As part of our commitment to keeping you informed, your bargaining team, made up of your union and fellow Kroger coworkers, met on 12/16 with Kroger to continue contract negotiations.
So you know, we are committed to working towards a better contract that honors your hard work and sacrifices. A better contract that provides wage increases, reinstates hazard pay, protects your healthcare, and provides better protections for every Kroger worker.
We’ve attached some key updates from yesterday’s negotiation for you, but the fact is that Kroger refuses to do what is right for you and your family. Here are the facts.
KEY UPDATES
#1: When your union spoke on the need to immediately restore hazard pay: Kroger said they “don’t have the budget.”
Again, to be clear, we asked Kroger point blank if they think you deserve hazard pay and their answer was “Yes, they deserve it,” but “we do not have the budget.”
The fact is that Kroger has made over $3 billion in profits during COVID-19 through your hard work, and has given nearly half of it, $1.4 billion, to shareholders.
As we have heard from all of you, we all believe it is fundamentally wrong for Kroger to refuse reinstating hazard pay when it is you and your co-workers, who have made them a multi-billion-dollar success.
#2: When your union brought up the 766 positive COVID-19 cases among Kroger Houston Division workers: Kroger said nothing.
The fact is that Kroger is all but ignoring that 766 local grocery store workers, our friends and colleagues, have to deal with this disease without the critical hazard pay they need and at a time when their healthcare is being threatened.
The fact is that it is wrong for Kroger to threaten your wages and healthcare in the middle of a pandemic – especially given the serious health risks you face every day.
#3: When your union asked Kroger why they’re bringing in 1,500 temporary workers: Kroger exposed the truth.
If you want to know the truth about what Kroger wants, it is this simple: Kroger said the reason they’re training temporary workers and claiming to start them at $12.50 an hour — more than the current starting rate — is because they will not provide those workers with vacation days, healthcare, or pensions.
The fact is that Kroger is training no-benefit temporary and part time workers, because they want to destroy the hard-earned wages and benefits you and your coworkers have fought for years to earn.
Because you and your co-workers deserve the truth, we also made various information requests that we expect the company to answer in good faith and will keep you updated about the information they provide as negotiations continue.
In the meantime, please make sure you sign up for blast text notices so that you’re the first to know of any breaking news or updates.
TEXT KROGERHOU TO 83071 TO SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NOTICES AND UPDATES
And if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at (281) 448-5555.
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