Ikea Workers Vote To Unionize

Jon Stewart said it the loudest:  Ikea, a much loved brand in the US, is anti-union.  Now after months of highlighting the sweat-shop-like conditions in an Ikea factory in Danville Virginia, employees voted 221-69 to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Swedwood, a subsidiary company that owns the factory, say they're all for the workers' decision.  

From Bloomberg News:

“We fully support the right of our co-workers to make this decision,” said Ingrid Steen, a Swedwood spokeswoman. “We accept their decision and will work with their union in a mutually cooperative and respectful manner.” 

Ikea Group Corp. is the world’s second-largest retailer behindWal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), which has turned back union efforts by employees. Ikea, based in Odakra, Sweden, is the world’s largest home-furnishing retailer.

The Machinists union has targeted the plant since it opened in 2008 with $12 million in incentives offered by state and local governments.
“The primary issue that has driven this campaign from the beginning has been a plantation-like attitude by management,” said Bill Street, director of the woodworking department for the union who led the organizing campaign. “Mandatory overtime in New York City may not be a huge deal, but in a rural, family oriented small community with strong religious values, this treatment is unacceptable.”

Read more here.