PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Over 1,000 New Seasons grocery store workers are on strike on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.
However, stores won't be shutting down, the company said. The 11 New Seasons stores where the strikes are happening are only about half of the locations in the greater Portland metro area.
Even at the stores where strikes are happening, they'll still be open, though workers are urging shoppers to boycott them in solidarity.
On Nov. 22, unionized workers with the New Season Labor Union announced plans to strike on the eve of the major holiday, claiming the company has committed “numerous ongoing unfair labor practices.”
“What we hope to accomplish is to show the company that we are strong as a union and that we’re not afraid to stand up for what we believe is right. And we will continue to show that to the company no matter how long they try to fight us," said Maxwell Romprey, a striking New Seasons worker.
“We are out here on the most financially impactful day of the year for the company,” said Maggie Myers, a New Seasons worker on the picket line. “And we’re hoping to end the strike today. We are also calling for a boycott. So between today and the boycott, we hope that that’ll be enough pressure to get the company to work with us in good faith on the contract.”
Along with the one-day strike, the 1,100-member labor organization is asking shoppers to boycott the chain throughout the holiday season.
“We have always had support from our community in our fight for a fair contract, and the number one way that customers can support us now is by refusing to shop at New Seasons this holiday season, and joining us on the picket line on Wednesday,” Sellwood Chapter Representative Jimbo Heiner said in the original announcement.
In response, New Seasons announced it would remain open during regular business hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday despite the demonstrations, and claimed that “many stores will remain unimpacted.”
“New Seasons Market staff are the heart of our business, and we respect the NSLU’s right to engage in this protected activity, which is common during collective bargaining. We remain focused on minimizing disruption so we can provide our customers with the service they’ve come to expect from New Seasons Market,” a New Seasons spokesperson said. “We’ve always appreciated our staff’s passion and the expression of their rights.”
However, NSLU members recently claimed the company has “refused” to offer employees a deal that would prevent the strike.
These 11 locations will be affected by the strike, which received 82% approval in the authorization vote.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.
