Kroger Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

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

Potential Kroger Strike, Southern Coal And Artificial Intelligence, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, the state legislature began winding down its 2024 session. Wednesday marked the last day for new bills to pass out of their chamber of origin, and now both the House and Senate are voting on bills proposed by their colleagues across the rotunda.

On this West Virginia Week, the state legislature began winding down its 2024 session. Wednesday marked the last day for new bills to pass out of their chamber of origin, and now both the House and Senate are voting on bills proposed by their colleagues across the rotunda.

We talked to lawmakers about some bills that were passed this week, like a contentious proposal to remove vaccine mandates in some West Virginia schools, and a bill addressing potential risks tied to artificial intelligence (AI).

Plus, we’ll discuss a possible strike at a major grocery chain, a court case involving one of Gov. Jim Justice’s companies and what’s next for Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., steps down.

Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Kroger Employees Approve Strike Vote In Three States

Workers at 38 Kroger grocery stores in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio have voted to go on strike. Whether they do or not is dependent on further negotiations with the company.

Updated on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 4 p.m.

In a statement, Kroger said: “We are disappointed that our offer was rejected by UFCW Local 400 members present during the vote. And we understand that our associates and customers are best served by the company and union returning to the bargaining table.

Thanks in large part to the involvement of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin and the Federal Mediation Conciliation Services, the parties will resume contract negotiations and we are pleased to do so. The company and union will meet to continue discussions toward finding common ground on areas of concern.

We are hopeful that we can work together to reach a fully recommended tentative agreement that is a win for associates and helps to keep groceries affordable for the communities we serve.”

Updated on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 3 p.m.

United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 Union announced at 2:30 p.m. Friday that it will resume talks with the company “in hopes of reaching an agreement.” The union also plans to hold a series of rallies at select stores on March 11 where they will announce the next steps they plan to take.

The union said, for now, they will continue to work as normal and all Kroger stores in the three-state area will remain open.

Original Story

Workers at 38 Kroger grocery stores in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio have voted to go on strike. Whether they do or not is dependent on further negotiations with the company.

United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 Union announced Friday that Kroger union members have voted in favor of authorizing a strike. The union is cautious to say they are not on strike yet, but the bargaining committee can call a strike at any moment.

Employees in select stores voted 1,375–214 (87 percent) to reject the company’s contract proposal and 1,347–229 (85 percent) to authorize a strike.

“This vote has sent a powerful message to Kroger that they must do better if they expect us to ratify a contract,” explained the union’s bargaining committee in its announcement to members. “Now, we are ready to sit down with the company and negotiate an agreement that we can recommend for ratification. If not, we are ready to continue to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract. By sticking together, we will win.”

If it takes place, the strike would involve approximately 3,000 workers.

In a statement, the Kroger company said that Kroger Mid-Atlantic stores in the three states are open for business and serving customers despite UFCW Local 400’s announcement of a strike authorization.

“Despite our proposed historical investment of $300 million in associate wages and health care in West Virginia, our offer was not ratified. Our associates are the heart of Kroger, and we respect and value their hard work,” said Lori Raya, Kroger Mid-Atlantic division president. “Our proposal would put more money in every associate’s paycheck and preserve high-quality healthcare at 72 percent less than the average healthcare expense for West Virginia families. We remain dedicated to finding common ground and extend an open invitation to UFCW Local 400 for further dialogue.”

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., issued a statement on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that: “I greatly value the diligent work every Kroger team member performs in West Virginia and the indispensable role Kroger stores and their employees fill in our communities. I encourage all parties to come back to the negotiating table as soon as possible to preserve jobs and benefits and keep these essential stories operational and thriving.”

The Mid-Atlantic Division operates more than 100 stores in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio. Based in Richmond, Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic Division employs about 15,000 associates.

United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 is led by President Mark Federici and represents 35,000 members working in the grocery, retail, health care, food processing, service and other industries in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

The regional stores included in the potential collective bargaining agreement include:

West Virginia:

