Ikea's Problem with Workers' Rights

by Taylor Leake · 2010-12-09 11:58:00 UTC
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Ikea. They're the world's largest furniture retailer, and have become ubiquitous for college students and recent grads furnishing apartments. Their slogan is "affordable solutions for better living," but they certainly aren't helping workers at a factory in Danville, Virginia live any better.

That is because Swedwood (a subsidiary that produces wooden furniture for and is owned by Ikea) is refusing to allow workers to exercise their right to organize a union. And while you may not have heard about these workers, the Building and Woodworker's International (BWI) union has. They recently held a protest outside an Ikea store in Vernier, Geneva, demanding the company respect the rights of its workers around the world.

So what is going on at this factory? Workers report various safety issues, and the factory has been fined for violating safety laws. There have also been reports of racial discrimination. Because of these issues, workers have expressed a desire to start a union. But Ambet Yuson, the BWI’s General Secretary says, "Our U.S. affiliate, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), has never been allowed to enter the factory to inform workers of the benefits of joining a union of their choice." And Swedwood has gone even further, apparently retaliating against workers who want a union.

It is always upsetting when companies refuse to respect their workers' rights, but it is even more upsetting in this case because Ikea has a code of conduct for its suppliers. That code of conduct explicitly states that suppliers must not, "prevent workers from associating freely with any worker's association or group of their choosing, or from collective bargaining."

Because Ikea owns Swedwood outright, it should be easy for them to enforce their code of conduct and immediately allow workers to organize a union. Ikea should also make it a point to investigate any health and safety violations and discrimination going on at this factory.

You can help these workers out. BWI has a Facebook page with a lot of great information and a link to their mailing list. You can also sign this petition, asking Ikea to respect their workers and abide by their own Code of Conduct.

Photo Credit: kazamatsuri

Taylor Leake has advocated for workers' rights for years, from running his college chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops to working for the Wake Up Walmart campaign.
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