Press Release: UFCW Local 555 sets ULP Strike Date for Fred Meyer Workers in PDX Metro Area
The ULP strike will start on Wednesday, August 28th at 6am and go through Tuesday, September 3rd at 8am at all Fred Meyer locations in the Portland Metro area, unless a deal is reached that includes a resolution to our ULPs.
Bargaining Update – Unity Retail: Local 555 to File Further ULP Charges
Up until today, the employer said they were here to bargain only for Portland and Bend, Meat and Grocery contracts, at Fred Meyer and QFC. Today, the employer changed their position – instead of being here to bargain for more of our members, they went back on their word and said they are here to bargain for even less – by putting forward a proposal that now excludes all of QFC, stating they will not bargain QFC until their contracts expire.
Fred Meyer’s proposal: An insult to workers, a threat to their Health Trust
Tigard, Oregon – On August 19th, the UFCW Local 555 Bargaining Committee met with representatives from Kroger, Fred Meyer and QFC for their 4th bargaining session.
Fred Meyer offered Local 555 a proposal that included wage increases and a one-time bonus. However, their offer would destabilize the employees’ healthcare plan by cost shifting approximately $30 million from the healthcare plan’s reserves to pay for the bonus.
Bargaining Update – Unity Retail: Kroger Offers Short-Sighted Deal
While your employer has been running around and promising to make $1 billion in grocery price cuts, promising to raise your wage and promising to invest in your retirement, their proposal included a grand plan for how you can help them pay for it: by giving them back money out of the Trust Fund (you know, the one that pays for your healthcare).
PDX Area Fred Meyer Workers Vote to Authorize ULP Strike & Endorsement of Kroger Albertsons Merger Pulled
Tigard, Oregon – Portland Metro area Fred Meyer workers have voted to authorize an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike, with overwhelming support. The vote took place over August 13-16 at various locations throughout the region. The call for a ULP strike is in response to multiple ULPs committed by Fred Meyer, a subsidiary of national retail food giant, The Kroger Co. There are approximately 4,500 union represented workers at affected Fred Meyer locations.
Bargaining Update – Unity Retail: Kroger fails to address major wage discrepancies in jurisdiction
On August 14 and August 15, your Bargaining Committee met with representatives from Kroger, Fred Meyer and QFC for our 3rd bargaining session.
On August 15, at the same time that Kroger publicly pledged $1 billion in grocery price cuts– doubling its original commitment of $500 million – at our bargaining table your employer failed to address the major wage discrepancies throughout our Union’s area in Oregon and Washington and throughout the departments within our stores.
Workers at Fred Meyer to Vote to Authorize ULP Strike
Tigard, Oregon – Members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, which represents over 35,000 essential workers in Oregon, SW Washington, and Idaho, will be voting to authorize their Union Leadership to call for an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike against Fred Meyer.
Bargaining Update – Unity Retail: Local 555 and Employer Exchange Wage Proposals
On August 5 and August 6, your Bargaining Committee met for the second time with representatives from Kroger and Fred Meyer to continue bargaining for our new Union contracts with Fred Meyer and QFC.
Your Union presented proposals to increase your wages and pension (retirement benefit). Our proposals will hold your employer to the public promises that they have made, in light of the pending merger, to significantly invest in your wages and retirement.
Measure 119 – United for Cannabis Workers Act – Qualifies for 2024 Ballot
Oregon – Measure 119, United for Cannabis Workers Act, has qualified for the 2024 election statewide in Oregon. If passed, the measure would ensure that cannabis workers’ freedoms to organize and bargain collectively are protected under state law. No one would be required to join a union, but workers would have the freedom to do so if they choose.
Bargaining Update – Unity Retail: Union and Albertsons-Safeway Exchange Initial Proposals
On Monday, July 29, your Bargaining Committee began bargaining for our new Union contracts throughout our Union’s area where we represent workers in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Representatives from Albertsons and Safeway received our initial bargaining proposals for all Albertsons and Safeway grocery and meat contracts in Oregon and Washington.