Kroger workers vote on multi-state strike

Article owned and originally published by WDTV 5 News on Feb. 26, 2024.

Original Article

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) - Kroger Union members are planning to vote on a new contract and potential work stoppage in 38 stores across West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Earlier this week, the Union unanimously recommended its members reject the offer made by Kroger, and vote in favor of authorizing a strike at the company.

Major issues the Union cites for reasons for striking include inadequate wage increases that don’t keep up with inflation and unacceptable increases to health care costs.

The union says one of their major goals is achieving real raises that overcome inflation, and that Kroger’s current offer actually puts wages backwards by only increasing wages by 12%, which is lower than 18% inflation since 2020.

The workers are members of United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 Union.

The voting will take place in certain stores on Wednesday and Thursday, and results will be announced on Friday, Officials with the Local 400 say. 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 impact 3,000 workers at 38 stores in the three states. Affected stores in West Virginia are listed below:

• 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

This potential strike comes at the same time as a lawsuit from the United States that is seeking to block a merger between Kroger and Albertsons. The lawsuit claims that the merging of the two companies will eliminate competition and lead to higher prices for millions of Americans.