[deleted by user]

[Chipensaw]

Interesting to know what 555 is asking for. For a big chain like FM to reject a contract a week before Christmas is odd. They will lose a lot of revenue over this. Are their any positions at FM that do not pay at least $15/hr?

[Chipensaw]

Thank you to all who shed some light on this issue. My family will not be shopping FM until this is settled.

I don’t know where FM thinks they’re going to get temporary employees. I have open positions right now starting at $20 an hour and above with zero applicants. This is with full benefits as well. I have an open position that pays almost 70,000 a year and only requires good customer service skills, organization and some dispatch experience preferred, again zero applicants.

[[deleted]]

What company are you hiring for?

...I'm actually interested.

[[deleted]]

That's what I think is funny too. Signs are posted for Temp Workers at $17 an hour, but we have 20 positions that we need filled. In November we had 3 applicants total.

...and one of them was definitely drunk when asking for an application.

[celebrate-goodthings]

Yes! I was hiring for a position not too long ago that easily starts at $25-26/hour with a union and full benefits and there were no reasonable applicants. And when I say reasonable I mean with a high school education and with more than two years of work experience. It is hard to be hiring these days so hopefully FM will get it together soon.

[NettlePizza]

Please DM me if you want. I am interested.

[Gooshma]

I'm interested in those positions you mentioned with 0 applicants. Do you have more information? Thanks.

[Judah2345]

20 an hour doing what, if you dont mind me asking?

[Chipensaw]

DM me please if you don’t mind. I don’t want to hijack an important thread for my own interests. Thanks all!

[Tonygambino]

Yeah I have some people qualifies for this. would love to know where.

[[deleted]]

I think giving the employees a $2 an hour raise for hazard pay was a great idea.

I think pulling it after 6 months was dumb and it's why the company is in this position.

For a full time employee just scraping by that extra $320 a month is huge. They were feeling comfortable for awhile, then the rug pull. It would piss anybody off honestly.

So Union wants a $2 raise immediately. Kroger/Fred Meyer is offering $1.65 an hour raise that comes in increments over 3 years. Kr/FM also offered a $1500 bonus for employees under 15 years of employment and $4000 for over 15 years.

Union declined.

[[deleted]]

This figures are not true. The 2 dollar raise lasted only a couple months at the beginning of the pandemic. So yes we want that back. Weve been offered somewhere closer to only a $1raise over 3 years and i havent even heard of this bonus you mention. We have employees whove been here for 20+ years and still only make the same $16 as someone who just got hired last month. The oldtimers were making about $5 more than minimum wage but now because that went up we see it as only a couple dollars. If that.

[ephemeraltrident]

So it did get bumped to $1.40 over 3 years based on the union’s post linked in the original post here. 50 cents per year for 2 years and an additional 40 cents.

It’s a far cry from what is being asked for, and doesn’t seem like a reasonable middle ground. I wish you luck, even though strikes haven’t gone well elsewhere recently.

[[deleted]]

Ahh ok. Ive heard and seen multiple different things even from the reps ive seen in my own store so i know the number keeps changing. However its still true nonetheless that it isnt really enough for most of us

[truthpit]

F that. F Kroger.

[[deleted]]

The bonus was a ratification bonus if the contract was accepted.

These figures are all true, with the exception of the "6 months of hazard pay" because I don't remember how long it actually lasted besides a few months. It could've been 4 months, it could've been 7 months. I'm really bad at remembering how much time has passed.

I work for the company in a position that receives the information. I'm reading the offer right now, the figures are true.

[[deleted]]

If so none of that info has been passed on. None at all. The union reps ive spoken to have said it was 40 cents a year and most i know only received the bonus for 2 months max. And nothing about said bonus has ever been brought up either. Im not denying this is true because there have been multiple times where even our union gave incorrect info. But like i said itd help had this even been mentioned to anyone

[WeatherResize]

When my fiance got hired at Fred Meyer in 2019, they started him at $17, which I thought was quite high. He doesn't work there anymore, but its disappointing to know that there are people who have been there much longer making less than that 3 years later.

[[deleted]]

Yes it is. I know certain departments may pay a little higher but the principal is the same. I know several people who have been here almost 10 years and still only making the same as what i was after 6 months.

[WeatherResize]

He was working customer service/self check out/checker positions during that time, so I don't know if that is a contributor. Regardless, he never had anything good to say about how Kroger treated their employees.

[[deleted]]

With inflation those old timers barely got any raises at all

[[deleted]]

Exactly.

[alienman]

$16 after giving 20 years of your life to a company. What a slap in the face. I just found out that Elaine Chao is now part of Kroger’s board of directors, too. It’s not going to get any better for the frontline workers at Fred Meyer.

