VANCOUVER --At the Richmond Ikea store, the indoor showroom was tidied and cashiers were hustling shoppers through as usual.

But every car driving into the half-filled parking lot was made aware of an ongoing labour dispute between the Swedish home furnishings retailer and its union, Teamsters Local 213.

A half-dozen picketers on rotating 24-hour shifts stopped cars to hand out information pamphlets about what the union calls a 70-day lockout and the company calls a strike. Members wore signs saying “people before profit” and cheered when a passing vehicle honked in solidarity.

Three hired guards in orange vests watched and other Ikea-hired representatives videotaped the morning’s interactions from behind a security fence.

One shop steward, who sold living room storage furniture for 13 years, said it’s part of the company’s “intimidation and bullying tactics,” an accusation Ikea denies.

Over 300 employees are on strike, said Teamster Derek Drake and 27 union members have crossed the picket line to work inside. The union has expelled those workers, increasing tensions as the sides attempt to negotiate.

“We are of course concerned about this development as this action essentially means the union is asking us to terminate our co-workers for exercising their legal right to work,” said Ikea spokeswoman Madeleine Lowenborg-Frick, who said she is hopeful mediation, which began July 13 and resumed on Tuesday, will bring a solution.

“We’ve come to the union because we’re at an impasse. We’re open to discussions and finding creative solutions for us all to get back to business,” she said. As for the surveillance, “this is a very polarizing situation. Emotions are running high and the security is there for everybody’s safety. It’s absolutely not an intimidation tactic,” Lowenborg-Frick said.

On Wednesday, Lowenborg-Frick said the next step will be for both parties to decide when to meet again. She would not comment on what the mood was like at the talks.

“It is not appropriate for me to say more at this time out of respect for the process,” she said.

On May 9, the Teamsters served Ikea with a 72-hour strike notice approved by 86 per cent of its membership. The company responded with a one-hour lockout on May 13, which the union says is ongoing.

“The main issue is the two-tier wage system. And contracting out workers, and the fact they’re making it harder for people to make enough hours to get benefits,” Drake said.

Under the old contract, a worker with a family would have to work 20 hours per week to receive benefits. That’s being raised to 24 hours under the new proposal, Drake said. Single workers need to work 15 hours per week, but are not getting enough shifts, the union is arguing.

Employees who collect the shopping carts and food services workers make around $10.75 per hour. Supervisors can make around $24 per hour. Under the proposed collective agreement, similar wages would apply but a new two-tier structure could mean workers doing similar jobs would be paid differently.