Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley Back New IKEA Union Organizing Drive

[Omaha Steve]

(UFCW)

http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/18600/bernie_sanders_and_martin_omalley_back_new_ikea_union_organizing_drive

BY BRUCE VAIL FRIDAY, NOV 13, 2015, 3:15 PM

A small group of IKEA workers in suburban Boston launched a union organizing campaign this week—and immediately attracted the support of Democratic Party presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley.

The overnight warehouse crew at the IKEA store in Stoughton, Massachusetts, met with local managers November 11 to request that the home furnishing retailer recognize the United Food & Commercial (UFCW) union as its legal representative, IKEA worker Chris DeAngelo tells In These Times. The pro-union employees presented a petition in favor of the union signed by 75 percent of the 32-member warehouse crew, DeAngelo says.

Letters of support were immediately issued from the presidential campaign organizations of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley. In a coordinated effort, both called on IKEA U.S. President Lars Petersson to recognize the union voluntarily, consistent with the company’s stated labor policies of respecting collective bargaining rights.

Further, Switzerland-based UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jenkins issued this statement at precisely the same time: “Here at the meeting of our World Executive Board, the affiliates of UNI, representing 20 million workers, including those working at IKEA stores the world over, have stated their unequivocal support for the brave actions of workers in IKEA Stoughton.”

FULL story at link.

[whathehell]

1. and so do I!

Union YES!!