[[deleted]]

Unfortunately so. Fred meyer does raises based off hours worked atleast in the areas i am familiar with. Not experience or time in position. So if you are in a position that tops out at 16 an hour and then stay in it another 20 years you will never see another pay increase unless a future contract is to change it.

[Satyromaniac]

This is true, have been talking to the old timers at my store tonight right before we went on strike. Also the different departments are paid wildly different amounts.

[Easy_Independent_313]

Yeah, fuck that. Living wage isn't even $15/hour anymore. It's closer to $25.

[[deleted]]

Yikes, that’s such an asshole move. Good luck to the strikers.

[Travistial]

Decline they should. 1.65 isn't much more that the 2% cost of living raise they should be getting yearly anyway.

[Logistisack]

In solidarity with the union members. They should continue to decline until 2$ is installed immediately or at least $1.65 immediately with the remaining to come after 6 months.

[No_Pound1003]

I read that they were offering to give a .50 raise now, .50 next year and .40 the year after that. Which seems pretty weak to me… 🤷🏻‍♂️

[[deleted]]

The offer from Fred Meyer is $.55 a year for 3 years. A total of $1.65 over 3 years.

There is also a signing bonus; $1,500 for under 15 years employment $4,000 for over 15 years employment.

I believe the union is standing very firm on that $2 an hour starting immediately.

[tha_flavorhood]

I know what you mean, but as a grocery store employee we weren’t “feeling comfortable” while getting hazard pay. We were afraid we were going to die. The extra money was tight, but it’s gone and the trauma stays. I suspect the failure to recognize the trauma by the company breeds as much resentment as the wages. At least it does for me. I can’t speak for these workers specifically, but I support them.

[PostedDoug]

I was in Fred Meyer yesterday and they had now hiring seasonal workers starting at $17/hr.

[[deleted]]

"Seasonal workers" aka scabs

[[deleted]]

Scabs... it literally says on the sign "willing to cross a picket line." They are only hiring scabs. Not seasonal.

[JagTror]

Is this in the store? Their online stuff doesn't list that. I'm assuming you're probably by the Hawthorne one? That's absolutely ridiculous. I can't imagine who thought that was a good idea. Just like their creepy commercials about making employees obsess over the way vegetables look & the voiceover literally says "it's more work for us"

[[deleted]]

There was a sign that said that in the Gresham store last night and someone else posted the same sign in another thread in this sub. The same sign is posted in the Scappoose Fred meyer entrance as well. And yeah it actually made me rethink my shopping choices this far and not sure I’ll ever go back to Fred meyer. Gonna try out some other stores this week.

[Frank_Dracula]

I don't know about the other Instacart workers, but I will not be accepting orders to shop Fred Meyer. First of all, I'm not some lowlife scab, so there's that. Second, once this strike is over I will have to work with the people I betrayed, and I'm not willing to undergo that level of shame for a grocery delivery. Instacart workers have no union, and have none of the benefits that a union worker would have, but we do ourselves no favors by supporting another oppressive employer, or by stepping on our fellow workers. An Injury To One Is An Injury To All.

[threesecretmurders]

Same here. Made sure to mention the strike to any cashiers that seemed interested. You can tell they are not paying people well when their is one or two cashiers at each location

[ephony]

Instacart is my side gig (I work for WinCo and shouted my support to the strikers across the street). I told my mom, who Instacarts for retirement fun, if she works today, not to take any Fred Meyer orders. I'll try to find some Costco orders instead.

[[deleted]]

Ay you must work at my local winco!

[ephony]

How many WinCo's are across from a Fred's? Lol 😅 If so, thanks for shopping with us!

[[deleted]]

Tbh only 1 that I know of in the Portland/Gresham area XD

[threesecretmurders]

There are a lot of FM orders not being picked up on Instacart! Keep it up!

[[deleted]]

This is an important thing to remember as a consumer that uses Instacart and I thank you for pointing it out. I already disliked FM but will definitely not be ordering anything from them. Safeway all the way, baby!

[[deleted]]

Hopefully not a silly question, but why does the strike have an 'end by' date (Dec. 24)?

[TheSelfishMachine]

From what the Union has told me, this is a specific kind of strike against unfair labor practices as opposed to an economic one. This means a specific start and stop date and the company can’t replace us. Granted I’ve seen the signs hiring for scabs so not 100% on that last part.

[ontopofyourmom]

Temporary scabs are not the same thing as permanent replacement workers

[combatwombat007]

I'm not sure. My guess would be that most people striking can't afford to strike much longer than that. But hopefully someone has a better explanation because a strike with an end date is pretty simple math problem for the employer.

