Fred Meyer workers begin strike claiming unfair labor practices

At 6 a.m. Wednesday, thousands of Fred Meyer employees walked off the job and began to strike. They claim the stores are breaching labor relations laws amid contract negotiations.

"The most important thing to our members is that the community respect our lines. Don’t shop Fred Meyer. You can just shop somewhere else — Safeway, Albertsons are fantastic union alternatives," said spokesman Miles Eshaia. "Everyone who stocks, everyone who works at the cash register, if they work in the grocery department, if they work in the meat department, they aren’t going to be in those stores, they’re going to be out on the lines."

Leaders of UFCW Local 555 say its members voted overwhelmingly to walk off the job.

Fred Meyer President Todd Kammeyer said the stores would remain open during the strike. “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,” he said. “From the beginning it has always been our goal to put more money in our associates’ pockets.”

Kammeyer said Fred Meyer and its parent company, Kroger, respect the rights of workers to collectively bargain.

The proposed merger with Albertsons, which is in court, will protect the right to collectively bargain, Kammeyer said.

UFCW Local 555 had originally supported the merger but pulled its support after they said Fred Meyer made a misleading statement about increasing wages.

The strike is set to go to 8 a.m. on September 3. The strike will impact 28 stores in the Portland area. Both sides will be back at the bargaining table on Thursday and Friday.

https://katu.com/news/local/fred-meyer-employees-walk-off-the-job-and-onto-the-picket-line-ufcw-local-555-kammeyer-todd-kroger

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Author: KATU News
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News post in at: August 29, 2024, 3:02 am.

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