Kroger #668, Box 1264, Mt. Gay, WV 25637
Kroger #708, McGraw & Main Streets, Ripley, WV 25271
Kroger #714, 350 Patterson Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505
Kroger #722, PO Box 2609, Rt 4 & 20, South Buckhannon, WV 26201
Kroger #725, 1439 MacCorkle Ave SW, St Albans, WV 25177
Kroger #730, 450 11th St, Elkins, WV 26241
Kroger #734, 518 Park Center US Rt 60, Rainelle, WV 25962
Kroger #739, 2908 State St, Gassaway , WV 26624
Kroger #743, 308 Stokes Dr, Hinton, WV 25951
Kroger #752, 2007 East 7th St, Parkersburg, WV 26101
Kroger #753, 930 Division St, Parkersburg, WV 26101
Kroger #754, 10635 MacCorkle Ave SE, Marmet, WV 25315
Kroger #755, 1851 Earl Core Rd, Morgantown, WV 26505
Kroger #763, 5450 Big Tyler Rd, Charleston, WV 25312
Kroger #765, 180 Red Oak Shop Ctr, Ronceverte, WV 24970
Kroger #768, 981 Dunbar Village, Dunbar, WV 25064
Kroger #769, #5 Riverwalk Mall, South Charleston, WV 25303
Kroger #770, 151 Beaver Plaza , PO Box 579, Beaver, WV 25813
Kroger #772, 5717 MacCorkle Ave. SE, Charleston, WV 25304
Kroger #774, 102 Emily Dr, Clarksburg, WV 26301
Kroger #778, 500 Delaware Ave, Charleston, WV 25302
Kroger #780, 411 Mall Rd, Oak Hill, WV 25901
Kroger #782, 19 7th Ave , Huntington, WV 25701
Kroger #785, 1100 Fledder John Rd, Charleston, WV 25314
Kroger #788, 6360 US Route 60, Barboursville, WV 25504
Kroger #790, 133 Beckley Crossing, Beckley, WV 25802
Kroger #792, 2627 5th Ave, Huntington, WV 25702
Kroger #794, 101 Great Teays Blvd, Scott Depot, WV 25560
Kroger #805, 1734 Harper Rd, Beckley, WV 25801
Kroger #807, 223 The Crossing Shop Center, Elkview, WV 25071
Kroger #813, 500 Suncrest Town Center, Morgantown, WV 26505
Kroger #817, PO Box 1209 Rt 85 Hopkins Rd, Danville, WV 25053

Ohio:

Kroger #776, 40 Acme St, Marietta, OH 45750
Kroger #781, 6306 State Rt 7, Proctorville, OH 45669
Kroger #799, 1008 Washington Blvd, Belpre, OH 45714
Kroger #800, 401 Matthew St, Marietta, OH 45750

Kentucky:

Kroger #783, 711 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Ashland, KY 41101
Kroger #796, 370 Diedrick Blvd, Ashland, KY 41101

Kroger Faces Strike Possibility With Union Vote

Kroger union members working at 38 stores in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio will vote later this week on a new contract and potential work stoppage.

The union’s bargaining committee has unanimously recommended members reject Kroger’s latest offer and vote in favor of authorizing a strike.

The workers are members of United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 Union. Voting will take place in select stores Wednesday and Thursday. Results will be announced on Friday.

If the proposed contract is rejected and a strike authorization vote passes, the committee will be empowered to call a strike at a time of its choosing. Workers will not be on strike immediately.

The potential work stoppage could affect approximately 3,000 workers across the three states.

In a separate statement, Kroger said it had presented the union with its final offer. It indicated the investment will be worth about $300 million in wages and benefits.

Kroger said this offer increases some wages up to 26.4 percent over the term of the contract.

“Our associates are the heartbeat of our company, and we are committed to investing in their future,” said Lori Raya, president of Kroger Mid-Atlantic. “This offer invests more than $300 million in incremental wage increases.”

According to the statement, every West Virginia associate under the collective bargaining agreement will receive a substantial pay increase with many associates seeing increases of up to $2 per hour in their base rate.

In related news, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued to block a proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons to form the nation’s largest grocery chain, saying the $24.6 billion deal would eliminate competition and lead to higher prices for millions of Americans.

The FTC filed an administrative complaint against the companies Monday, which will be considered by an administrative law judge at the agency. It also filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in Oregon requesting a temporary injunction blocking the merger. That lawsuit was joined by the attorneys general of eight states and the District of Columbia.

Kroger and Albertsons, two of the nation’s largest grocers, agreed to merge in October 2022. The companies said a merger would help them better compete with Walmart, Amazon, Costco and other big rivals. Together, Kroger and Albertsons would control around 13 percent of the U.S. grocery market; Walmart controls 22 percent, according to J.P. Morgan analyst Ken Goldman.

The regional stores included in the potential collective bargaining agreement include:

West Virginia:

