Employees at Fred Meyer stores across the Portland metro area launched a strike early last Wednesday morning, impacting all 28 locations in the region. The strike began at 6 a.m. and is set to last until 8 a.m. Tuesday, September 3, unless an agreement is reached sooner between the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555 and the company.*
The unionized employees, numbering approximately 4,500 grocery and meat workers—including stockers and cashiers—took to picketing to communicate their grievances and to discourage customers from entering the stores, urging them to shop elsewhere during the strike. Signs were prominently displayed outside various locations, including the Hollywood West store in Northeast Portland, which opened later than usual and was conducting on-the-spot interviews for temporary workers.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Fred Meyer announced that all impacted stores would remain open during the strike, a decision that has raised questions among shoppers about the ongoing situation. UFCW 555 representatives highlighted that while the strike has been planned for weeks, the specific dates were only announced less than 24 hours before it commenced.
The union’s action is characterized as a “ULP strike,” or Unfair Labor Practices strike, primarily aimed at protesting what UFCW 555 claims are violations of U.S. labor law by Fred Meyer. The union accuses the company of engaging in bad faith bargaining by withholding key information from the negotiating team and misleading employees regarding pension funding proposals.
“The circumstances are similar to past strikes, as we are currently in contract negotiations, but our primary focus is on the company’s failure to negotiate in good faith,” said Miles Eshaia, UFCW 555 communications coordinator.
Although the strike coincides with ongoing discussions about the merger between Fred Meyer’s parent company, Kroger, and Albertsons, UFCW 555 has made it clear that their grievances are specific to Fred Meyer and not related to the merger. This recent strike follows a history of labor actions in Portland, including a notable strike at Fred Meyer in December 2021.
Kroger and Albertsons have argued that the merger is essential for competing against other major players like Walmart. However, concerns from local officials and federal regulators about potential price increases and decreased competition have cast doubt on the proposal.
