Ikea: walkouts in several stores faced with the absence of premium (Archives) -

A. GELEBART / 20 MINUTES / SIPA

Work stoppages have taken place in several Ikea stores in recent days to denounce working conditions and the lack of end-of-year bonus, union sources at the Swedish furniture giant assured Tuesday.

The French sector of Ikea has been affected for a week by "a pearl strike movement", explained Jean-Paul Barbosa, CFDT central union delegate.

Hocine Redouani, central CGT union delegate, for his part refers to “walkouts” that have pushed some stores to “temporary closures”.

Between 1,000 and 1,300 strikers according to the CFDT

In total, "between 1,000 and 1,300 employees have been on strike for a week" in "more than 80% of stores", assures Jean-Paul Barbosa.

Hocine Redouani evokes meanwhile "14 stores affected by actions".

Ikea has 34 stores in France and some 10,000 employees.

The lack of an end-of-year bonus announced a few days ago was the last straw that broke the anger of some employees.

"I have been working in the company for 18 years and this is the first time that we have not had a bonus", underlines Hocine Redouani.

"A hellish pace"

But the strikers' demands are broader: they denounce a deterioration in working conditions in recent months, with many employees mobilized in e-commerce activities during the confinements.

"We end up with employees who can no longer take it, who have suffered an infernal pace," judge Jean-Paul Barbosa.

Asked by AFP, Ikea France confirms a walkout in Lyon on Monday, having affected an average of forty of the store's 500 employees, but specifies that it has remained open to customers.

The company was unable to provide the total number of affected sites.

"A particular context", defends Ikea France

The movement "follows a communication on results and participation, namely that there were no profits for this financial year and therefore no distribution of participation to employees", specifies Ikea, who carried out 2, 8 billion euros in sales in France over the postponed fiscal year ended August 31, 2020.

Ikea France recalls the "particular context, which had a strong impact on its turnover", but specifies having "maintained 100% of employment" and having compensated 100% "throughout the year" d '' possible loss of wages due to partial unemployment.

In the absence of progress, the CFDT calls to continue the movement.

"If necessary, we will move to a higher stage next year," warns Jean-Paul Barbosa.

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