Bargaining Continued This Week with UFCW Local 400

Today, the company and UFCW Local 400, concluded a two-day bargaining session as negotiations continue toward establishing first contracts for Kroger Mid-Atlantic Division Stores 542 and 577.

Across the Table

• The union again expressed its desire to include Stores 542 and 577 in the existing Richmond-Tidewater contract but refused to submit a formal proposal outlining how wages, healthcare, paid time off and other terms and conditions of employment would transition.
• The company asked the union to submit a formal proposal outlining those changes; to date, no proposal has been provided.
• To help move negotiations forward, the company presented an initial proposal covering certain non-economic contract language.

Good Faith Bargaining
We believe bargaining is most productive when both sides engage in meaningful discussions and work together toward reaching an agreement. Our initial proposal reflects our commitment to that process and provides a foundation for continued discussions as negotiations move forward.

Why this matters: Negotiating a first contract is often a detailed and intentional process. Before discussions turn to economic topics such as wages, benefits, and other compensation-related items, the parties typically spend time reviewing contract language that helps establish how a future agreement would work. It is common for first-contract negotiations to take time as both sides discuss proposals and work through differences. 

The next bargaining sessions are scheduled for July 8-10 and August 11-13.

We remain committed to bargaining in good faith and will continue providing updates as discussions progress.