Montreal IKEA workers picket Saturday after last-minute strike vote

Unionized workers at IKEA's Montreal store took part in an abrupt strike on Saturday, following a dispute over work uniforms the day before.

The furniture storeremained open but its food counters,returns counter and curbside pickup were shuttered as a result, the Swedish multinational said.

The 500 unionized workers at the storehave beenwithout a contract since last December. Confdration des syndicats nationauxhas been in negotiations with IKEA since March, with low salaries among its top concerns, union representative Guillaume Vzinasaid.

A last-minute strike vote was called on Friday night after the workersdecided to show up to their shifts that daywithout their uniforms and were refused work, he said.

"Yesterday, the workers wanted [to] further their pressure tactics," Vzinasaid Saturday night."When they came in at 7 a.m. thatmorning, the employer decided to send them home saying they can't work without [their uniforms]. About 50 to 60 workersregrouped in front of the IKEA after that."

New hires start at$15.60 per hour for at least their first three years. The union wants that raised to $18 per hour.

The workersalsovoted in favour of eight additional strike days to come at a later date, depending on how negotiations go moving forward.

Negotiations have also centred on health and safety protocols, Vzinasaid,as well as the hiring of subcontractors, who the union claimshave taken on work typically assigned tounionized workers.

The union will be returning to the negotiating table sometime next week,he said.

Saturday's strike goes until midnight. IKEA said it's not expecting any more disruptions bySunday.

"We are in conciliation with the union and it is our intent to continue to engage in productive dialogue to come to a new collective agreement," IKEA said in a statement Saturday afternoon.

"IKEAsupports ourIKEAMontreal co-workers' choice to have collective representation."