We are hopeful that the outcome from this federal case will stop the proposed merger, and we will continue to watch and comment on the state cases in Washington, which began yesterday in Seattle, and Colorado, scheduled to begin on September 30 in Denver.
Read MoreThe lawsuit filed by the Colorado Attorney General led to a ruling today from a Colorado court to temporarily halt the proposed mega-merger and helps to clarify this point – the merger is by no means a done deal. That case is now scheduled to be heard starting on September 30th.
Read More"This proposed merger was a bad idea from the get-go and I'm glad our Washington State Attorney General is one of many going to court to stop it,” said Brendan Gallagher a meat wrapper at a Kroger-owned QFC in Seattle and member of UFCW 3000. “It's bad for our customers and bad for us as grocery store workers because it would raise prices, close stores, and lay off workers. These companies should do just the opposite: stop the merger, lower prices, hire more staff and open more stores."
Read MoreStop the Merger Coalition of UFCW Locals to Hold Press Briefing
Read MoreThis is our first union negotiations since we became UFCW 3000 and our combined strength has helped us win a contract with record wages and major contract improvements. In the midst of a proposed grocery mega-merger, we’ve sent a clear message —We have power in our communities, we have a voice in our workplace, and we have a strong new contract that will be the backbone for our future.
Read More
After nearly six months of bargaining with Albertson/Safeway and Kroger for a new contract that respects our work, increases our wages, and improves our retirement and healthcare, we are holding a contract vote! This notice serves to inform all members that a critical membership meeting will be held on May 20 and 21, 2024.
The bargaining committee will present the tentative agreement received from the Employer. Members will have the opportunity to discuss the terms and implications of the offer before voting on the fully recommended settlement.
Any member covered under the Baker City, La Grande and Enterprise Grocery contract and the Pendleton Hermiston Grocery contract who are in good standing will be able to vote at these locations:
For questions, please contact your Union Representative, bargaining committee members, and stewards for updates. If you are unable to connect with your union rep, steward or bargaining committee member you may call the MRC at 1-866-210-3000 for more information.
All members in the Baker City, La Grande and Enterprise Grocery contract and the Pendleton Hermiston Grocery contract are encouraged to be present for this important vote.
This is our first union negotiations since we became UFCW 3000 and our combined strength has helped us win a contract with record wages and major contract improvements. In the midst of a proposed grocery mega-merger, we’ve sent a clear message —We have power in our communities, we have a voice in our workplace, and we have a strong new contract that will be the backbone for our future.
We did this together, by standing strong and showing up for each other and our communities.
The many improvements in the ratified contract include:
Strongest journey wage increases in any Spokane Grocery Store negotiation! We increased our Journey wages by $4.00 or more.
Big retro checks for journey going back to contract expirations January 20, 2024.
Won an “All Purpose Clerk” scale with historic pay raises for many departments —for some over 25% wage increase during the course of this contract.
More than quadrupling our wage escalators —that means strong wage increases throughout the pay scale when minimum wage goes up and when workers are moving through the apprentice rates.
Healthcare with benefit improvements with NO increases to healthcare premiums or deductibles. Healthcare eligibility will now be based on all compensable hours.
Major improvements to our vacation banks that will ensure that we get vacation based off of hours worked.
Automatic pension funding increases that go up every time wages increase.
Dedicated money to fund training and workforce development to ensure that we get the training we need to do our jobs and prepare for the future of the industry.
Stronger safety language to address top issues we face in our stores.
“This is the most money I thought I'd ever see coming out of Kroger. The pressure we applied across all our stores was amazing! I am feeling amazed!” -Katrina Keffer, Fred Meyer
“I am really excited for my co-workers who worked for years in the Deli, my co-workers will get wage increases that they deserve. This will help make sure we can keep people here in the store.” -Jeff Yergens, Safeway
After months of strike preparation, store actions, and long negotiation sessions, our member bargaining committee reached a fully recommended tentative agreement with Safeway/Albertsons and Kroger on a new contract. This agreement has dramatic gains for Eastern Washington, Oregon, and historic gains for unionized grocery stores in Idaho.
