Kroger employees in West Virginia have voted 701 to 208 to ratify the latest contract offered by Kroger, ending months of uncertainty leading into the holidays. The contract covers healthcare insurance issues and raises, and will be in effect for 3 ½ years, with all raises retroactive to November 1, 2020. Johnathan Williams, the communications director of UFCW Local 400 said “by standing together, our solidarity resulted in new agreement guarantees.”
Kroger in Hinton is not one of the grocery chain’s larger stores in West Virginia but it employs 67 people around Summers County. Longtime employee Greg Nahodil, the union local’s lead shop steward, explained the ratification settles an anxious time for workers. Going on strike isn’t profitable, said Nahodil. During the 2-month strike in 2008 workers receiving strike pay only received $100 a week.
“It’s a relief,” sighed Nahodil. “Wages now are $10 per hour for new hires and over $20 for senior employees. Some of us have been working at Kroger for a long time.”
Nadohil has been a Kroger employee for nearly 40 years.
