The New Seasons Labor Union intends to fight 95 layoffs — 72 of which are at unionized locations — at stores across the Portland area.

The grocery chain says the job cuts are needed after December’s labor agreement raised wages.

Workers in multiple departments were told not to report to work on Tuesday, according to the union, and that they would be officially laid off on March 18.

“We are outraged by the company’s decision to lay off our fellow coworkers,” the union said in a statement. “We will use every means at our disposal to fight these layoffs and support our membership.”

A spokesperson for New Seasons confirmed the layoffs in an emailed statement.

“Following the ratification of a new labor agreement and wage increases across all stores, our ongoing labor costs have significantly increased,” the spokesperson said. “As a result, we have had to make limited staffing reductions across 20 locations, both union and non-union.”

New Seasons management has spent the last couple of years in negotiations with the union for a first contract. The sides reached a deal in December that included pay increases averaging more than $2.50 per hour for more than 800 workers across 10 stores.

The layoffs affect 95 of the around 2,700 total New Seasons employees. The union said 75% of those layoffs are at unionized stores. The company spokesperson said affected employees will be paid for the next four weeks, and have six weeks of health insurance.

New Seasons Market started in 2000 as an independently owned grocery store in Portland, and still maintains regional leadership. However, as the grocery industry continued to consolidate, New Seasons changed ownership multiple times.

It’s currently owned by Good Food Holdings company, whose parent company is South Korea’s Emart. Last year, the Seoul-based discount retailer posted a profit of nearly $170 million in U.S. dollars, according to financial filings, after losing nearly $400 million the year before.

In 2022, workers at some New Seasons’ locations formed an independent union. Last year, the New Seasons Labor Union joined the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, which has grown to represent independent unions outside its original mission. The New Seasons’ workers union is now known as NSLU-UE Local 1010.

The labor agreement boosts the average wage for NSLU-UE members to $23.37 per hour with an annual cost of living adjustment. The starting wage for a union member is now $19 per hour.

In a statement, the NSLU-UE said workers affected by this week’s layoffs at unionized locations will be placed on a recall list. Typically that means if a unionized position becomes available, the union will reach out to a laid-off worker on the list. If the person is able to take the job, that recalled worker will make the wage they did when laid off.

While the recall process may help some individual workers, union leaders are looking for ways to challenge the layoffs in the first place.

The NSLU-UE is holding a membership meeting on Thursday, the union said in a statement, “where we will be discussing and approving a plan of action to respond to this decision.”

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/18/new-seasons-labor-union-layoffs/