“This is the most money I thought I'd ever see coming out of Kroger. The pressure we applied across all our stores was amazing! I am feeling amazed!” - Katriana Keffer, Fred Meyer
The agreement includes:
Higher wages that will address pay equity across departments
Rights that will ensure a safer store
Pension improvements
Investments in workforce development and training
And more!
This tentative agreement is not final until we vote on it. Full details of the agreement will be available at the contract vote Thursday, May 2 where members of the bargaining committee will be available to help answer questions and walk us through the agreement.
Contract Votes for Spokane Albertsons Meat, Spokane Albertsons Grocery, Spokane Safeway Meat, Spokane Safeway Grocery, Spokane Fred Meyer Meat, Spokane Fred Meyer Grocery, Spokane Fred Meyer CCK: Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 9am-12pm and 3pm-7pm at the Spokane DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center, 322 N Spokane Falls Ct, Spokane WA 99201 - All other grocery contracts will vote at a later date.
“I feel really, really good about what we are finally getting from these employers! We broke through some big barriers in this agreement. The gains to our retirement plan felt like we were finally being listened to -we can actually retire!” -Frankie Roesser Safeway
“It’s not what everybody wants, it’s not the moon but I am really excited for my coworkers who worked for year in the Deli, my coworkers will get wage increases that they deserve. Hopefully this will help make sure we can keep people here in the store.” -Jeff Yergens, Safeway
After months of bargaining, we have voted in our first contract with many amazing improvements including:
After nearly six months of bargaining with Albertson/Safeway and Kroger for a new contract that respects our work, increases our wages, and improves our retirement and healthcare, we are holding a contract votes across Washington, Idaho and NE Oregon! This notice serves to inform all members that a critical membership meeting will be held on August 20, 21 & 22, 2024. We will be conducting a vote on the fully recommended tentative agreement our bargaining team reached on April 30, 2024.
After nearly six months of bargaining with Albertson/Safeway and Kroger for a new contract that respects our work, increases our wages, and improves our retirement and healthcare, we are holding a contract vote! This notice serves to inform all members that a critical membership meeting will be held on May 2, 2024, at the Spokane Double Tree Hotel, in the conference center. We will be conducting a vote on the last offer presented by the Employer following our scheduled bargaining dates on April 29 and 30, 2024.
1. CONTRACT RATIFICATION VOTE: The bargaining committee will present the last offer received from the Employer. Members will have the opportunity to discuss the terms and implications of the offer before proceeding to a vote on whether to ratify or reject the proposed contract.
2. STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE (if applicable): Should the final offer not be recommended by the bargaining committee, we will also conduct a strike authorization vote. This vote will determine whether to engage in a strike or other action in response to the Employer’s final offer.
3. VOTE TIMES & LOCATION: Any member in good standing will be able to vote at the Spokane DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center, 322 N Spokane Falls Ct, Spokane WA 99201 from 9am-12pm or from 3pm-7pm on May 2, 2024. Carpool if you can, as parking is limited. Available parking will be at no cost, details available at registration.
For questions, please contact your Union Representative, bargaining committee members, and stewards for critical updates as things can change quickly and are time sensitive. If you are unable to connect with your union rep, steward or bargaining committee member you may call the MRC at 1-866-210-3000 for more information.
All members in the Spokane Albertsons Meat, Spokane Albertsons Grocery, Spokane Safeway Meat, Spokane Safeway Grocery, Spokane Fred Meyer Meat, Spokane Fred Meyer Grocery, Spokane Fred Meyer CCK, are encouraged to be present for this important vote. Your voice and vote are essential in guiding the direction of our bargaining strategy.
The Cheney Meat and Grocery Votes will be held at a separate time and location to be announced. The Oregon Grocery Vote will be held at a separate time and location to be announced.
