The strike affects 28 Fred Meyer establishments and is expected to last until September 3.
PORTLAND, Ore. — 4,500 Fred Meyer employees in the Portland area walked off the job and formed picket lines Wednesday morning as members of UFCW Local 555 strike against what they say are unfair labor practices.
The 28 affected Fred Meyer stores remained open Wednesday, with the stores using temporary workers to maintain operations.
“We have workers out in numbers outside their stores. They are protesting unfair labor practices. These lines are strong and they are holding. These stores are empty,” said Miles Eshaia, communications coordinator for Local 555.
Negotiations between Kroger, Fred Meyer’s parent company, and Local 555 have been stalled over employee wages and pension funding. Local 555 accused Fred Meyer of sending a robocall to union members to talk about raising employee pensions. The union says no formal proposal on the issue has been made. “Fred Meyer needs to follow the law, they need to come to the table and present in private the proposals they present publicly,” Eshaia said.
In a statement released Tuesday, Fred Meyer said it remains committed to continuing dialogue with Local 555 and is confident the union’s allegations against it will be “proven without merit.”
“Fred Meyer and Kroger respect our associates’ right to collectively bargain. The company believes that associates should have a say in what is best for them and their families, because the bargaining process ultimately impacts their pay. From the beginning, our goal has always been to put more money in the pockets of our associates,” said Todd Kammeyer, president of Fred Meyer.
Customers shopping at the Fred Meyer store in Hollywood Wednesday morning had mixed reactions to the strike.
“I think they have a right to be here, I don’t know if they have a right to be on the property, but they have a right to picket and strike,” Leibowitz said.
“I personally do not support the general concept of the strike,” said Gabriel Alvarez, another customer.
Local 555 President Dan Clay is urging customers to find another place to shop during the strike: “We’re asking people to shop somewhere else. Safeway and Albertsons treat their customers better. This is a great alternative and we’re asking Oregonians to do the same.”
Negotiations between Fred Meyer and Local 555 are expected to resume Thursday and Friday.
