Bellis Fair Macy’s calling for boycott as strike looms over wages and worker safety
Macy’s department store workers in Bellingham are asking customers to boycott the store as a possible strike looms over the retail chain’s work environment.
The Macy’s Workers United UFCW 3000 union first had a strike on Black Friday, Nov. 24, calling for the company to pay workers more and have more safety protocols in place. The union includes members from multiple Macy’s locations across the state.
“I’ve been at the Bellis Fair Macy’s for 19 years,” Christina Verkist said in a news release. “... because they cut down on workers, I’m alone a lot in my department. With the threats we face from shoplifters, Macy’s needs to improve security, and we deserve better pay. The price of everything is up but my pay is not. Most of the time I can’t afford to fill up my gas tank.”
After the Black Friday strike, the union and company bargained again. The union employees authorized another strike on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 15, at Alderwood Mall Macy’s store.
“We will strike for as long as it takes. We won’t put up with being underpaid and understaffed while Macy’s refuses to deal with health and safety risks,” union members said in a news release.
The Alderwood Mall Macy’s employees have been on strike since Monday, Jan. 15, but all stores in the union are asking customers to boycott the other Washington state locations, including Bellis Fair’s store.
“For the Bellis Fair store in particular, though Lynnwood is the only store currently striking, we ask customers to boycott our store and other Macy’s locations as well to show a strong unified front and to let Macy’s know their customers won’t let them get away with continuing to commit unfair labor practices,” Samantha Wilson, a full-time sales associate at Bellingham’s Macy’s, wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
“If Macy’s continues to refuse to negotiate with us and doesn’t come back to the table with clear safety policies and livable wages, Southcenter and Bellingham could very well go on strike. Our Bellis Fair location could go on strike very soon, it could be as early as tomorrow, we are ready if the need arises,” Wilson wrote.
As of Jan. 17, over 20,000 shoppers have pledged not to cross picket lines and boycott Macy’s stores, according to the union’s website.
Eleven Washington Macy’s stores are included in the boycott, including Bellingham, Bellevue, Wenatchee, Alderwood, Columbia, Kitsap, Spokane, Valley Mall, Southcenter Mall, Vancouver and South Hill.
“So far Macy’s has come forward with five ‘Best and Final’ offers, and the last couple ones have been worse than their previous ones,” Wilson wrote. “It shows a lack of professionalism and is disrespectful. The associates at all of our stores deserve to feel safe at work and be compensated a fair and livable wage. Macy’s needs to come to the table and honestly bargain in good faith so we can get this all settled.”
The Bellis Fair mall Macy’s had not called a strike as of Thursday morning. Updates will be posted on the union’s website.