UFCW 5, 7, 324, 400, 770 and 3000
“This bigger proposed divestiture simply increases the challenge C&S, a New Hampshire-based wholesaler, would have trying to operate a hodgepodge chain of retail stores. They have no experience operating retail stores in these states, would still lack the IT, customer loyalty and manufacturing capabilities needed, and would most likely end up monetizing the real estate under many of these stores,” said a coalition of UFCW locals (Locals 5, 7, 324, 400, 770, 1564 and 3000). These local UFCWs have been central in the coalition opposing the proposed merger from the get-go and represent over 100,000 Kroger and Albertsons workers across the nation from Washington DC and surrounding states, and California, Colorado, New Mexico, Washington state and Wyoming.
Please go to www.nogrocerymerger.com for more information in the coalition efforts to oppose the proposed Kroger and Albertsons merger.
Contact: Tom Geiger, 206-604-3421
After three days of bargaining with the Employers, Albertsons/Safeway and Kroger, we made good progress towards an agreement. Our union member Bargaining Committee made major progress on key issues like wage escalators that help ensure we keep our wages above minimum wage and workers get raises when the minimum wage goes up. We will continue to fight to get the Employers to propose more money for Journeypersons so that we get the big raises we deserve, especially in the first year of the contract.
New bargaining dates are set with the Employers for April 29 and 30, which we hope will be productive. After these sessions we will take the Employers’ last offer to a vote of the membership on May 2 at the Spokane Doubletree hotel. This will either be a strike authorization vote if the Employers’ offer falls short, or it will be a ratification vote if the employer meets our demands and our Bargaining Committee recommends a yes vote.
Continue to get strike ready! Become a picket captain, sign strike pledge cards, attend Contract Action Team meetings and become a steward!
This vote is for the Spokane & Cheney stores only due to expired contracts. NE Oregon to be announced. Please reach out to your Rep with any questions about the vote.
As you may have heard, on February 26, after a massive 16-month effort by our collective of UFCW Local unions and others, we accomplished an important goal of getting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to officially file a lawsuit to stop the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons. Nine states’ Attorneys General joined that FTC legal challenge. The Attorneys General of the states of Washington and Colorado also filed separate lawsuits on January 15 and February 14, respectively.
This is very good news in our campaign to protect workers, shoppers, and the community from the negative impacts that would result if this proposed merger were allowed. But the effort to stop the merger still has a way to go.
The legal process will likely continue for some time until one of two things happens:
- The Federal Judge in Portland, OR, has set a date for August 26, 2024, for the trial to begin on the FTC case. The WA and CO trials can move ahead separately, but they could be coordinated with others as well. Those trials could continue until an outcome is determined.
Or:
- The Merger Agreement of Kroger and Albertsons has an “outside date” of mid-October 2024 (two years after when it was announced) after which the companies can simply abandon the deal without paying any financial penalty to the other party, so it is also possible that Kroger and Albertsons will simply withdraw their proposed merger.
It’s time for Kroger and Albertsons to invest in grocery store workers, our customers, and our communities instead of wasting years and billions of dollars on a failed merger proposal. These companies have been doing very well and have made billions of dollars in profit in recent years. They should be making more investments in better-staffed stores, in higher retention of workers with better pay, benefits, and training, and in lower food prices for shoppers. These investments will result in Kroger and Albertsons becoming stronger companies.
In addition to fighting the proposed mega-merger that would cause harm to thousands of grocery store workers and millions of customers, our collective group of local UFCWs is also taking action to affirmatively improve our contracts, organize more unionized grocery stores, and more.
Local 770+324 held a Rally for Food 4 Less Workers starting Contract in Southern California. Here is a video from the event as well as local ABC 7 TV News coverage from Los Angeles.
UFCW Local 7 and 770 Members featured in national In These Times article: “The Mega Grocery Merger That Would Pay the Price For, The Kroger-Albertsons merger is a threat to grocery workers everywhere. Let’s join the fight to stop it.”
UFCW Local 5 members at the Kroger-owned Foods Co recently ratified a new contract that includes some major improvements including: $4.50 wage increase over term of contract for top rate, large ratification bonus, an increase in all wage progressions, and a reduced amount of time to reach the experienced rate for all purpose clerks.
Kroger workers vote to join Local 3000 in central Washington and hold Informational Pickets in eastern Washington city of Spokane for a stronger contract. KHQ 6 TV Spokane, WA covered the action for local news.
