Contracts coming soon. Contact your Union Representative for a copy of the Tentative Agreement.
Representing Kroger workers in southern Texas and Louisiana.
Kroger Contracts
"The strength of the union comes from us staying together and sticking together."
-Connie Coleman, Kroger 038
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Kroger Health & Welfare
Enrollment Website
NOVEMBER 8 – DECEMBER 15, 2024
UFCW Unions & Employers H&W Fund - Atlanta
2025 Open Enrollment
Enrollment Website
ENROLL ONLINE:
➢ Go to atlanta.ufcwemprfund.org
➢ The online system will guide you through the enrollment process.
➢ Once you have made your benefit elections, you will see a summary of your choices and a confirmation number. You will know you have completed the process when you receive a confirmation number. Please keep this number in a safe place.
Contact the Fund Office
NEED HELP?
➢ Call 770-997-9910 or toll-free at 800-241-2136
➢ A representative will guide you through your enrollment.
➢ Extended Open Enrollment customer service hours from 7 am to 6 pm Central time will be available starting November 8th.
➢ Saturday hours from 8 am to 4 pm Central time will be available on December 7th and December 14th!
Enrollment Website
YOU MUST ENROLL DURING ANNUAL ENROLLMENT EVERY YEAR TO HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS FOR THE NEXT YEAR!
Got a health insurance question?
No problem. Contact the Fund Office
As a result of collective bargaining between your Union and The Kroger Company, your medical, prescription, dental, vision, weekly disability, and life/ad&d benefits will be provided through the United Food & Commercial Workers Unions & Employers Health & Welfare Fund – Atlanta.
MEDICAL
Blue Cross Blue Shield
1-800-331-1476
www.anthem.com
DENTAL
Cigna Dental
1-800-244-6224
www.cigna.com
VISION
EyeMed
1-866-265-4626
www.eyemed.com
PRESCRIPTION
OptumRx
1-866-328-2005
www.optumrx.com
Kroger Pension
UFCW Kroger Members are covered under two plans, Meat and Clerk. Please contact the appropriate fund below for information.
ELIGIBILITY
How can you find out if you are eligible for pension benefits?
Contact the appropriate fund office listed above.
Enrolling in the Pension Fund?
You do not need to do anything to enroll in the pension fund. As soon as you become eligible, you will be automatically enrolled.
When will I become eligible?
Once you have earned five years of service, you will be vested and you will become eligible for a retirement benefit once you reach full retirement age.
When is full retirement age?
Current Kroger employees participating in the pension plan are qualified for full-pension benefits at 65 years of age.
Former Kroger employees:
- Former Kroger clerk employees who stopped working prior to 2012 are qualified for full-pension benefits at 62 years of age.
- Former Kroger meat employees who stopped working prior to 2005 are qualified for full-pension benefits at 62 years of age.
Participants who choose to wait until 70 ½ DO NOT have to stop working and may continue to work while drawing your pension allowing you to keep your seniority and full-time status.
Can I retire early?
Kroger employees participating in the pension plan who have 10+ years with the company can retire at 55 with a reduction in pension benefits.
How do I start the retirement process?
Pension paperwork will be sent automatically following your 70 ½ birthday. To file for pension benefits earlier, you must request paperwork from your corresponding pension office.
Forms
Promotion and transfer requests can be mailed or hand delivered to your Union Representative.
Please find the appropriate form, print and complete before submitting.
121 Northpoint Dr.
Houston, TX 77060
Frequently Asked Questions*
How many hours are needed to qualify for insurance?
To qualify for insurance coverage you must meet one of the following minimum hours* requirements:
2024
Part-time: 27 hour minimum
Full-time, employee only: 30 hour minimum
Full-time, dependent child(ren): 30 hour minimum
Full-time, spousal + family: 36 hour minimum
2025
Part-time, employee only: 24 hour minimum
Full-time, employee only: 30 hour minimum
Full-time, dependent child(ren): 30 hour minimum
Full-time, spousal + dependent child(ren): 36 hour minimum
2026
Part-time, employee only: 25 hour minimum
Full-time, employee only: 30 hour minimum
Full-time, dependent child(ren): 30 hour minimum
Full-time, spousal + dependent child(ren): 36 hour minimum
2027
Part-time, employee only: 27 hour minimum
Full-time, employee only: 30 hour minimum
Full-time, dependent child(ren): 30 hour minimum
Full-time, spousal + dependent child(ren): 36 hour minimum
*Hours are based on the average hours worked in a single 12 month period.
