Strike Looms Over Fred Meyer QFC Workers

TIGARD, Ore– Fred Meyer and QFC Workers could walk off the job tomorrow Friday December 17, 2021.  Workers tell FM News 101 KXL  they are frustrated on several levels. People are not always coming to work . Those employees who do show up everyday are overworked .  They say they are exhausted.  Customers  have been frustrated because there aren’t enough store  staff to help them.

29 thousand QFC and Fred Meyer employees have voted to strike after bargaining with parent company Kroger for the past 6 months . The union representing them UFCW local 555 sites unfair Labor practices. As an example, Fred Meyer has refused to provide the union with information to negotiate a new contract and file grievances.  Wages are also an issue.  The union says what employees are paid isn’t keeping up with inflation. The union also says employee wages are not keeping up with the cost of living. The two sides spent the last couple of days t the bargaining table.   No word on how those talks progressed or not.

In part of a statement put out by Fred Meyer, “A Strike authorization doesn’t mean a strike our current offer shows our commitment to the whole person providing wage increases, affordable health care and pension benefits.”