Mediation is set to begin Monday between Ikea and the Teamsters’ Union Local 213, which represents employees at the company’s store in Richmond.
Veteran mediator Vince Ready agreed to resume talks, subject to a number of preconditions.
Both parties have agreed to provide Ready with binding recommendation powers should the parties fail to reach an agreement during the mediation process.
Picket lines went up in May 2013 after the workers rejected company offers, and after the company issued a limited lockout.
On Sunday night, Ikea worker Agnes Gaglewski, who has been with the company for 13 years, said the dispute “has gone on for so long. I am a little disappointed that we haven’t been taken seriously.”
“But now, this is new. I didn’t think (the company) would agree to the provisions and I am very hopeful it will go in the right direction.”
Marc Caron, a 21-year Ikea assistant manager at the Richmond location who has also been on the picket line, said the company’s willingness to accept Ready’s binding recommendations and a new deadline, set for 4 p.m. Monday, is giving him some reason to be optimistic.
With the strike in its 17th month, Caron said there has been word on the picket line of some encouraging recent changes in senior management.
Ready’s last attempt to mediate between the Swedish furniture retailer Ikea Canada and the union representing workers at its Richmond store was at the end of September, but those talks were called off by the end of the first day after the two sides remained far apart on items including wages, benefits, guaranteed hours, and management rights.
Anita Dawson, who represents Teamsters’ Union Local 231, declined to comment until mediation has concluded.
Ikea spokeswoman Madeleine Löwenborg-Frick did not return calls on Sunday.
The Richmond store is one of only two unionized Ikea outlets in the country. The company has previously said the wage they pay — half of Ikea Richmond employees make $18 or more — is fair and generous.
