The Machinists union walloped IKEA Wednesday in an NLRB election held at the Swedish retailer’s only U.S. manufacturing plant in Danville, Virginia. The vote was 221 to 69 and came after years of contentious union organizing at the plant. Since the plant was opened in 2008 the union has repeated demanded card recognition and brought negative international attention to IKEA. IKEA has responded only that the plant meets the same standards as its other 26 Swedwood manufacturing facilities. All are in Europe and already
unionized. Wednesday night, GoDanRiver.com interviewed Swedwood workers at a union victory party. Forklift operator Greg Chandler said, “I got tired of all the favoritism. People see it. They just don’t speak up.” Another worker said she saw no problems at the plant but voted for the union only in support of her coworkers. Lynn Jones hopes communication will improve between workers and management. He was satisfied with his job, but he knows many promises to other workers went unfulfilled, like getting a certain position or a raise. Coretta Giles said heat in the plant was an issue. “We do need someone to help us out and get the plant running the right way,” she said. Asked why Swedwood needed a union Giles said, “So we can have a voice. So we can all be heard and have another leg we can stand on when we need to. I just thank Jesus.”