After the merger is stopped, some have said that Albertsons will just be sold to some other company. That’s just not true. Before the merger proposal, a super-majority of Albertsons’ stock was owned by six massive private equity investors who wanted to sell their shares to a single buyer. But during the past 24 months, those large investors have sold the majority of their shares in Albertsons, and we expect they will continue to sell their remaining shares on the NY Stock Exchange after the merger is blocked.
The alternative—trying to sell Albertsons in whole or in part to a different buyer—would be very unlikely. Court documents show that in the summer of 2022, there were no other bidders aside from Kroger, so a new buyer would likely offer a significantly lower value for the company. Based on Albertsons’ current stock price (which is still significantly below the Kroger buyout price), the company’s total enterprise value is approximately $20 billion, or nearly $9 million per store. To put that in perspective, the current divestiture plan to C&S Wholesale proposes to pay about half of that amount. So, selling to C&S or to anyone else at that price would destroy significant value for Albertsons shareholders. And again, the company is doing well financially, and there is no need to sell. Recent quarterly reports show Albertsons is doing even better than Kroger.
OLYMPIA, WA – This morning, Governor Inslee signed into law Senate Bill 6007, a bill intended to protect grocery store workers and communities from the negative impacts of corporate megamergers in the grocery industry. Drafted in response to the news that grocery giants Kroger (owner of Fred Meyer and QFC) and Albertsons/Safeway are threatening to merge into one huge company, ESSB 6007 saw enormous support from local Washington grocery store workers and community allies, who advocated throughout the legislative session for its passage.
“As I explained to legislators, we’ve already learned the hard way through past grocery chain mergers about the upheaval it causes for workers and shoppers when these chains merge and close or sell off neighborhood grocery stores,” said Yasmin Ashur, a UFCW 3000 member and checker at the Port Orchard Albertsons who testified in support of the bill and was on hand to see the governor sign it today. “We saw it in Port Orchard with the Albertsons/Safeway merger not that long ago. I am so proud to say I stood up with my fellow workers and helped pass legislation that will help protect our jobs.”
This new legislation puts in place basic guidelines for large grocery stores when they change hands, like in an acquisition or merger, to ensure that essential food workers’ lives and our communities’ access to food and household necessities are not thrown into chaos. It requires public notice of new ownership, a period of job protection or re-hire for eligible current employees, protection of current working conditions and collective bargaining agreements, and mandatory engagement with local government if a merger would cause the closure of a store in an existing food desert.
“The difference between unemployment caused by a pandemic and job loss caused by corporate buyouts is that the potential harm of a merger is foreseeable,” said Britt Leggett, a UFCW 3000 member and deli clerk at the Fred Meyer in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle who also testified in support of the bill and attended the bill signing today. “That’s what this legislation seeks to remediate: to help workers keep their jobs and seniority when their stores changes owners. The law also ensures that constituents will be served by grocery workers who they know well, who have the skills to do their jobs, and follow the health rules to keep food safe.”
Hundreds of grocery store workers with UFCW 3000 across the state sent messages to lawmakers encouraging the passage of SB 6007, and some traveled to Olympia to meet lawmakers in person.
“It’s a big sacrifice for everyday working people to take time out of their busy lives to try and engage with the local political process,” said Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer of UFCW 3000. “But being in a union means we can share the load, work together, and make real change that impacts entire industries.”
Our efforts to stop the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons reached a major milestone on Monday February 26 when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and nine State Attorneys General filed a lawsuit to challenge the merger. UFCW 3000 has been a national leader in opposing the proposed merger since the day it was announced in October of 2022. Since that time, we have been actively working with a core group of other UFCW locals as well as a wide range of over 150 diverse partner organizations across the nation and developed a “No Grocery Merger” coalition.
The effort to oppose the merger is not over yet. Kroger and Albertsons have both said they will challenge the lawsuits in court, so we expect it could be many months until an outcome is known. We will keep up the fight. And for right now we will also celebrate this major win in the struggle to protect workers, shoppers, and communities from the greed and over-reach of Kroger and Albertsons.
