Ikea, the starbucks of furnature

[RGacky3]

Another store unionizes in the US (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/ikea-workers-maryland-unionize_n_1217391.html?ref=business), this is why many companies prefer to shut down an entire branch rather than accept a union (and loose a ton of profits), because it spreads, which also is a great reason why large multi-nationals have huge advantages.

Starbucks has this kind of liberal image, i.e. we buy fair trade, we care about ecology and so on (slavoj talks about this a lot), while at the same time juts playing everyday capitalism (of coarse they do).

But publicizing this sort of thing, lifting off the veil, is important, Ikea, is just as anti-worker and greedy as any corporation.

The buisiness-solutions style media will alwasy try and look for socially-conscious companies and laud them as buisiness-solutions. but as we see time and time again, they either collapse (american apparell) or just revert to straight capitalism (starbucks), or just lie (Ikea).

[Olentzero]

Good on 'em for unionizing. Hope it spreads. I have to admit, however, that IKEA is a good cheap way (at least over here in Sweden) to furnish a house. Half my stuff is from IKEA.

Just to add fuel to the fire, however, there was a minor scandal here last summer when it was revealed that Ingvar Kamprad (the IK of IKEA) had fairly strong Nazi sympathies (http://www.revleft.com/vb/ingvar%20kamprad%20nazi%20involvement) and may even have been active in recruitment.

[RGacky3]

Good on 'em for unionizing. Hope it spreads. I have to admit, however, that IKEA is a good cheap way (at least over here in Sweden) to furnish a house. Half my stuff is from IKEA.


Oh sure, I'm not criticizing their products.


Just to add fuel to the fire, however, there was a minor scandal here last summer when it was revealed that Ingvar Kamprad (the IK of IKEA) had fairly strong Nazi sympathies (http://www.revleft.com/vb/ingvar%20kamprad%20nazi%20involvement) and may even have been active in recruitment.

Imo, that should'nt matter, even if the boss was switched the power structure stays. Personal attacks on Bosses is exactly what capitalists want, don't attack the system, its just bad apples.

[Veovis]

I used to work at Ikea - Nice place to work for a capitalist enterprise, but nonetheless it could have used a union.

[dodger]

What a waste of a day off, IKEA, BESIDES, who can understand their instructions? In Serb, ok some here can read Serb. Then again I can't read them in English. It does not surprise me at all that there is a Nazi connection. Slave labour to assemble the goods, with soon to be ex fiancee acting as lagerfuhrer, was my experience. We both agreed I would make a poor specimen as a husband.

Great news about union headway.

[MotherCossack]

the day i went to ikea i thought my head would explode.
the first 20 minutes or so was ok, (almost fun, but not quite).
but i had all too soon had my fill of perusing stuff.... unfortunately long before i had even found the department i was looking for.. let alone the actual item.
by the time, [and a lengthy one at that] i had located what i had come for... i was losing all grip on reality, becoming increasingly paranoid and convinced that i would never escape from the infinite, sprawling, maze of modern furniture.
it was in fact one occasion that i can honestly say; 'good job the kernal came along, having a teenage apprentice, sidekick mini-me did make it just bearable.

[dodger]

the day i went to ikea i thought my head would explode.
the first 20 minutes or so was ok, (almost fun, but not quite).
but i had all too soon had my fill of perusing stuff.... unfortunately long before i had even found the department i was looking for.. let alone the actual item.
by the time, [and a lengthy one at that] i had located what i had come for... i was losing all grip on reality, becoming increasingly paranoid and convinced that i would never escape from the infinite, sprawling, maze of modern furniture.
it was in fact one occasion that i can honestly say; 'good job the kernal came along, having a teenage apprentice, sidekick mini-me did make it just bearable.

.............Then the north circular, just when you though it could not get any worse!!!!!

[MotherCossack]

exactly!!!!!!! ex-act-bloody-ly-!
oh my god!!! omg! how extraordinary.. the very bloody same... just before christmas... me and the kernal.... were you... at all...??
No, course not!!!
how silly of me ...
still , it does seem nice .. a hellhole in common .... or even... a hellhole shared is a hellhole halved!!!!! boom boom!!!!

[NewLeft]

Starbucks has this kind of liberal image, i.e. we buy fair trade, we care about ecology and so on (slavoj talks about this a lot)

lol word for word


.. while at the same time juts playing everyday capitalism (of coarse they do).

But publicizing this sort of thing, lifting off the veil, is important, Ikea, is just as anti-worker and greedy as any corporation.

The buisiness-solutions style media will alwasy try and look for socially-conscious companies and laud them as buisiness-solutions. but as we see time and time again, they either collapse (american apparell) or just revert to straight capitalism (starbucks), or just lie (Ikea).

American Apparel was never interested in being unionized or fair trade or whatever..(?)

[Ocean Seal]

So how do we combat multinationals like this. If they aren't afraid to shut down one branch how can one make sure that they are afraid. Close down the factory don't let anyone who wants to move anything out move it. Take control of the means of production even if it is for just a while. Transport all of the militant workers from one branch to another. Send them in and spread spread spread. Salt, salt, salt.

[RGacky3]

American Apparel was never interested in being unionized or fair trade or whatever..(?)

Sure, but they had the image if beoing socially conscious, like hiring in America and paying regular wages and so on.