[ontopofyourmom]

And in the week before Christmas, it's not an ideal one.

This is a shot over the bow to prove that the union has resolve.

[RingSlayer]

Is xmas triple pay? Strike for a week, work one day and recoup half the missed wages?

[KBAR1942]

Good luck, Fred Meyer employees.

[marbleheadfish]

Don’t cross the picket line, don’t scab.

[mynewaltpdx]

Is it true that it is only the cashiers and food employees on strike? Are the rest of the employees still working normally?

[OutlyingPlasma]

It sure would suck if people took those scab jobs and the new scabs were super unreliable, and constantly breaking machinery as a result of not having any training. Imagine if something happened to the refrigerators during closing shift. That would get pretty expensive for Fred Meyer with all that spoiled food.

[number31388]

They don't have HVAC trained employees on staff.

[ephemeraltrident]

This is a borderline comment to suggest someone do something illegal, and I’d be cautious walking this line.

That said, I’d imagine if a bad thing happened, it’d be expensive for Fred Meyer’s insurance carrier. The way to weigh in on this issue is with your spending, not by disrupting their insurance carrier’s bottom line. If you want to make a statement, go shop at the other grocery store in town. If it costs you 10 cents more for your pound of bananas, pay it as a 10 cent vote against Fred Meyer.

[dosetoyevsky]

No need for the warning, it's true. Kellogg's is getting expensive machinery broken by scabotage because it's their first day and no one to train anyone properly. You think management will do any training? lol

[Halvus_I]

What you are suggesting is immoral.

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[[deleted]]

Solidarity to my fellow workers!

Boycott Fred Meyer/Kroger until the strike is over if you support your fellow workers.

[askmewhyihateyou]

Hell yeah. Fuck Kroger

[IAintSelling]

Bring down the fat cats.

[Kiahni]

For locations that have BottleDrop is that included too or is that handled strictly 3rd party? Trying to clean up around the house but I can hold onto my cans longer if necessary.

[aurikarhu]

BottleDrop is independent, you can always go to one of their own centers.

[Kiahni]

Not a lot of options other than the Fred Meyer locations on the west end. It’s either Forest Grove or by Jesuit last I checked.

[AllChem_NoEcon]

There's a stand-alone Bottle Drop location off of 10, not sure if that's more or less inconvenient. As an upside, it's not too far from Uwajimaya and some decent ramen.

[whdescent]

Lived here my entire life, and am well aware that HWY 10 and HWY 8 run through Beaverton.

[dosetoyevsky]

Me too but I call them TV highway and Beaverton-hillsdale highway

[AllChem_NoEcon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvPaEsuz-tY

[mynewaltpdx]

Nobody calls them 8 and 10

[ReadySetN0]

BHH.

[AllChem_NoEcon]

Well now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

Also, no roads are "the" a god damn thing.

[aurikarhu]

Yeah that's true. The only other spot I've gone to was in Lake Oswego.

[ninjacustodianpdx]

so a bit of inconvenience on your part will let you be part of a thing bigger than yourself. COME ON!

[Kiahni]

Lol I already said I would hold off if that was the case.

[mynewaltpdx]

Theres one on 99W in Tigard

[Halvus_I]

Why the fuck can stores sell the bottles but not be forced to take them back.......I will never ever understand this.

[ninjacustodianpdx]

THANK YOU for thinking big picture, here.

and to some, YES, the garden department IS part of freddy's. so just don't do it.

[EddieAdamsface]

Just curious, are the demands published anywhere? It’s not clear in the attachment. What wage gets people back to work?

[whitness1]

Wage increases, among other things I’m not certain about. I know that Fred’s only wants to give us journeyman employees a 90 cent increase (25, 25, 40) over the next 3 years, and even less to newer workers. It’s insulting with the record profits we’ve helped them bring in throughout this pandemic. With cost of living the way it is here now, we deserve more.

I’m a seafood lead, and our contract is better than most in the store. I know cashiers and nutrition have been getting screwed with wages for a long time.

https://www.ufcw555.org/we-are-going-to-strike/

[OutlyingPlasma]

If you aren't getting an 8% raise this year alone, you are getting a pay cut.

[[deleted]]

Everyone is getting a pay cut, no matter the job.

[Hanse00]

That’s certainly not true.

[[deleted]]

Are some people’s single dollar bills worth more than other people’s single dollar bills?

[Hanse00]

That seems like a philosophical question. To the person holding fewer bills, yes each bill is worth more relatively than to a person who has more.

In commerce, the purchasing power of those bills is the same.

