PORTLAND, Ore. — Workers at Powell's Books have voted to authorize a possible strike amid ongoing union contract negotiations with the famous independent Portland bookstore. The union announced the results of the vote Wednesday, and said the strike authorization received 92% approval.
The vote does not mean a strike will necessarily happen, but it authorizes the union's bargaining team to call for a strike at its discretion. The union said it has asked the bookstore to continue negotiations at the bargaining table, but that the vote signals that it will "respond accordingly" if the company does not do so.
The union added that it is asking the public for support, but is not calling for a boycott of the bookstore.
"If that ever changes, we'll be really loud about it," the union wrote on Facebook.
The next bargaining dates are scheduled for Aug. 24 and 28.
The Facebook post said the union is seeking "a living wage and access to affordable health care" and a contract that "reflects (workers') contributions to the company's success." Earlier Facebook posts also criticized an annual wage increase proposal from the company that the union said would "keep many workers below a living wage for the life of the contract," and argued that the company's proposals were worse than the previous contract.
"The big focus has been kind of a living wage, or at least a path to a living wage," said Michelle Carroll, who works in the marketing department at Powell's and is a member of the bargaining team for the union. "We have a lot of testimonials that have gone out from folks throughout this fight, around just how detrimental it is to even miss a day of work when you are in this low-wage place.
"I know we had a worker who was talking about the difficult choice between choosing between like food and rent and medicine. We're trying to get folks to a living wage so that people can breathe," Carroll said.
The starting wage in the latest proposal from Powell's was $16.25, she said.
Powell's workers are affiliated with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 5, and have been unionized since 1999. Earlier Facebook posts from the union indicate that the current round of contract bargaining has been ongoing since February, and that the contract currently under negotiation will be the union's eighth with the company.
KGW reached out to Powell's Books for comment and the store provided the following statement:
"ILWU Local 5 has informed Powell's Books that the union would like to meet again and we remain committed to the bargaining process. Though we have not been informed directly of a strike vote or an intent to strike, we deeply value our employees and respect their right to engage in protected union activity.
"Powell's Books has successfully engaged in contract negotiations with ILWU Local 5 for more than two decades, each time finding common ground that unites us. Our latest proposal includes immediate wage increases and further upholds excellent healthcare benefits that allow us to remain competitive in a challenging economic environment for retail. We are hopeful that we will reach an agreement soon that is sustainable and honors our employees."