Salem Fred Meyer, Safeway strikes possible in September as grocery workers demand higher wages

Salem's Fred Meyer and Safeway stores could see strikes as early as next month as one of Oregon's largest private labor unions wraps up voting on whether to let its bargaining team authorize employee walkouts.

Salem-area employees represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 555 voted "overwhelmingly" in favor of authorizing a strike, said union spokeswoman Kelley McAllister.

The votes took place earlier this month at the Salem Convention Center over three members-only meetings.

The Local 555 represents about 25,000 workers in Oregon and southwest Washington and is seeking higher wages for employees.

"The employers are refusing to meet our proposals with wage increases that would allow us to make ends meet and survive and thrive in our communities," McAllister said. "No one should work this hard for inadequate compensation." 

Whether or not a strike would affect stores across the entire state remained unclear Tuesday. "I think anything's possible," she said.

Three Fred Meyer stores operate on the city's north, east and south sides. Safeway also has at least three Salem locations. Spokespeople for the companies could not immediately be reached for comment.

Should a strike be authorized by the bargaining team — which consists of union members, officials and staff — customers could expect to see picket lines outside stores. Union officials also would ask customers to shop elsewhere and not cross the picket lines, McAllister said.

If the strike were authorized, the union would give recommendations of places to shop instead, she said. "We never want to leave our customers in the lurch."

Additional meetings on whether to authorize a strike are taking place in eastern Oregon over the coming days, including Pendleton, Enterprise and La Grande.

Union leaders will know the vote count after the final meeting Saturday in Baker City, McAllister said. "I'll be announcing the results as soon as possible after that meeting."

However, she pointed out that workers across the state authorizing a strike doesn't necessarily mean one will actually happen.

The decision to strike, as well as which stores to target, would be decided by the bargaining team. A deadline on that front to watch is Aug. 29, which is the next time negotiators and employers meet. Even then, nothing could happen.

"It could go any number of ways," McAllister said.

The Salem votes come after Portland-area workers voted to authorize a strike against Fred Meyer, QFC, Safeway and Albertsons.

"The employers seem to be under the impression that our members will be thrilled with increases of nickels and dimes," Local 555 President Dan Clay said in July.

"I, along with our member-comprised bargaining team, believe our hard-working members deserve much, much more," Clay said in a statement. "A strike vote identifies where our membership stands on this issue."

MORE NEWS:

• Salem Costco:State orders second look as PacTrust sues city for nearly $10 million
• Salem Alliance Church:Why a megachurch is buying up a Salem neighborhood

Jonathan Bach has been a business and City Hall reporter with the Statesman Journal since 2016. To support his work, Subscribe to the Statesman Journal. Contact him by email at jbach@statesmanjournal.com, call (503) 399-6714 or follow him on Twitter @jonathanmbach.