HINTON W.Va. (Hinton News) – Before their contract expired at midnight on Feb. 24, Kroger employees in Hinton, West Virginia joined their colleagues across the East Coast in a powerful display of solidarity, urging the company to improve their contract renewal offer. The atmosphere crackled with determination as workers rallied for fair wages, better working conditions, and recognition of their role as front-line workers in the community.
A flyer distributed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 400, which represents Kroger employees, outlines several key areas where the proposed contract from Kroger falls short of the union’s goals:
Wages: The union argues that Kroger’s proposed wage increase fails to keep pace with inflation, effectively resulting in a pay cut for many employees. Additionally, the proposal could reportedly reduce pay for workers who don’t consistently work full-time hours.
Health and Welfare Benefits: The flyer claims Kroger’s proposal would eliminate health care benefits for future retirees, increase costs for current retirees, and potentially put the future funding of the entire healthcare plan at risk, leading to higher out-of-pocket expenses for employees.
Paid Time Off: The union states that Kroger’s offer does not provide any additional paid time off or paid sick days. It also removes language guaranteeing a premium rate for night crew members who take vacation time.
Hours and Scheduling: The union highlights concerns that Kroger’s proposal would:
Make Sundays a regular part of the work week, impacting work-life balance for many employees.
Eliminate time-and-a-half pay for working more than 8 hours in a day, reducing overtime compensation.
Reduce the minimum guaranteed hours from 15 to 12 per week, potentially impacting part-time employees’ income stability.
Reduce the minimum call-in shift from 5 hours to 4 hours, potentially increasing scheduling unpredictability for workers.
Workplace Safety: The union emphasizes that Kroger’s proposed contract lacks any new provisions to address workplace safety concerns, despite the increasing threat of gun violence in stores.
The flyer concludes by urging Kroger to improve its offer and stating the union’s unwavering commitment to fighting for a fair contract.
At the time of writing, Hinton News has not yet reached a Kroger representative for comment from the company’s prospective.
On Feb. 26, the union released a statement that members would be voting on a potential strike. As of the time of writing, a decision has not been announced. Keep a check on hintonnews.com for the latest updates. To see a video of the rally, go to the Hinton News page on Facebook.
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