Kroger Strike Appears Averted

Kroger and the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 Union reached a “Fully Recommended Tentative Agreement” on a new contract Thursday for Mid-Atlantic division associates in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. 

Just last week, the union had voted to authorize a strike but returned to the bargaining table. It had planned informational pickets starting March 11. 

The next step is the union will hold a ratification vote for bargaining unit members.

The strike would have affected 3,000 employees and 38 stores in the three state mid-Atlantic region. 

“Kroger’s commitment to increase wages and ensure associates have access to low-cost, high-quality healthcare benefits has long been a core priority,” said Lori Raya, president of Kroger Mid-Atlantic. “I am pleased to have an agreement that rewards these associates with more money than ever before.”

Kroger is the nation’s largest unionized grocery retailer. The two sides used a federal mediator to reach the agreement. 

It raises starting wages to $13 per hour and provides wage increases up to $2.50 per hour for department leaders and top rate associates over the life of the contract. It also includes a premium increase for all night shift work.

See the full statement at www.krogermidatlanticcba.com