While Other Retailers Close Their Doors in Portland, Fred Meyer Doubles Down on Keeping Theirs Open for Customers & Investing in Associates

Historical Wage Investment Underscores Commitment to Associates While Ensuring Groceries Stay Affordable for Customers

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Portland, OR (August 19, 2024) – While many retailers in the Portland area have recently closed their doors, Fred Meyer remains steadfast in its commitment to their associates, customers, and the community. Fred Meyer continues to honor this commitment by presenting UFCW Local 555 with a historical offer investing $37 million in associate wages, while keeping groceries affordable for their customers.

This proposal includes substantial hourly wage increases, with up to 8% in the first year alone, and a total increase up to 17% over the three-year agreement. This investment will impact nearly 4,500 associates across Portland and Bend.

“While countless retailers have left Portland, Fred Meyer remains committed to investing in our associates with competitive pay while also ensuring our doors stay open and groceries remain affordable for our customers,” said Todd Kammeyer, President of Fred Meyer.

To further demonstrate their commitment, the company is offering all the associates under the contract a one-time ratification bonuses of up to $4,000, based on years of service. This offer not only puts more money in their associates’ pockets but also promises to deliver stability and avoid unnecessary disruption if accepted.

What Does This Mean for Our Associates?

For example, a full-time grocery clerk with five years of experience would see their compensation grow as follows:

By the end of this three-year agreement, a full-time grocery clerk with five years of experience would earn $52,728 annually excluding affordable healthcare and generous pension benefits.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, this salary investment, without benefits, are complimentary to the average earnings of an Emergency Medical Tech and Pre-school Teacher in the Oregon market. Additionally, the average hourly rate of a cashier in Oregon is $16.53, resulting in a $6.82 higher hourly rate at Fred Meyer.

Fred Meyer remains focused securing a deal with Local 555 that invests more in their associates while keeping groceries affordable for their customers. For more details on ongoing negotiations and the benefits offered to Portland and Bend associates, please visit www.FredMeyerCBA.com.

About Fred Meyer

Fred Meyer Stores, headquartered in Portland, OR, is a division of The Kroger Co. We operate 132 multi-department stores across four western states, providing one-stop shopping with over 250,000 products under one roof. More than 33,000 Fred Meyer associates serve customers in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Each year, Fred Meyer contributes nearly $5 million to Northwest communities through grants, product donations, and sponsorships. Additionally, we donate over 5 million pounds of food annually to local food banks through our Food Rescue Program.

For more information, please visit our website at www.fredmeyer.com.