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Ikea Richmond strike over after Vince Ready mediates deal

Ikea Richmond strike over after Vince Ready mediates deal

A new 10-year agreement has been reached with the union representing Ikea workers at its Richmond, B.C., store, ending what became a 17-month-long labour dispute.

Ikea said Wednesday the agreement reached with Teamsters’ Union Local 213 on matters of wages, benefits and operations flexibility was reached through binding recommendations issued by mediator Vince Ready.

- MORE | Vince Ready called in to settle 17-month-old Ikea dispute

- PROFILE | Who is mediator Vince Ready?

Ready — the same mediator who brought an end to both the port truckers' dispute and the B.C. teachers' strike this year — also ruled in this case that employees who crossed the picket line during the strike shall remain employed at Ikea Richmond, the company said.

"It is now the company’s intention to focus on the future and invest heavily in ensuring that we are ready to meet our customers in the best way possible," a statement from Ikea said.

The Richmond store is operating on reduced hours and will continue to do so until mid-December, at which time it will return to full operations, the company said.