For more information please call the Health & Welfare Fund Office at 1-800-241-2136
What are the steps to start my short-term disability with pay?
Short-term disability with pay is only available for those who are currently enrolled in health insurance coverage through employment with the Kroger Company.
In order to receive pay for short-term disability covered by your Kroger health insurance, you must contact the benefit office. You must submit paperwork to the benefit office in order to get paid for your leave.
You must also contact MetLife and your store manager to let them know you will be on short-term disability.
Benefit (insurance) Office – 1-800-241-2136
Metlife (secures your job position while on leave) – 1-888-343-6886
Who is covered under funeral pay?
If a member of an employee’s immediate family shall die, said employee shall be paid for a reasonable period of absence depending upon the circumstances but not to exceed a maximum of three (3) scheduled workdays.
The term “immediate family” shall mean spouse, parent, step-parents, child, step-child, brother, sister, grandchildren, grandmother, grandfather, father-in-law, mother-in-law.
What holidays are eligible for Holiday Pay?
The following shall be considered as holidays: New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Employees who are absent of their own accord on either their scheduled workday preceding or their scheduled workday following the holiday or on the holiday, if so scheduled, shall be paid only for the hours actually worked, except where absence is caused by proven illness or is excused by the Employer, the employee shall receive holiday pay, provided he or she worked any part of the holiday week. No probationary employee will receive holidays.
What is full retirement age?
Kroger employees participating in the pension plan are qualified for full-pension benefits at 65 years of age.
Former Kroger employees:
- Former Kroger clerk employees who stopped working prior to 2012 are qualified for full-pension benefits at 62 years of age.
- Former Kroger meat employees who stopped working prior to 2005 are qualified for full-pension benefits at 62 years of age.
Can I retire at 55?
Kroger employees participating in the pension plan who have 10+ years with the company can retire at 55 with a reduction in pension benefits.
How do I contact the pension office?
Contact the pension office for years of service, vesting information, retirement paperwork, etc.
CLERK PENSION
(For Kroger & Rice)
UFCW Consolidated
Pension Fund
1800 Phoenix Boulevard
Suite 310
Atlanta, GA 30349-5559
1-800-241-7701
www.ufcwemprfund.org
MEAT PENSION
(For Kroger & AG)
UFCW International Union
Industry Pension Fund
P.O. Box 6000
Frankfort, IL 60423-6000
Am I eligible for disability pension?
To be eligible for disability pension you must meet the criteria listed below as well as qualify for disability.
- Clerks –
Employees must be an active employee at the time of retirement and have 20+ years with the company. - Meat –
Employees must apply within 5 years of leaving the company and have had 10+ years with the company.
Contact the pension office for more information.
* The language herein contains summarized contract language and varies from contract to contract. Please refer to your union contract or contact your Union Representative for additional information.
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Kroger News
Dear Local 455 Kroger Members, Following the conclusion of the Houston ratification votes held from 2/29/2024 to 3/12/2024, your Bargaining Committee and fellow rank and file members who helped count…
Dear Local 455 Kroger Members, Your bargaining team met with the Company on 2/21; 2/22; and, 2/23 and we are pleased to announce that we reached a tentative agreement that…
Dear Local 455 Kroger Members, Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company on 2/14 & 2/15 to continue our work on securing contracts in Houston that reward your hard work.…
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Active and involved members make sure this union thrives and that the needs of our members and community are met. By standing together and taking action, there really is no limit to what we can achieve.
Sign Up for Our Street Action Committee by Texting ‘SAC455’ to 83071 or Fill Out the Form >
By signing up, you will:
- Be the first to know about UFCW Local 455 events including direct actions, rallies, and protests.
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- Have the opportunity to be a part of a rapid response team that fact checks the company’s claims through online and on-the-ground action.
- Help mobilize, organize, and educate our community (customers, reporters, allied groups) on what it’s like to be an essential worker and the importance of a strong union contract.
