Hundreds of grocery workers in the Boise area could go on strike. What we know
Hundreds of grocery workers in the Treasure Valley could go on strike as their union pushes for a new contract.
Workers at Albertsons stores in the Boise and Nampa area voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, according to a news release from Local 555 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
The union said Monday that the company committed multiple unfair labor practices, including threatening to fire an employee involved in bargaining.
“The company is trying to scare their workers into silence just for daring to demand decent pay and a secure future,” Miles Eshaia, a spokesperson for the union, said in the release. “This is unacceptable and fundamentally un-American. Albertsons must stop these intimidation tactics and respect its employees’ right to fight for a living wage.”
A strike date hasn’t yet been set.
The vote on June 15 and 16 to authorize a strike means union members gave their leadership the go-ahead to call one if contract negotiations come to an impasse.
The union said it has been pushing for retirement benefits and wage increases that match the rising cost of living in the Treasure Valley. Albertsons has 13 stores in Boise, four in Meridian, two in Nampa, two in Caldwell and one in Eagle, according to its store locator.
“Idaho won’t be left behind,” Dan Clay, the union’s president, said in the release. “Just like grocery workers across the country, we’re demanding the wages needed to support our families and communities, and to retire here, too. Albertsons has no right to threaten employees who won’t settle for less.”
Contact negotiations are ongoing, the union said.
Albertsons said in a statement shared with the Idaho Statesman that it is committed to productive discussions with the union.
“We respect our employees’ right to engage in collective bargaining and are negotiating in good faith to reach an agreement that is fair to our employees, benefits our customers, and keeps our company competitive,” the company said. “We believe the allegations of unfair labor practices that led to the strike authorization are entirely without merit.”
The union represents over 1,600 grocery workers at Albertsons stores in Idaho, a spokesperson previously told the Statesman.
It has over 35,000 members across its jurisdiction who work in the grocery, retail, health care and manufacturing industries in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.
This story was originally published June 24, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
