No strike yet, but work stoppage could come any moment
CHARLESTON, WV (March 1, 2024) – Today, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 Union announced Kroger union members have voted in favor of authorizing a strike at 38 stores in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. Today’s announcement means the union bargaining committee can call a strike at any moment, but workers are not on strike at this time.
“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.”
The union has reached out to the company in hopes of continuing negotiations and will have an announcement on next steps for a potential work stoppage later today.
The vote was conducted in select stores this week and ballots were tallied today. Members voted 1,375–214 (87%) to reject the company’s contract proposal and 1,347–229 (85%) to authorize a strike. The potential work stoppage could happen at any moment and impact approximately 3,000 workers at 38 stores in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky: