PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Fred Meyer is facing a boycott called by the grocery workers union as contract negotiations for higher pay continue to drag on.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, the union representing several major grocery stores employees, wants shoppers to stop going to Fred Meyer stores. They’re accusing the company of harassing some workers because they’re union members.
“We had people reporting to us that they were told they are worthless and can be replaced with people off the street and they should stop being part of the union,” said UFCW spokesperson Kelley McAllister.
But Fred Meyer said it does not tolerate coercion or intimidation and that those allegations are not true.
The union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board and wants stores in Oregon and Southwest Washington boycotted.
“We see the call to action to boycott Fred Meyer as not helping the negotiation process and could hurt our associates,” Fred Meyer spokesperson Jeffrey Temple said.
Contract talks have been underway for more than a year. The 20,000 union workers with Fred Meyer — and other grocers like Safeway and Albertsons — voted to authorize a strike. But that strike has not been called as negotiations continue.
Bargaining talks for all the grocery store workers are set for later this week.
KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.