Following marathon negotiations on December 17th between UFCW Local 555 and Bimbo Bakeries USA, the union negotiating committee reached a fully-recommended settlement with the company.

Highlights of the proposed contract offer included a 60% reduction in monthly out-of-pocket health insurance premiums, the addition of stepchildren, stepparents, and grandchildren covered by funeral leave, political dues checkoff, wage increases amounting to 75 cents over the four years of the contract and protection against increased medical costs for union members and their families during the life of the agreement.
Bargaining unit members were ably represented by committee members Robin Brown (Albany) and Cindy Huffman (Beaverton) and chief negotiator, Brad Witt.

“Cindy and Robin are to be congratulated for their enormous contributions in obtaining the fully-recommended settlement,” said Witt. “They alone deserve credit for our Oroweat members getting wage increases in all four years of the contract . No question about it,” he emphasized, “those two ladies brought home the bacon for their co-workers.”

The settlement offer was overwhelmingly approved by a vote of the membership during a ratification meeting held on Tuesday night, January 19th at Local 555 headquarters in Tigard.

Today, November 9, 2009, your union trustees were victorious in their pursuit of the requested arbitration.  In an affirming decision by federal courts, the employer trustees were forced to enter expedited arbitration with the union trustees. We are pleased with the courts decision and believe that this will allow us to continue protecting the membership as a whole.

We have had many struggles over the last year, and today gives us a great example of how taking a stand on important issues that affect our members, while not always the easy or fast thing, is the right thing to do.

Your pension is overseen by a board of trustees. These trustees include five employer trustees and five union trustees.  Over the last year the employer trustees have refused pension relief offered by the federal government which would allow more time to deal responsibly with the financial problems of today brought on by the current economic climate.

Your union trustees have actively encouraged the employer trustees to do the right thing and accept the assistance provided through the WRERA. Unfortunately the employers have refused to make decisions that are in the best interest of the membership as a whole. Further, the employer trustees have refused to allow a neutral third party to resolve this dispute as has been the custom for Pension plans.  On your behalf, your union trustees filed suit against the employer trustees to force arbitration that will allow for the two sides to resolve this issue in the best interest of those covered under the pension.

Over the last few weeks we have been talking to the members about the federal charges we filed against Fred Meyer. During those conversations you have asked for more information about the charges. In an attempt to address your concerns, we are posting the ULP's (Unfair Labor Practice) filed against the company.

Paycheck - Deductions

Union Communications

On September 11, 2009, UFCW Local 555 filed federal charges against Fred Meyer for breaking the law by violating the collective bargaining agreement and failing to bargain with us (UFCW the Collective Bargaining Agent for Fred Meyer Employees) about unilateral changes that would affect paychecks. In an effort to inform the membership of UFCW Local 555 of what was going on, Representatives hit the stores passing out materials letting people know what Fred Meyer was up to. Unfortunately for some members, they never got to see this information as Fred Meyer began removing Union Communications from the stores.

UFCW Local 555 doesn't think flyers are an issue - but health care, pensions, hours and pay sure are!

See What Fred Meyer Doesn't Want You To See