STRIKE THREAT SECURES INDUSTRY-LEADING CONTRACT FOR NEW SEASONS WORKERS.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, OR.
Members of New Seasons Labor Union - UE Local 1010 have voted by a margin of 98% to approve a first collective bargaining agreement with New Seasons Market, averting a planned Christmas strike.
The contract covers 853 workers at 10 stores across the Portland Metro Area (Arbor Lodge, Cedar Hills, Concordia, Grant Park, Hawthorne, Sellwood, Seven Corners, Slabtown, University Park, Williams).
New Seasons workers spent the past several months organizing strike committees in their union, voted by a margin of over 80% to authorize a strike, and gave the company a deadline to produce an acceptable offer. In the final days before the union’s deadline, New Seasons improved its position on starting wages significantly, dropped its take-back demands around health insurance, and agreed to scheduling provisions including seniority-based weekends, 12 hours of mandatory rest time between shifts and a maximum of five consecutive days of work.
“We hope that this contract can raise standards for the whole industry, and show that the way to make our jobs better is to be willing to fight”, said Norah Rivera, the union's Co-Chair.
The lowest-paid members will see an immediate raise of 16.5%, and the median wage for represented employees will rise to $23.37/hr. More than 95% of members will make over $20/hr. The minimum rate for new hires will start at $19/hr and adjust to compensate for inflation through annual cost of living adjustments.
Workers also won improved working conditions. Cashiers will now have the option to sit down. All employees will have “just cause” standards to protect their employment along with a grievance procedure for settling disputes with management.
All of the wins achieved by New Seasons Labor Union were made through years of bargaining, but ultimately would not have been possible without a credible strike threat and powerful strike authorization vote.
“The cost of living adjustments that NSLU members have ratified were won through the concerted pressure of the Reinstate Randy strike in January/February of this year. Some of the biggest wins within our contract were made possible through the direct action of our rank and file holding down picket lines for nine days straight, and through the continued solidarity of our membership. This contract was hard fought, and will uplift the lives of hundreds of grocery workers throughout the Portland Metro Area”, said Veronica McShane, the union’s Communications Co-Chair.
With the ratification vote concluded, and the TA overwhelmingly approved, NSLU’s contract is now in effect. New Seasons Labor Union has officially called off its year-long boycott of New Seasons, and encourages Portlanders to shop there during the holiday season.
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PRESS CONTACTS:
Email: newseasonslaborunion@gmail.com
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