IKEA Liège strike resolved after agreement on working conditions and staffing

Management and trade unions at IKEA in Liège have reached an agreement following mediation, ending several days of industrial action., reports 24brussels.

Staff at the Swedish furniture giant expressed dissatisfaction with deteriorating working conditions and a shortage of personnel. A reconciliation meeting took place on Wednesday aimed at addressing these concerns.

IKEA stated that the agreement includes measures for “planning and organising work to reduce the workload and simplifying internal procedures.” Both parties participated in the negotiations voluntarily and cooperatively, according to a company press release.

Regular evaluations

Manuel Gonzalez of the French-speaking Christian trade union CNE Commerce reported that management has committed to offering employees permanent contracts instead of the previously proposed fixed-term and student contracts. The agreement also incorporates regular evaluations of working conditions.

The settlement, applicable only to the Liège branch, will be presented to employees, allowing all stores to resume regular activities on Thursday.

The industrial action commenced on September 30 in Liège and subsequently spread to locations in Anderlecht, Zaventem, Ghent, Mons, and Wilrijk.

National negotiations

Union representatives emphasized that the dispute extends beyond workload and staffing issues, highlighting broader challenges within the retail sector, such as low wages, irregular hours, and increased demands for flexibility which have contributed to making these jobs less appealing.

“We are now focusing on national negotiations,” stated Sven De Scheemaeker, trade union secretary of ACV Puls. “These will start on October 15.”

The unions aim to initiate intensive discussions in the upcoming weeks and months to tackle structural issues across all stores. “The ball is now in the court of the national management, and we expect an open mind and a constructive attitude,” he affirmed.