Thank you for joining Your Grocery Workers campaign for a Fair Contract
Thank you for visiting our website. The most common comment we have received is that visitors do not believe Fred Meyer would be discharging employees for a single, honest mistake. Some believe that it must be theft issues, or others believe the Union must be making it up. I understand that reaction, because I had the same one when the first worker reported they were fired for making a single mistake. If there is one thing I’ve learned processing thousands of grievances over the years is that there are always two sides of a story. The worker must have been suspected of theft or some other integrity issue because no employer, and I mean none, that I’d dealt with ever discharged a person for a single, honest mistake. Most employers are fair and use discipline to correct mistakes and reserve discharge for theft, drugs, insubordination, and other serious misconduct.
That is not the case here. Fred Meyer is discharging employees who make one honest mistake. Really! Don’t believe me? I understand because I didn’t believe that first employee that reported the policy. So here, it is “their words.”
Chris Weinans, Employee Relations Administrator at Fred Meyer’s Corporate office, when discharging Brock, “Grievant was discharged on or about April 26, 2007 for violation of Company policy. Specifically, grievant was negligent in the handling cash and/or negotiable instruments which resulted in a loss to the company. Specifically, grievant failed to collect payment from a customer when he was ringing up their transaction. This created a loss to the Company in the amount of $4.54. In accordance with the Employee Responsibilities document, conduct such as this will result in immediate discharge without prior warning.” See the letter for yourself; READ LETTER HERE
Yes, Brock was discharged for making a single mistake that cost the company $4.54. At a recent arbitration hearing Fred Meyer’s Vice President of Employee Relations testified that the amount of loss, whether $1 or a $1 million does not matter. Brock’s case has not yet been arbitrated.
Peggy Callahan, Employee Relations Administrator, when discharging Susan, “Grievant was discharged on or about October 20, 2006 for negligence in the handling of cash and or negotiable instrument which resulted in a loss to the company of $18.02. Specifically, on or about October 14, 2006, grievant failed to complete a customer’s transaction and further failed to collect payment from the customer for merchandise purchased. In accordance with the Employee Responsibilities Form, violation of this policy results in termination and does not require prior warning.” See the letter for yourself; READ LETTER HERE
Yes, Susan was discharged for a single mistake that cost the company $18.02.
Why don’t the employees just repay the losses and keep on working? Because Fred Meyer’s won’t allow that:
Arbitrator John Tapp in his award reinstating Ron and giving him lost back pay and benefits, “On November 18, 2007, Curtis Jones, Loss Prevention Manager at the Thor Street Store, discovered a shortage for November 16, 2007, on the register where [RON] had been working. [Jones investigated and] determined there was no issue of dishonesty or integrity on the Grievant’s part. On December 1, 2007, Mr. Jones informed Store Director Steve Wissenk about the situation… [RON] did not remember the transaction, so he could not confirm or deny returning the check, but he offered to repay the Company for the apparent loss. Wissenk suspended the grievant… On December 4, 2007, Mr. Wissenk discharged [RON].”
This is about Fred Meyer’s heartless Corporate Policy of discharging employees for a single mistake without regards to their overall work performance, longevity of service, or other mitigating circumstances. In a recent arbitration a store director testified that he liked the discharged employee, wished that he did not have to terminate him, and was training him to take on management responsibilities because of his relatively long tenure, good attitude, and excellent work record. Even so, he had no discretion and had to discharge the employee for a first “error” because the corporate policy provides for “no exceptions.” Support the workers in the store and tell Fred Meyer it is time to treat their employees with dignity and respect. Contact Chris Weinans at Fred Meyer’s corporate office and tell him to end this unjust practice:
chris.weinans@fredmeyer.com
Please purchase your groceries and prescriptions at Albertsons, Rosauers and Safeway.
Your Grocery Workers Thank You For Your Support
