Tigard, Oregon – UFCW Local 555 Leadership has set Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike dates for members working in Fred Meyer stores around the Portland metro area. The action was overwhelmingly approved by a vote of impacted members taken August 13th through August 16th.
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.
The Unfair Labor Practices include refusing to provide essential information for current negotiations, despite Fred Meyer and Local 555’s longstanding history of doing so.
“A ULP strike is crucial to force Fred Meyer to comply with their obligations as an Employer to their Employees. 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 their obligations and legal requirements. Our membership came out in overwhelming support of this action and the community has our back.” – Dan Clay, President, UFCW Local 555.
On August 20th, Local 555 filed an additional Unfair Labor Practice charge against Fred Meyer for advertising to employees that they have offered “additional funding for [their] pension,” when no proposal at the bargaining table to increase pension funding has been presented. (Audio clip sent to impacted workers is included with this release).
“On August 20th, Local 555 filed another Unfair Labor Practice charge against Fred Meyer for misleading employees by claiming they offered ‘additional funding for [their] pension,’ despite no such proposal being presented at the bargaining table. This dishonesty undermines the bargaining process and shows a blatant disregard for workers’ rights.” – Miles Eshaia, Communications Coordinator, UFCW Local 555.
Additionally, Fred Meyer has failed to pay all currently required pension contributions and has failed to process Local 555’s grievances to correct this matter, leading in part to Local 555’s lawsuit, filed in Federal Court, to compel Fred Meyer to process the grievance.
“Fred Meyer’s blatant refusal to pay the contractually agreed-upon pension contributions and their failure to address Local 555’s grievances have left us no choice but to file a lawsuit in Federal Court. This is a clear breach of contract, and we are determined to hold them accountable and ensure they meet their obligations to our members.” – Sandy Humphrey, Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW Local 555.
Negotiations with Fred Meyer are ongoing and will continue on August 29th and August 30th.