Kroger #668, Box 1264, Mt. Gay, WV 25637
Kroger #708, McGraw & Main Streets, Ripley, WV 25271
Kroger #714, 350 Patterson Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505
Kroger #722, PO Box 2609, Rt 4 & 20, South Buckhannon, WV 26201
Kroger #725, 1439 MacCorkle Ave SW, St Albans, WV 25177
Kroger #730, 450 11th St, Elkins, WV 26241
Kroger #734, 518 Park Center US Rt 60, Rainelle, WV 25962
Kroger #739, 2908 State St, Gassaway , WV 26624
Kroger #743, 308 Stokes Dr, Hinton, WV 25951
Kroger #752, 2007 East 7th St, Parkersburg, WV 26101
Kroger #753, 930 Division St, Parkersburg, WV 26101
Kroger #754, 10635 MacCorkle Ave SE, Marmet, WV 25315
Kroger #755, 1851 Earl Core Rd, Morgantown, WV 26505
Kroger #763, 5450 Big Tyler Rd, Charleston, WV 25312
Kroger #765, 180 Red Oak Shop Ctr, Ronceverte, WV 24970
Kroger #768, 981 Dunbar Village, Dunbar, WV 25064
Kroger #769, #5 Riverwalk Mall, South Charleston, WV 25303
Kroger #770, 151 Beaver Plaza , PO Box 579, Beaver, WV 25813
Kroger #772, 5717 MacCorkle Ave. SE, Charleston, WV 25304
Kroger #774, 102 Emily Dr, Clarksburg, WV 26301
Kroger #778, 500 Delaware Ave, Charleston, WV 25302
Kroger #780, 411 Mall Rd, Oak Hill, WV 25901
Kroger #782, 19 7th Ave , Huntington, WV 25701
Kroger #785, 1100 Fledder John Rd, Charleston, WV 25314
Kroger #788, 6360 US Route 60, Barboursville, WV 25504
Kroger #790, 133 Beckley Crossing, Beckley, WV 25802
Kroger #792, 2627 5th Ave, Huntington, WV 25702
Kroger #794, 101 Great Teays Blvd, Scott Depot, WV 25560
Kroger #805, 1734 Harper Rd, Beckley, WV 25801
Kroger #807, 223 The Crossing Shop Center, Elkview, WV 25071
Kroger #813, 500 Suncrest Town Center, Morgantown, WV 26505
Kroger #817, PO Box 1209 Rt 85 Hopkins Rd, Danville, WV 25053

Ohio:

Kroger #776, 40 Acme St, Marietta, OH 45750
Kroger #781, 6306 State Rt 7, Proctorville, OH 45669
Kroger #799, 1008 Washington Blvd, Belpre, OH 45714
Kroger #800, 401 Matthew St, Marietta, OH 45750

Kentucky:

Kroger #783, 711 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Ashland, KY 41101
Kroger #796, 370 Diedrick Blvd, Ashland, KY 41101

W.Va. Major Retailers To Close On Thanksgiving

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, more stores are closing on Thanksgiving — and staying closed until the next morning for Black Friday. These stores will be closed on Thanksgiving: Best Buy, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Hobby Lobby, Kroger, Walgreens, non-24 hour CVS, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Marshalls, PetCo, PetSmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart, Piggly Wiggly and Aldi.

Updated on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023 at 10:45 a.m.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, more stores are closing on Thanksgiving — and staying closed until the next morning for Black Friday.

These stores will be closed on Thanksgiving: Best Buy, DICK’s Sporting Goods, Hobby Lobby, Kroger, Walgreens, non-24 hour CVS, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Marshalls, PetCo, Petsmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart, Piglet Wiggly and Aldi.

Bridget Lambert, president of the West Virginia Retailers Association said this is part of a growing trend of stores to close on, and around the holidays since the pandemic.

“Traditionally, retailers have started closing more in the last three or four years,” Lambert said. “So yes, a lot of the larger retailers will be closed Thanksgiving Day. The grocery chains, some of them are open during the day, but will be closing early in the evening so that their employees will have time to spend with their families.”

Piggly Wiggly and Kroger will be open until 4 p.m. Twenty-four hour CVS’s will only be open until 5 p.m. Walgreens usual 24 hour pharmacy will be open with varied hours.

Lambert said this change is part of a cultural shift in attitudes about work life balance from major retailers.

“They certainly want to meet their customer demands, but also know the needs of their employees,” Lambert said.

Lambert said the trend has been on the rise, and she expects that it will continue into the future.

Kroger Union Protests Outside Charleston Location

Kroger union workers protested Wednesday in opposition of a proposed merger that would make the grocery chain one of the largest in the country.

Kroger union workers protested Wednesday in opposition to a proposed merger that would make the grocery chain one of the largest in the country.

Members of the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 Union gathered outside of a West Charleston Kroger to protest the grocery chain’s merger with Albertsons Companies. A similar action took place in Clarksburg on Tuesday.

Steve Arthur made the trip from Beaver, where he is the head grocery clerk. Arthur said the merger would be bad for consumers and workers, stifling competition in the grocery industry.

“If you look around the Washington, D.C. area, or out into California, they are in close competition to each other,” Arthur said. “Therefore, if Kroger would close down one location, its going to put people out of work. Our wages go down, and we’re very concerned about that. It’s for the livelihood of the working American.”

Arthur, who said he has been working at Kroger for close to 50 years, said what’s most upsetting is the merger’s $24 billion price tag.

“That is a cash payment. That’s cash money, but yet they’re having a hard time paying us for vacations,” he said. “They’re having a hard time paying us for our hourly rate increases. That’s not right. And here they’re wanting to take over another company.”

The merger is currently being reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission.

Judy Turner, who works at the Kroger in Madison, said the union is asking shoppers to add their voices to the opposition.

“If those folks will just voice their opinions and get on the website and say, ‘Hey, let’s stop this merger because we don’t want higher prices, we don’t want job loss.’ And that’s the message we want to get across today.” she said.