Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Thousands of Portland-area Fred Meyer employees went on strike recently. Members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555, the largest private sector union in Oregon, voted "overwhelmingly" to ratify a new three-year contract. The contract covers 11,000 workers for Fred Meyer and QFC stores in Oregon and southwest Washington. The contract provides higher wages, stronger health care, stable retirement and allows the union to better address contract violations.
"This agreement ensures significant wage increases, maintains industry-leading healthcare coverage, enhances dental benefits, and strengthens retirement security for more than 11,000 workers," Local 555 said.
"This contract is a victory for members of Local 555, who showed strength and solidarity throughout the entire fight," said Dan Clay, president of the local. "It was won by union workers coming together and by a community standing with them."