On August 29 and August 30, your Bargaining Committee met with representatives from Kroger, Fred Meyer and QFC for our 6th bargaining session.
Our Union and the employer originally had two dates scheduled, but ended up bargaining through the night August 30 and into August 31.
While your Bargaining Committee and the employer had productive discussions, our critical points of concern were still not addressed. After the last 3 days of bargaining, Fred Meyer is still not offering wage increases that address the Union’s concerns around the cost of living in our communities and that close the gap between the different classifications and different areas of Oregon and Washington. They are still not living up to their promise to improve your retirement / pension. While bargaining has concluded for today, please know they can call and continue to bargain at any time.
On August 28, our Union members working under the Portland area Fred Meyer Grocery and Meat contracts went out on a Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike that is ongoing and scheduled to end at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, September 3. Members are protesting Fred Meyer’s violations of Federal law.
Our striking Union members have done an incredible job holding the line and letting Fred Meyer know, loud and clear, that they are done with the disrespect, done with the broken promises, and done being left behind.
To our striking Union members: keep up the energy and excitement on the picket lines. To all other Union members still working under contract: what better way to celebrate Labor Day weekend than by holding Fred Meyer accountable to the law and joining a picket line on your time off? We look forward to seeing you out there!
Our next scheduled bargaining sessions are on September 11 and September 12. We will keep you updated after our next bargaining session.