Union workers at 11 New Seasons Market stores in the Portland area will strike Wednesday, typically one of the busiest shopping days of the year in the country.

The New Seasons Labor Union was formed in 2022 and represents approximately 1,000 workers in Portland and Beaverton. Two years later, the union and New Seasons management are still negotiating the first contract and remain at odds over raises and benefits.

Earlier this month, union workers overwhelmingly authorized the one-day Unfair Labor Practice strike, scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving. Unions sometimes use ULP strikes to raise public awareness during negotiations.

“We have done our utmost to provide the company with numerous ways to avert a strike by ending their unfair labor practices and offering our members a deal that meets their needs,” said Ava Robbins, co-chair of the New Seasons Labor Union. a statement Friday, “but they refuse.”

A spokesperson for New Seasons said in a statement that the company respects its employees’ right to organize, but that all stores will remain open during Wednesday’s strike. All locations will be closed on Thursday for the holiday.

Union workers will strike and protest at these locations:

• Arbor Lodge (6400 North Interstate Avenue, Portland)
• Cedar Hills (3495 Southwest Cedar Hills Boulevard, Beaverton)
• Concordia (5320 Northeast 33rd Avenue, Portland)
• Grant Park (3210 Northeast Broadway, Portland)
• Hawthorne (4034 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland)
• Sellwood (1214 Southeast Tacoma Street, Portland)
• Seven Corners (1954 Southeast Division Street, Portland)
• Slabtown (2170 Northwest Raleigh Street, Portland)
• University Park (6300 North Lombard Street, Portland)
• Woodstock (4500 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard, Portland)
• Williams (3445 North Williams Avenue, Portland)

New Seasons Market is owned by Good Food Holdings companywhose parent company is the South Korean Emart. But the store’s roots go back to Portland, where the first location opened in 2000, and New Seasons still has a regional leadership team.

Union workers at another supermarket chain with Portland roots used the same unfair labor practice tactic to strike earlier this year. Employees at nearly 30 Fred Meyer stores in the Portland area went on one strike lasting nearly a week over Labor Day weekend.

The union representing Fred Meyer employees, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 555, and leaders of Fred Meyer’s parent company Kroger agreed to a new contract in October.