Fred Meyer workers in the Portland area are now on the picket line for a week-long strike that’s slated to last until Sept. 3.
Meanwhile, negotiations have been ongoing and are expected to continue tomorrow and Friday.
Unfair labor practices are at the center of the protest. UFCW Local 555 is accusing Portland, Ore.-based Fred Meyer, which is owned by Kroger, of refusing to offer essential information for current negotiations.
Specifically, the union said the grocer has advertised to employees an offer of additional pension funding without presenting a proposal to increase pension funding during contract negotiations. The union filed an unfair labor practice charge against Fred Meyer on Aug. 20.
Fred Meyer is also being accused of failing to pay the current required pension contribution, a charge the grocer disputes.
“Fred Meyer is one of Oregon’s largest unionized employers, employing over 13,000 retail associates and [has] a strong track record of investing in associate wages,” Todd Kammeyer, president of Fred Meyer, said in a statement. “The company believes associates should have a voice in choosing what is right for them and their families because the bargaining process ultimately impacts their paychecks. From the beginning, it has always been our goal to put more money in our associates’ pockets.”
The grocer said it has met with UFCW Local 555 at least 12 times to try and resolve issues concerning a new contract and has offered the following:
- A $37 million investment in additional wages
- An hourly wage rate increase of 8% in the first year and 17% over a three-year agreement
- Hourly rate increases of $3.50 over the life of the contract, including $1.50 in year one, $1 in year two, and $1 in year three
- Health care benefit improvements at no cost to associates
- Continued funding of pension benefits
- A bonus for all workers: $1,000 for less than one year of service, $2,000 between one and 10 years of service, $4,000 for those with 10 or more years of service
“Our members are united in demanding fair treatment, which can only be reached if Fred Meyer actually stands behind its public statements and is willing to fulfill all of their obligations and legal requirements,” Dan Clay, president of UFCW Local 555, said in a statement.