Another example of our effort to protect workers was our recent win on February 22 when we were successful in getting the Washington State Legislature to pass SB 6007 – a new law to provide protections for grocery store workers from the harm that can result when chains merge and the consequences include layoffs and store closures.
For the thousands of members who have acted together – we are making a difference. The actions have included signing petitions, handing out leaflets to customers, raising our voices in local and national news stories, signing in support of our new WA law to protect workers, and so much more. And it shows that when workers and community come together and act as one, we can push back against some of the largest corporations in America.
Instead of spending all this time and money on a proposed merger that if allowed to proceed would lead to higher prices, closed stores, lost jobs, a reduced ability for union workers to negotiate strong contracts, and giving away billions to wealthy investors, these companies should be doing the necessary work to provide better wages and working conditions, and making stores safer.
More Detailed Information:
On Monday February 26, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) challenged the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons siting concerns about how the merger would harm consumers and workers. Nine State Attorneys General (Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming) joined the legal action as well. These are above and beyond the two other Attorneys General lawsuits from Washington and Colorado. Your support of the “No Grocery Merger” coalition is an important part of what led to this success. The 150 organizations across the nation who joined together last year to fight this merger was a show of both the power of solidarity and a diverse array of interests.
We remain committed to continue our diligent efforts to defend workers, customers and communities from the devastating harm that would be caused if such a merger were to proceed. And we also look forward to beginning to fix the broken food systems in this nation.
FTC Complaint: Kroger's/Albertsons: Administrative Part 3 Complaint (Public) (ftc.gov)
Our press release including link to coalition partners and highlights of some of the activities over past 16 months to fight the proposed merger.
We are hopeful that the outcome from this federal case will stop the proposed merger, and we will continue to watch and comment on the state cases in Washington, which began yesterday in Seattle, and Colorado, scheduled to begin on September 30 in Denver.
We held a UFCW Locals Stop the Merger coalition press conference on the courthouse steps an hour prior to the first day of the FTC case and our concerns were aired in news coverage from coast to coast.
The Stop the Merger Coalition led by UFCW Locals 7, 324, 400, 770, 1564 and 3000 today held a press conference immediately prior to the much-anticipated Federal Court hearings of the Federal Trade Commission’s challenge to block the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons. Workers and leaders from California, Washington and Colorado, representing over 100,000 union grocery store members, reiterated their opposition to the anti-competitive, anti-worker and anti-community scheme.
The lawsuit filed by the Colorado Attorney General led to a ruling today from a Colorado court to temporarily halt the proposed mega-merger and helps to clarify this point – the merger is by no means a done deal. That case is now scheduled to be heard starting on September 30th.
"This proposed merger was a bad idea from the get-go and I'm glad our Washington State Attorney General is one of many going to court to stop it,” said Brendan Gallagher a meat wrapper at a Kroger-owned QFC in Seattle and member of UFCW 3000. “It's bad for our customers and bad for us as grocery store workers because it would raise prices, close stores, and lay off workers. These companies should do just the opposite: stop the merger, lower prices, hire more staff and open more stores."
Stop the Merger Coalition of UFCW Locals to Hold Press Briefing
Press Release: UFCW Locals 5, 7, 324, 400, 770, 1564, 3000
For immediate release: February 26, 2024
Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 3000, 206-604-3421
UFCW local unions representing more than 100,000 grocery store employees working at Albertsons and Kroger-owned stores in over a dozen states and the District of Columbia applaud the FTC Decision to reject this proposed megamerger.
UFCW local unions have loudly and soundly opposed the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons since day one because the megamerger would have resulted in lost jobs, closed stores, food deserts, and higher prices with reduced food choices – all of this would have been destructive for workers, consumers, and entire communities. Importantly, the FTC decision recognizes the threat that the merger would have caused goes beyond consumers and calls out that it would also have damaged essential grocery store workers’ wages, benefits and working conditions.
The FTC deliberations over the past 16 months, and the evidence that was gathered directed their well-founded decision. This is a step in the right direction for building a better food system in this country. Now we need to do all we can to help defend this decision and to turn the discussion towards building a better system that is more accountable to workers, shoppers, and the community.
