Fred Meyer worker wins dispute over alleged illegal union threats

Milton L. Chappell | Staff Attorney (1976-Present) | NRTWLD&EF, Inc

By Sky Industry News

Nov 25, 2024

Reegin Schaffer, an employee at Fred Meyer in the Portland area, has won her dispute with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 555. Schaffer had filed charges against the union, claiming that officials violated federal law by ignoring her requests to resign from union membership during a strike and unlawfully retaliating against her by attempting to fine her for choosing to work. She received free legal assistance from attorneys at the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.

The actions of these attorneys led UFCW Local 555 to drop its internal disciplinary proceedings against Schaffer. These proceedings could have resulted in fines after she resigned from the union and returned to work.

Schaffer, along with co-worker Coyesca Vasquez, filed charges with Region 19 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which enforces private sector labor relations laws in the U.S. According to the charges, on August 30, 2024, both employees exercised their right to resign from union membership and return to work. However, on September 24 and October 14 respectively, UFCW officials informed Vasquez and Schaffer that internal proceedings had been initiated against them.

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If an employee is not a voluntary member of a union, they cannot be legally subjected to internal discipline like what UFCW officials attempted. Such tribunals often result in significant fines for workers.

After UFCW dropped its attempt to fine Schaffer, Foundation attorneys requested that the NLRB close the case. Meanwhile, Vasquez's charge remains under investigation by the agency.

Similar unlawful fines have been imposed on workers during past strikes instigated by UFCW. In 2022, King Sooper’s grocery chain workers in Denver faced illegal fines during a strike which were more than their daily earnings. This led Foundation attorneys to file multiple cases resulting in rescinded fines.

“That Reegin Schaffer ultimately prevailed and forced UFCW bosses to drop their illegal threats does not erase the troubling pattern of behavior by UFCW union officials,” said Mark Mix, President of National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. “Employees should not have to file federal charges just to have their rights respected.”