Workers at Fred Meyer and QFC in Oregon and Southwest Washington can look forward to increased wages and improved benefits, brought to a close after a long period of negotiation and a substantial strike.
The fruition of efforts by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555, the approved contract not only offers wage hikes but also maintains premier healthcare coverage, boosts dental benefits and fortifies retirement plans, according to a news release that highlights the positive outcome for over 11,000 workers, despite some earlier contentions such as a near-week long strike in early-September by about 4,500 employees who later called for a boycott overlapping with a major corporate trial; "This agreement ensures significant wage increases, maintains industry-leading healthcare coverage, enhances dental benefits, and strengthens retirement security for more than 11,000 workers," UFCW Local 555 stated, as per KGW.
In light of these developments, negotiations are ongoing with Albertsons and Safeway to secure similar terms as noted by Oregon Live, thus indicating that while two major stores have seen resolution, the broader battle for workers' benefits continues across the board.
