TACOMA, Wash. — Members of Teamsters Local 117 here have voted to authorize a strike at a Fred Meyer warehouse in Puyallup, Wash., the union said.
The union did not indicate when or if it might decide to call a strike. Teamsters at three other warehouses owned by Safeway, Supervalu and Unified Grocers all voted to ratify contracts last week, the union said.
"This vote demonstrates that Teamsters at Fred Meyer are willing to fight for a contract that provides benefits for themselves and their families that meet the area standards set by other grocery companies," said Tracey A. Thompson, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 117.
Negotiations between the Teamsters and Fred Meyer started on June 8 and are scheduled to resume on Aug. 15, when the current contract extension expires.
The contract between the union and Fred Meyer, owned by Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., covers 362 employees. The facility serves about 140 stores.
