Strike Authorization Does Not Mean Strike

It’s Business as Usual; Continue to Report to Work as Scheduled

Today, UFCW Local 400 announced it has received strike authorization and that bargaining unit members attending and voting at union meetings did not ratify the company’s offer. We are surprised that our offer was not ratified, and we have some concerns about how the union communicated the details of the offer to the voting bargaining unit members.

Strike Authorization Does Not Mean Strike
We want to be sure you know what this means – strike authorization does not mean there will be a strike. It means that the union can call a strike for some or all West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky stores in the bargaining unit. But even then, whether you go on strike is up to you. Only you can decide what is right for you and your family.

A Strike Threat Here is Wrong
At this point, the union has not called for a work stoppage. The union uses a strike threat as a tactic because they believe it puts pressure on the company. In reality, it puts stress on you. It makes your work, life, and paycheck uncertain.  Let’s be clear, a strike threat here is wrong and here’s why:

• With this offer, Kroger Mid-Atlantic is investing more than ever before in wages, keeping healthcare costs low and providing more vacation sooner for associates.
• A strike jeopardizes the retro pay included in our offer. Retro pay, which would have been effective February 25, is contingent upon contract ratification by March 9, 2024.
• A strike threat makes no logical sense! Our offer puts more money in associates’ pay checks than ever before and keeps healthcare costs among the lowest in West Virginia. What would the union be asking you to strike for?
• No one wins with a strike – not the company, not our customers, and certainly not associates who risk losing pay and benefits. The only possible winner in a strike is our non-union competitors and there are many!

Misleading Union Rhetoric
Take another look at the company offer. Union rhetoric posted on social media is simply not true.
Kroger Mid-Atlantic’s Last, Best, and Final Offer:

• Increases wages for all associates
• Does NOT include changes to Retiree healthcare
• Does NOT eliminate Sunday overtime
• Does NOT eliminate seniority
• Allows full-time associates to miss up to 104 hours without negatively impacting the hours requirement

Preparing to Keep Stores Running
We understand the threat of strike can be stressful for you and your family. We hope the union does not call a strike. Our goal has always been to work together to reach an agreement.

Unfortunately, because the union is calling for Strike Authorization, we are now implementing our plans to keep stores running if the union chooses to call a strike. This means you may notice Assistant Store Leaders from other Kroger divisions arriving in stores and you will see signage advertising for Temporary Workers. These measures are necessary so we can continue to provide food, medicine, and other essentials to the communities we serve in the unfortunate event of a work stoppage.

It is important to note that Temporary Workers are not offered and do not receive benefits like health care, pension, vacation pay or other benefits that full- and part-time associates receive. This difference is reflected in the wages they are offered.

We hope a strike does not occur. We hope we never have to call a single Temporary Worker to work in our West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky stores.

Next Steps
You can influence what happens next by asking the union to work with the company to find the common ground needed to reach an agreement. The union is your representative. They work for you to represent your interests. If you agree our offer reflects your best interest, you can even ask the union for another opportunity to vote to ratify Kroger’s offer.

We will continue to share updates in store huddles, posted on store update boards and on this website.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to take care of our customers and each other.