More than 150 retail workers at Ashley Homestore in the city of Mississauga in Ontario, Canada, recently voted to join UFCW Locals 175 and 633, marking a significant step toward improved working conditions and greater workplace representation.
Ashley Homestore is a retail chain in Canada that sells a variety of signature home furniture, décor accessories and mattresses, and the newly unionized members come from a variety of departments, including warehouse, repair services, and delivery operations. The organizing campaign, while challenging, resulted in a strong show of unity among the workers, who cited a lack of respect, overwhelming workloads, and health and safety issues as key motivators for unionizing. Many of the workers felt undervalued, pointing to concerns around dignity at work and unresolved workplace injuries involving the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, which is the workplace compensation board for provincially regulated workplaces in Ontario.
“Joining a union isn’t just about better pay or benefits—it’s about standing together to demand respect and fairness, and to have a voice in the decisions that shape our lives,” said UFCW Local 175 President Kelly Tosato. “The true strength of our union lies in the courage and solidarity of our members standing as one.”
With their vote secured, the Ashley Homestore workers are preparing to negotiate their first collective agreement around key goals, such as improving wages, benefits and scheduling practices; job security; and most importantly, restoring dignity and respect in their workplace.
