.ca
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