Yury Silva (left) counting ratification votes along with fellow Teamsters.

Teamsters at Fred Meyer voted resoundingly in favor of a fully-recommended contract proposal last weekend.

This was not an easy win. With Teamsters securing strong contracts at Safeway and SuperValu earlier this year, Fred Meyer workers authorized a strike in July by a vote of 332-1 and voted down two subsequent proposals.

John Scearcy, our union’s secretary-treasurer, said that the workers’ collective power brought the company back to the negotiating table. “By standing together and demanding a better deal, our members got a proposal that is commensurate with industry standards and will lift up their families.” 

"Somos el centro de distribución número uno", dijo Yury Silva, un delegado sindical que participó en las duras negociaciones. "Nuestros compañeros de trabajo querían que nuestro contrato nos pusiera en el número uno." Entre los beneficios logrados estaba la reducción del costo de la atención médica familiar, vacaciones protegidas, y sólidos aumentos salariales y de jubilación.

This win was a result of workers feeling empowered to not settle for less and be on the same footing with the grocery giant. “I am proud to work for Fred Meyer and I am proud to be a Teamster,” concluded Silva.  “Our union is only as strong as the people who work there, and that’s us.”