PORTLAND, Oregon — 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 locations remained open on Wednesday, as stores have brought in temporary workers to keep things operational.
“We have workers in force out front of their stores. They are protesting unfair labor practices. Those lines are strong, and they are holding. Those stores are empty,” said Miles Eshaia, communications coordinator for Local 555.
Negotiations between Fred Meyer’s parent company Kroger and Local 555 stalled over employee wages and retirement funding. Local 555 has accused Fred Meyer of sending out a robocall to union members which talks about increasing employee pensions. The union says an official proposal on that issue hasn’t been offered. “Fred Meyer needs to follow the law, they need to actually come to the bargaining table and put proposals out privately that they are putting out publicly,” said Eshaia.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Fred Meyer says it remains committed to an ongoing dialogue with Local 555 and are confident the union’s allegations against them will be “proven unfounded.”
“Fred Meyer and Kroger respects our associates’ right to collectively bargain. 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,” said Fred Meyer President Todd Kammeyer.
Customers shopping at the Hollywood Fred Meyer location on Wednesday morning had mixed reactions about the strike.
“I think they have a right to be out here, I don’t know if they have a right to be on the property, but they have a right to picket and strike,” explained Neil Leibowitz.
"The overall concept of the strike, I personally, I don’t condone it,” said Gabriel Alvarez, another shopper.
President of Local 555 Dan Clay urges customers to find a different place to grocery shop while the strike is ongoing: “We are asking people to just shop somewhere else. Safeway and Albertsons, they treat their people better. It’s a great place to go as an alternative, and we would ask that Oregonians do that.”
Negotiations between Fred Meyer and Local 555 are scheduled to resume on Thursday and Friday.