Dear Local 455 Kroger Shreveport Members,
Your Local Union bargaining committee, made up workers just like you, met with the Company on B/1/24,8/2/24,8/14/24,8/15/24,8/27 /24,9/10/24,9/27 /24,10/18/24, and 2/3/25 to discuss your new Union contract and the workplace issues that matter to you most.
After several months of bargaining with the Company, your bargaining team is reporting that we have not made enough progress at the bargaining table, especially given the fact, that other than the meeting this week on February 3rd for a few hours, the Company has not met with your bargaining committee since October 18th. During the last several months, and this week, your bargaining team continued to make clear to company negotiators that we needed additional bargaining dates to work towards an agreement our bargaining committee could support and recommend to the general membership. We need an agreement that represents what is in our members best interest and not forced on them.
We have also been clear with the Company, that in its current form, the Last Best and Final Offer the Company emailed to our Local Union Leadership in January, and discussed and reviewed with our bargaining committee for the first time on February 3rd, was not put together in collaboration with our worker-led bargaining committee, nor does it work to address correcting the disparity between what a Kroger employee earns in a large more populated city, versus a smaller rural area or smaller city with smaller populations. The Company Last Best and Final Offer also takes concessionary action on premium wage benefits that your coworkers have fought for and earned over the years that, if successful, will impact premium job take home pay, and future employees’ take home pay, among other items your bargaining team views as unnecessary and not in your best interest.
When your bargaining committee met with the Company this week, the Company refused to bargain on mandatory subjects and, instead, insisted their final offer is what workers want and have earned & deserve. Simply put, we disagree, and we want your input.
Your Local Union is scheduling a special called meeting that will be held on February 12 at 6pm at the Hilton Shreveport, 104 Market St 71101 Shreveport LA, to review, discuss, and vote on the Company’s offer. Please see the attached meeting notice for the specific meeting details. Please also make plans to attend this important meeting, and make your voices be heard. If you want an agreement that you have earned and deserved, and a contract that rewards your hard work and lifts you up, please be sure to attend. We do not believe you want an agreement that is forced on you, that only has the Company’s best interest at heart, not yours. See you on Wednesday, February 12.
In Solidarity, Your Shreveport Bargaining Committee
& Local Union President Brandon Hopkins.