So how do we combat multinationals like this. If they aren't afraid to shut down one branch how can one make sure that they are afraid. Close down the factory don't let anyone who wants to move anything out move it. Take control of the means of production even if it is for just a while. Transport all of the militant workers from one branch to another. Send them in and spread spread spread. Salt, salt, salt.

Or just make it really really expensive for them to try and shut it down, lawsuits and so on, do a couple at the same time.

If you make enough noise and trouble multinationals will cave, Starbucks tought us this.

Walmart is much harder because they are SOOOO good at union busting and intimidation.

[Shotgun Opera]

Good on 'em for unionizing. Hope it spreads. I have to admit, however, that IKEA is a good cheap way (at least over here in Sweden) to furnish a house. Half my stuff is from IKEA.
Seriously? I've always thought IKEA was some massive joke that Swedish people giggled over at dinner "Oh my god they're actually buying the stuff!" :laugh:



So how do we combat multinationals like this. If they aren't afraid to shut down one branch how can one make sure that they are afraid. Close down the factory don't let anyone who wants to move anything out move it. Take control of the means of production even if it is for just a while. Transport all of the militant workers from one branch to another. Send them in and spread spread spread. Salt, salt, salt.
One reason most companies move their production overseas; they have the support of brutal governments that will shoot you if you try this.

The best thing to do in the US is target individual branches. If they're willing to close them down, awesome. The more you can roll them back, the better. Eventually this "shut down every store trying to unionize" strategy runs into the "well if we close down too many stores, we start losing money..." wall.


Walmart is much harder because they are SOOOO good at union busting and intimidation.
And consequently VERY easy to fuck with.

Call up an assistant manager and say "So, are you down for the meeting on Saturday? The union rep shows at about 2 so come before then." When he inevitably says wtf, you say "Umm...wrong number, sorry." Paranoia ensues. It can be increased in effectiveness by going into a Walmart and hiding pro-union literature around the store. Be careful doing that though because they have a good number of cameras.

[Veovis]

Seriously? I've always thought IKEA was some massive joke that Swedish people giggled over at dinner "Oh my god they're actually buying the stuff!" :laugh:

QEwzbHJNkwg

[Olentzero]

Seriously? I've always thought IKEA was some massive joke that Swedish people giggled over at dinner "Oh my god they're actually buying the stuff!"Nah, they got megastores over here as well, and they can get crowded on weekends. If there's a joke, it's on plenty of Swedish folk as well.

[Belleraphone]

I never knew that starbucks had a strong union. Is this why I always hear about the great benefits of working there?

[Agent Ducky]

May I add that IKEA people are really butthurt if you try playing hide and go seek in their store. -_-

[Veovis]

Nah, they got megastores over here as well, and they can get crowded on weekends. If there's a joke, it's on plenty of Swedish folk as well.

Psh, at least y'all can pronounce the names of the things you buy there.

"Hi, I'm looking for a fa-juh-sell bed."

"Huh? A vagisil bed? Oh you mean fjeselle..."

[¿Que?]

Kind of makes me think of the rabid anti-union "progressive" John Mackey of Whole Foods. The Yuppies love these sorts of feel good consumerism, but they're totally duped or are reactionaries themselves.

[Belleraphone]

Kind of makes me think of the rabid anti-union "progressive" John Mackey of Whole Foods. The Yuppies love these sorts of feel good consumerism, but they're totally duped or are reactionaries themselves.
I think someone summed it up pretty well.
Leftists are concerned with the exploitation of the worker.
Liberals are concerned with the exploitation of the consumer.

[Veovis]

I never knew that starbucks had a strong union. Is this why I always hear about the great benefits of working there?

From what I've heard, they've only managed to unionize a handfull of stores so far.

[RGacky3]

I never knew that starbucks had a strong union. Is this why I always hear about the great benefits of working there?


What I meant by that was that they were a notorius union busting corporation, and notoriously hard to organize, yet the IWW did it in many stores and its spreading.

[Ocean Seal]

Or just make it really really expensive for them to try and shut it down, lawsuits and so on, do a couple at the same time.
Wrongful termination? But how do you get people who have just been laid off and had low paying jobs to start to attempt a lawsuit if they have no money.



If you make enough noise and trouble multinationals will cave, Starbucks tought us this.

When did we beat starbucks?



Walmart is much harder because they are SOOOO good at union busting and intimidation.
Second only to Target.

[RGacky3]

Wrongful termination? But how do you get people who have just been laid off and had low paying jobs to start to attempt a lawsuit if they have no money.


Thats what a union is for. Plus it does'nt cost that much to file with the Department of Labor.


When did we beat starbucks?


When we managed to force some of their stores to accept a IWW union.

[Platonic Sword]

Knowing IKEA's business model, theyre probably aiming for a system where they don't even need workers: Just machines to cut the homewares and self-serve stores. OK, they're gonna need packers and couriers and cleaners etc (unless they can somehow manufacture on site ) and security guards to protect the store at night, but overall they're very good at controlling costs.

[RGacky3]

Sure, so is walmart, but thats why capitalism cannot work, because as productivity goes up, under capitalism, you get all types of problems, excess capacity, price suppression mixed with the capital/labor ratio causing profit to fall, demand shortage, all sorts of problems.

But This is where the workers need to fight back.