Company looking to maintain 'as much as possible' regular operations
Workers at IKEA’s Montreal store launched a strike on Saturday, citing stalled contract negotiations, insufficient wage offers, and the absence of inflation indexing as key concerns.
The strike was called by the Montreal IKEA Union–Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN) after the employer proposed a wage increase of approximately five per cent over four years. Employees — who have been without a collective agreement since January 2025 — argue that the offer does not reflect the rising cost of living or the company’s strong financial performance.
"The employer is offering us about a 5% raise over four years,” says Nicole Aguilera, the union's general vice-president. “IKEA's finances are healthy. The company makes hundreds of millions of dollars in sales each year, largely thanks to our work, and it is unable to offer us inflation protection to maintain our purchasing power.”
The IKEA workers’ union is calling for wage parity with workers at comparable retailers, noting that many of its members earn less than their counterparts in similar roles. It is also demanding a mechanism to ensure that wages keep pace with inflation.
"With all the profits the company makes, it's the least it can do to pay its employees a competitive salary,” says Serge Monette, president of the Fédération du commerce–CSN. “There are employees who have chosen to pursue a career at IKEA because they love the company. They love their work; it's the least they can do to ensure they have a decent living.”
Some workers with more than one job are living paycheque to paycheque, according to a previous report from ADP Research.
Collaboration, store closures for IKEA
The company is "committed to working collaboratively with all parties involved" to reach a deal as soon as possible while minimizing the strike's impact on customers, says Alicia Carroll, a spokesperson for IKEA Canada, in a CBC report.
"During this period, we aim to maintain as much of our regular operations as possible, making necessary changes to our services as required," Carroll said.
"Our priority remains supporting our co-workers during this time, and the continued service to our valued customers."
Previously, the company’s turnover rate decreased from 35% to 24.5%.
In the meantime, management is running the Montreal location and certain departments are temporarily closed, including:
- Småland
- Kitchen planning department
- IKEA Swedish Restaurant
- Bistro
- Returns
- Click + Pick-up service
- Delivery service
“We support and stand by our co-workers in their right to strike and remain dedicated to reach a collective agreement, and to resume regular store operations as soon as possible,” IKEA says, according to a CTV News report.
