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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014
IKEA deal ends 17-month dispute Workers to return to the job on Nov. 3, with store to fully reopen in December
Steveston High site rezoning needs revision Plan has shortcomings, councillor says by Martin van den Hemel Staff Reporter
by Martin van den Hemel Staff Reporter There were mixed emotions Wednesday afternoon among IKEA workers who had been picketing outside the yellow-andblue megastore for nearly 18 months, through rain, sleet and snow, illness, deaths in the family and even the birth of a baby. They’d just received news not from IKEA, not from their union, but from a reporter that a 10-year deal had been struck, thanks to the intervention of Vince Ready who used his binding recommendation powers to end the lengthy dispute. IKEA spokesperson Madeleine Lowenborg-Frick issued a press release at 2:33 p.m., declaring: “IKEA Richmond Strike Resolved.” But at 2:50 p.m., dozens of workers were still pacing about in front of the Sweden Way store, with a table set up with snacks and other provisions, and picket signs were tucked away. They knew this was going to be the last day of their picketing, with Vince Ready expected to deliver his decision, and their picket line to come down at the end of the work day.
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Martin van den Hemel photo After 17 months off the job, unionized IKEA workers are about to go back to work.
But the precise terms of the deal remained unknown, which caused many to grumble about why the general public was being told about the deal before all of them were. Where was the respect? Others said they expected there was going to be a “cancerous” or “toxic” work environment when they returned to work. One asked: “How about a severance package?” Some questioned why they weren’t being allowed to return to work until Nov. 3, and accused IKEA of dragging things
out and trying to make the union workers suffer a little longer. But from 20-year employee Dorothy Tompkins, she’d do it all again. “I’m proud that we took a stand and stayed strong,” she said, moments after being shown the press release. “It’s been really tough. I’d still do it again.” Tompkins was part of the bargaining committee but still had no insight on what Ready had ordered. Will time heal these wounds? “No, money will,” said one worker, with Tompkins
adding: “...and values.” In the press release, IKEA stated: “The company has reached a 10-year agreement with Teamsters Union Local 213, through binding recommendations issued by mediator Vincent Ready,” Lowenborg-Brick said in the release. Ready ruled that all employees who crossed the picket line to perform their own duties shall remained employed at IKEA Richmond, it states The accepted offer was highlighted by “generous wages and benefits”, including annual increases
for all employees and a new health care spending account, according to Lowenborg-Frick. The agreement also “secures the long-term success of the store,” she wrote. “It is now the company’s intention to focus on the future and invest heavily in ensuring that we are ready to meet our customers in the best way possible. The IKEA Richmond store will remain open to our customers on reduced hours until mid December when the store will return to full operations.” See Page 5
Polygon will have to sharpen its pencils and be prepared to make major changes to their initial proposal for the redevelopment of the former home of Steveston Secondary School. Members of the city’s planning committee got their first peek at the plans on Tuesday, but ultimately referred it back to staff in order for changes to be made. Coun. Bill McNulty, chair of the planning committee, said he believes more public consultation needs to be done with residents living nearby. The proposal calls for affordable housing units to be built all in one area of the 133-unit complex, but McNulty said he doesn’t like the idea of creating a residential complex that’s “us versus them.” He also wants Polygon to foot the entire bill for improved road access to the residential complex. Polygon is proposing to rezone 7.8 acres on the 13-acre site, donating the balance to the city. In its bid for more square footage of residential space, Polygon is pitching about $7 million in improvements, including a childcare facility and the affordable townhouse units. But McNulty said it appears the childcare centre has been placed directly adjacent to the proposed rental townhomes, as though people living in those units are the only ones who might use the facility. McNulty would also like the proposed greenway, which stretches about a half acre, and runs down the middle of the development site, become the property of the City of Richmond. See Page 5
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