Frustrated with nearly a year of stalled negotiations, including an “insulting” comprehensive company proposal days before the union’s well-publicized deadline, Local 5 members working at the Union Square Macy’s in San Francisco launched a two-day strike entering the Christmas holiday weekend.

Hundreds of workers surrounded the store with picket signs in an impressive showing of strength and solidarity over two of the busiest shopping days of the year, sending hundreds of customers away each day in support of union members’ demands for a fair contract.

Members voted on December 22 to reconfirm an earlier strike vote after a company proposal the day before proved to be grossly inadequate, said Local 5 President John Nunes.

“Despite more than $25 billion in sales and a profit of more than $1 billion over the last 12 months, Macy’s has offered its associates a pay increase of less than three percent over three years while proposing to reduce staff, undermine seniority rights, and refusing to provide affordable health insurance. The result of the company’s insulting offer would be increased poverty for workers and less customer service for shoppers”.

Throughout the two-day strike Local 5 members talked with approaching customers, explaining the issues, and asking them to shop elsewhere during the dispute, a message that resonated with most potential shoppers, said bargaining committee member Chelsea Thomas.

“Nobody wants to go on strike at Christmas time but after six months of management stalling and refusal to make an offer that recognizes the hard work that we do to make the company profitable and successful, we didn’t have much choice. The outcome of our struggle will ultimately impact the workers and the customer experience at our store and at Macy’s stores throughout California.”

The action drew attention from local, state, and national media outlets and garnered support from members representing many of San Francisco’s unions. Local 5 negotiators are awaiting future bargaining dates from Macy’s management but “will not wait endlessly”, says chief negotiator John Frahm. Members are ready to strike again in January absent a settlement, he says.