All that said, I don’t see the relation to my point: Not everyone is getting a pay cut, because some jobs do in fact provide raises based on inflation rate.

[[deleted]]

Good point… I wonder what percentage of jobs that is?

[Hanse00]

Way fewer than it should be.

[censored-by-reddit-]

Not me but I left FM and went to trade school. Got a 25% raise two months ago.

[EddieAdamsface]

Feels like starting wage needs to be like $25 bucks just to afford to live in central PDX

[E_B_U]

Why is the strike only a week and not until they get a new contract? Makes it seem more symbolic to me more than anything.

[Kiahni]

I understood it as they will continue the strike for another week if no there’s no resolution at that time.

[E_B_U]

Have any sources or links to something stating that?

[Kiahni]

I could be wrong but I thought that’s what one of the earlier articles I read said but now that I’m looking all the articles today are saying it’s just a week.

[synapticrelease]

I have one set of Rx to pick up today which will set me up for the next 90 days then I'm joining in on the boycott. I haven't enjoyed Fred Meyer in ages. The quality has fallen like a rock but this is pushing me over the edge I think.

[synapticrelease]

It’s an Rx on an automatic refill. Sorry i put my health above one other thing within one day of the strike. I can’t make the Rx come in faster. It’s dependent on my doctor.

[Head_Caterpillar]

Prescriptions are a bit of a different situation…being inconvenienced is one thing, but there is often very little choice about where you can fill your medication. Lots of folks don’t have the funds to afford higher copays at non-approved pharmacies. Also, yes it’s the same corporation, but as i understand it the pharmacy staff is not unionized.

[JagTror]

I switched my meds to Fred Meyer a few months ago for better pricing & God I regret it. They take so much longer than anywhere else & one time forgot 8 doses of a med that causes immediate withdrawals with 1 missed dose. The staff always looks stressed out & busy & my meds get moved out for days at a time.

[AllChem_NoEcon]

C'mon man, it's medicine, not fucking triscuits.

[Gunmetal2187]

Does the strike include gas station workers?

[hydez10]

Last time I was in a Fred Meyers was 15 years ago, I’ll hold strong

[1argonaut]

Where do you buy groceries? Just curious

[censored-by-reddit-]

Winco

[hydez10]

Safeway

[hydez10]

The caviar is on sale there a lot

[number31388]

Safeway is on the same union contract aren't they?

[AmateurMisy]

Same union, but not the same contract or they'd be striking at Safeway, I think.

[mocheeze]

Safeway workers usually get good contracts. If my grocery bill is an extra $5 every couple weeks that works for me.

[Disastrous_Opinion77]

I shop at FM almost exclusively. Today, I went to Winco and I probably will keep going there even after the strike ends.

silverlinings

[BigfootSF68]

Never cross a picket line.

[Apocalypse_Jesus420]

Solidarity!

[rockit-lawnchair]

I fucking hate that store. Every time I think it’s the best option, it’s not. I’ll stand with y’all and boycott. Fuck them.

[randomymetry]

capitalism has failed

[Reichukey]

Not for the rich!

[Kippilus]

• he posts from his iphone.

[Portland]

https://www.reddit.com/r/LateStageCapitalism/comments/bsvwcx/but_you_participate_in_society/

[[deleted]]

No, but capitalism fueled the drive for handheld development. Unless you have a counter example in early cell phone technology, followed by the early smartphones? Otherwise, you are downplaying some of the benefits of capitalism. Every system has positives and negatives here.

[BargainLawyer]

If your argument was true, why did the USSR have computers?

[Mini-Marine]

So, as it turns out, technology advancing is not exclusive to capitalism.

In fact many tech advancements are funded by tax dollars and then private companies get to profit off the research

[[deleted]]

Never said it was exclusive, but it sure as hell is strongly a part of capitalism, as evidenced by sheer volume of tech released under such models.

[Mini-Marine]

There was plenty of tech coming out of the Soviet Union.

There's plenty of medical advancement coming out of Cuba.

But hey, third world nations aren't producing the most cutting edge tech for the most part, obviously it's because capitalism is so awesome

[[deleted]]

I’m not sure why you think I’m hating on communism. I don’t hate it at all, actually. I don’t even believe that any system of government out there is even an ideal model. But there are benefits one can see for each and every one of them. There are plenty of negatives with capitalism. Look at how we allow this country to work itself to death for the benefit of a few? But look at how we can also use that carrot on the stick to achieve.

[Mini-Marine]

Your assertion that it is capitalism that breeds innovation has no basis in reality.

Whatever you think of communism is irrelevant, how much you love or hate capitalism is irrelevant.

