Fred Meyer employees file charges against UFCW over alleged illegal threats

Employees who are not voluntary members of a union cannot be legally subjected to internal disciplinary actions like those attempted by UFCW officials against Vasquez and Schaffer. Such tribunals often result in punitive fines amounting to thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.

Previously, UFCW officials have been caught unlawfully imposing significant strike fines on workers during strikes they instigated. In one instance in Denver, Colorado in 2022 at King Sooper’s grocery chain, workers faced fines exceeding their daily earnings for choosing to work during a strike. Legal action led by Foundation attorneys resulted in these unlawful fines being rescinded.

Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation stated: “UFCW union officials are again displaying their penchant for using strikes to consolidate power by threatening rank-and-file workers who exercise their Right to Work during a UFCW strike.” He emphasized that “Workers have a clear legal right to resign from union membership and return to work without facing illegal fines or disciplinary actions.”