Officials with home furnishings giant IKEA are saying they offer some of the industrys most generous conditions for their employees to qualify for benefits.
This comes in light of the current work disruption at the Richmond location by striking members of Teamsters Local 213 who started job action last Monday (May 13).
Benefits begin for employees at 15 hours a week, not the 24 hours union officials stated last week, said Madeleine Löwenborg-Frick, public relations manager for IKEA Canada.
Employees who work between 15 and 23 hours receive 80 per cent company paid benefits for themselves.
This is well above the industry standard for a retail worker, she added.
Union officials contended the majority of their members, who work part time, find it difficult to accumulate enough hours to qualify.
The company also differed over the unions statement regarding wage rates topping out at $21/hour.
Currently IKEA Richmond employees are paid a range between minimum wage and $23.67, with 27 per cent of the 360 IKEA Richmond employees earning more than $21/hour.
These wages are well above industry standard, said Löwenborg-Frick, adding it is important to note that the new contract does provide for annual increases