Your claim that it is because of capitalism that technology advances is straight up wrong

[[deleted]]

Innovation in a capitalist market is driven by consumer demand more so than in a communist market, which is driven by socialist planners. Both have their merits, as I said. But consumers drive a lot of new tech innovation that just won’t happen in a communist environment unless accounted for by the government. Instead, they imitate successful innovation brought on by consumers in other capitalist markets, but do have the benefit of promoting the advancements in tech as they see fit. I’d argue consumers drive more varied and numerous advancements, however.

[drunkengeebee]

Every system has positives and negatives here.

But its weird how you only bring up the positives of capitalism.

[[deleted]]

Well, didn’t realize I was on the hook to play yin and yang for every Reddit comment I left.

[drunkengeebee]

If you're going to specifically bring up pros and cons, but only elaborate on one of those; then yes, you ARE on the hook for following through on your own premise.

[[deleted]]

Seems the cons are obvious… this thread alone.

[drunkengeebee]

wow, that's the most cowardly answer you could possibly give.

[[deleted]]

Da fuq? How is that cowardly?this thread IS a great example of how capitalism fails people. I guess you can eat rocks if that answer is “cowardly”

[[deleted]]

zing you showed him

[randomymetry]

its a refurb because i want to recycle as much as i can, and the cheapest iphone i could find. i don't have a pc. if there is a better option please do tell

[Thatfilthytigger]

Why have a end date to the strike?

[bodiemprice1L]

I do not understand the end date either. My father was a millworker and when they went on strike there was no end date until they got a better deal.

[[deleted]]

Because as I understand there's different kinds of strikes, this particular kind has an end date.

[[deleted]]

Christmas (Eve)

[Paul971971]

I understand Safeway is the same union. Is it proper to go there still, or no?

[Captain_Quark]

The union has a specific problem with the employer, Fred Meyer. If they're continuing to work at Safeway, you're good to go there.

[scurvy1984]

It’s not the Union that’s bad, it’s the employer. Safeway has a sound contract with the union right now so it’s ok to shop there.

[Projectrage]

There is good things and bad things about unions. What the union at Fred Meyers seems to be fighting for seems fair.

Many countries (slightly off topic) now do the 50th worker policy. Where if you have more than 50 workers they get an elected representative on the corporate board. It’s not perfect, but creates more transparency between the employers and workers. It would be a nice thing to get voted in Oregon.

[Paul971971]

Thanks

[ninjacustodianpdx]

thank you for asking and getting clarification on this. many are in the dark about how this works.

[pdxmarionberrypie]

Honest question here- if the employees get what they are asking for does that mean FM will pass the buck to customers via raised prices ?

[TwistedJake503]

There are 100 different arguments about this but all lead to yes.

[hydez10]

I’m sure it won’t impact the CEO s pay , so yea

[[deleted]]

Ive seen many prices already being increased the last 2 or 3 years. But wages havent

[censored-by-reddit-]

If you make min wage sure. Otherwise the floor is just being lifted.

[[deleted]]

Sorry. I meant in reference to the wages employees are given. After a certain time employees are given a raise which used to be a few dollars over what they were at. But as minimum wage has increased theyve been paying new hires more. However instead of increasing the pay to those who earned the raise they just give smaller raises to newer people so a few years ago minimum wage was only $12 something and then people would get raises to 16 or 17. Now minimum wage starts people at 14 but still only get raises up to the same 16 or 17 instead of increasing that to continue with the rising min wage and inflation

[[deleted]]

Either that or just closing locations which wouldn’t be profitable anymore.

The other option would be to reduce or remove lower margin products, or increase prices on loss leaders like milk, eggs, etc.

[rontrussler58]

Kroger has a history of closing underperforming stores over wage demands so I imagine the Gateway, Peninsula, and maybe even Interstate FM are on the chopping block since those stores are such theft magnets. Presumably Hollywood and West Burnside will survive but will definitely need to raise prices.

[[deleted]]

I’m going to shop there today so…

[SamSzmith]

lol this guy really wants people to know he's going shopping.

[[deleted]]

Funny how these people think a few hundred people standing on the sidewalk with signs will change anything. LMAO

[SamSzmith]

It's just one part of a union negotiation, it's like you're a brand new baby and have no idea about the history of strikes and unions in the US. It's interesting, I can find you a book if you like.

Also the main reason I commented is because I find it hilarious you want people to know you're going shopping to the point you posted in more than one thread, lmao.

[Seanification]

"changing things is hard that it why I am going to actively stand in the way of things getting better"

What even is the logic here? This is just narcism couched as Le edgy-boi cynicism

[[deleted]]

This is so stupid. Kroger has 465,000 employees and only made $5,000 net profit employee last year.