Maine IAM Members Join Striking IKEA Distribution Center Works in Perryville, MD

Last week, a group of Maine Machinists Union members joined 320 striking members of IAM Local 1460 at the IKEA Distribution Center in Perryville, Maryland. IAM Local 1460 members began their strike on Nov. 15 after voting against IKEA’s proposed contract that would impact fair wages and seniority protections. Among the Maine Machinists who came to support the IKEA workers were IAM Local S6 President Chris Williams along with Local S6 member Brad Farrell, IAM District 4 Reps Jay Wadleigh and Chris Wiers and IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan.

“IKEA needs to wake up and realize that negotiating a fair contract is the only way forward,” wrote Local S6 in a statement. “The 320 members of Local 1460 deserve a good deal and Machinist Union Leadership will continue to fight until they get that deal. There is power in a union!”

The IAM and IKEA met with a federal mediator on Nov. 21 and 22 to resolve the dispute and reach a fair agreement, but failed to yield progress. On Nov. 25, the IAM filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) with the National Labor Relations Board over an incident on the strike line, which resulted in an IAM leader being arrested but later released with a minor citation.

“We are disappointed in IKEA’s unwillingness to move on issues critical to our members,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “This strike is about respect and dignity on the job. Our members remain in solidarity in their fight for fair wages and seniority protections, and we won’t back down until IKEA comes back to us with real solutions. Our members are prepared to stand strong for as long as it takes to win the fair treatment they deserve.”