Fred Meyer and QFC workers end strike

Photo: Martin Lopez / Pexels

Workers at Fred Meyer and Quality Food Centers stores across Oregon returned to work this Saturday after the workers’ union struck a deal with grocery chains, ending the strike.

Workers began a week-long strike on Friday morning, claiming that supermarket chains were illegally withholding key information on the trading table .

But late on Friday, the union United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 announced an interim agreement and suspended the strike.

“We are pleased that Fred Meyer and QFC have recognized the danger to their workers, with a settlement agreement that provides significant pay increases, additional protections in the workplace, a secure retirement and quality health care , ”the union said in a statement.

Fred Meyer and QFC reported that this Saturday all their stores would be staffed, stocked and open to the public.

“We are so grateful to our associates at Fred Meyer and QFC for all they do for our customers and our community. That is why we have invested in their salaries, their health care and their retirement, ”said Dennis Gibson, president of Fred Meyer, in a statement.

“We will continue to do everything possible to balance investments in wages and general welfare, while keeping food affordable for our customers. We remain committed to our people and our Oregon community. ”

The union and the company have been negotiating new contracts since July, while the contracts expired in August. The union represents 7, 000 workers .