Workers at New Seasons Market are organizing a union, criticizing the Portland grocer for rolling back health coverage, among other things.

"Right now our main demand is just for them to sit down with us," said Isaac Byrd, a cashier at the Williams store. "We want to have a conversation."

Employees are holding a rally outside the North Portland store, 3445 N Williams Ave, at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The workers are backed by UFCW Local 555, which represents 25,000 members – largely retail workers in grocery stores – in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

New Seasons opened its first store in Raleigh Hills in 2000. It has since grown to 21 stores in Oregon, Washington and California, and employs 4,104 including workers at its New Leaf Community Markets. New Seasons acquired the Northern California chain in 2013.

New Seasons' growth was buoyed by a 2009 investment by Portland-based Endeavour Capital, which now has a roughly 60-percent stake in the company. It also owns a stake in Seattle-based Metropolitan Market, and previously held a stake in WinCo Foods.

Byrd says workers' problems with New Seasons have grown along with its expansion – particularly after Endeavour's investment.

But New Seasons says it treats its employees better than others in the industry. While it previously offered health insurance to those working as little as one shift, workers will soon be required to log 24 hours a week to qualify, up from the current 20-hour threshold.

The grocer has long touted its progressive values. In an emailed statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Tuesday, it emphasized its status as a certified B Corp, and said it holds itself to standards that exceed industry norms.

"We place as much value on taking care of our staff, communities and environment as we do in growing a sustainable and profitable business," the statement said.

In addition, the grocer's 2016 Impact Report highlighted New Seasons' "speak up culture" that allows workers "to have a voice and to share ideas and concerns."

But Peter Diaz, UFCW Local 555's organizing director, questioned whether New Seasons is all that progressive.

"Part of being progressive is providing living wage jobs," he said, noting Portland's rising cost of living.

Diaz said New Seasons has transformed since Endeavour bought its stake.

"It's no longer the local grocery store," he said. "The culture of the company has changed."

-- Anna Marum

amarum@oregonian.com

503-294-5911

@annamarum

Corrections and clarifications: Endeavour Capital no longer holds a stake in WinCo Foods. New Seasons workers do not currently need to log 24 hours a week to qualify for health insurance. This policy takes effect in 2018.

