PORTLAND, Ore. — This story comes from the Portland Business Journal, a KGW news partner.
Portland-area Fred Meyer employees voted to authorize a strike over alleged unfair labor practices during contract negotiations.
The members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 gave "overwhelming support" to a strike plan in voting last week, according to the union.
No date has been set for a strike, but the vote "authorizes Local 555 Leadership to call for a ULP strike to encourage Fred Meyer to follow Federal labor laws."
Local 555 represents about 4,500 Fred Meyer employees.
The union accuses Fred Meyer management of wage discrepancies among stores and departments and unfair labor practices including withholding essential information during negotiations and not processing grievances.
UFCW Local 555 also recently rescinded its endorsement of the planned $24.6 billion merger of Fred Meyer owner Kroger (NYSE: KR) and Albertsons (NYSE: ACI), which operates Safeway stores. It previously had been the only union to support the deal.
The massive merger of the country's two largest operators of traditional supermarkets is the focus of an antitrust case underway in Oregon.
