Workers at the New Seasons Market at 4500 SE Woodstock Blvd. want to join the independent New Seasons Labor Union (NSLU). NSLU won a Sept. 7 union election at the local chain’s Seven Corners store at 1954 SE Division St. the first ever union victory at a New Seasons.
Workers at the Woodstock store filed a petition Sept. 16 with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking a union election covering 125 store employees. In a statement announcing the campaign, Woodstock grocery worker Jane Jacobs said workers were inspired by the Seven Corners win.
Union supporters say they want better wages. They also want management to reconsider changes to scheduling and paid time off policies, similar to concerns raised by workers at the Seven Corners store.
In the press announcement, Woodstock worker Danny Perkins said the store has chronic understaffing and high turnover. Perkins said workers hope that improved wages and work conditions will bring in more staff and help with retention.
In two other September union ballot counts, NLSU lost a campaign at New Seasons Sellwood store, and United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555 lost a campaign at a Hillsboro New Seasons.
Workers will also vote on whether to join NSLU at the “Slabtown” New Seasons at 2170 NW Raleigh St. Mail ballots there will be counted Oct. 20.
At press time, the NLRB had not yet set an election date for the Woodstock store.