The coalition of UFCW locals 5, 7, 324, 400, 770, 1564 and 3000 have been instrumental in the opposition to the proposed merger from the very beginning. Hundreds of actions, news stories, meetings with grocery store members, community, regulators and others and additional events have been part of that effort. Below is a varied sampling of some highlighted examples of this work.
We are hopeful that the outcome from this federal case will stop the proposed merger, and we will continue to watch and comment on the state cases in Washington, which began yesterday in Seattle, and Colorado, scheduled to begin on September 30 in Denver.
We held a UFCW Locals Stop the Merger coalition press conference on the courthouse steps an hour prior to the first day of the FTC case and our concerns were aired in news coverage from coast to coast.
The Stop the Merger Coalition led by UFCW Locals 7, 324, 400, 770, 1564 and 3000 today held a press conference immediately prior to the much-anticipated Federal Court hearings of the Federal Trade Commission’s challenge to block the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons. Workers and leaders from California, Washington and Colorado, representing over 100,000 union grocery store members, reiterated their opposition to the anti-competitive, anti-worker and anti-community scheme.
The lawsuit filed by the Colorado Attorney General led to a ruling today from a Colorado court to temporarily halt the proposed mega-merger and helps to clarify this point – the merger is by no means a done deal. That case is now scheduled to be heard starting on September 30th.
October 2022
10/13 – Kroger and Albertsons, without any warning, make announcement of proposed merger.
10/13 – Group of local UFCW unions, taking advantage of close relationships forged through supportive and collaborative efforts with each other’s collective bargaining with national grocers, quickly convene and issue joint statement immediately raising concerns about the proposal. Within hours the initial news coverage that had simply contained Kroger’s statement becomes a broader story including very strong opposition and concerns.
10/22 – Joint press release by local UFCWs flags the proposed massive payout of $4 Billion by Albertsons to wealthy shareholders as part of the proposed merger. News coverage includes KIRO 7 TV story.
10/26 - Joint press release applauding lawsuits filed by Attorneys General in multiple jurisdictions to halt Albertsons special $4 billion payout to wealthy shareholders as part of the proposed merger which Albertsons initially announced would take place in early November. The Washington State AG case succeeds in halting this rushed payment. While it ends up being allowed to proceed, it is not until early 2023 and only after under-oath testimony from company executives disclosing critical inside information that had been unknown to the public and exposed some of the key motivations behind the proposed merger.
November 2022
11/29 Held in-person Press Conference in Washington DC with Presidents and members from the six local UFCWs of the newly formed coalition from across 12 states and the District of Columbia (Southern CA - UFCW 324 and 770, Northern CA – UFCW 5; Washington – UFCW 3000; CO & Wyoming – UFCW 7; DC and surrounding states – UFCW 400) and Teamsters local 38 representing over 100,000 Kroger and Albertsons. The press conference was held immediately prior to a planned US Senate Subcommittee hearing on the proposed merger and helped tell the story of the negative impacts of such a merger in local and national TV, print, and radio coverage.
December 2022
12/3 – Article goes into details about concerns. “EVERYONE SHOULD BE VERY SKEPTICAL OF THE SUPPOSED BENEFITS OF THE KROGER-ALBERTSONS MERGER - Kroger can’t help but promote its own interests over customers.”
January 2023
1/23 – Ongoing opposition by states and UFCW locals discussed in Supermarket News article..
February 2023
2/1 – More Perfect Union posts video discussing harms and concerns of proposed merger.
2/15 - Colorado Attorney General begins series of statewide listening sessions to hear from workers, community and others about their reactions to the proposed merger. UFCW Local 7 members attend these meetings and provide critical concerns about the proposal.
March 2023
3/24 – Launch of national coalition “NoGroceryMerger.com” and website as a one-stop for the anti-merger efforts with over 100 organizations. This also becomes a place to chronicle much of the media coverage around the country about the opposition and provides a degree of a check and balance to the Kroger and Albertson’s PR machinery. https://www.nogrocerymerger.com/news
April 2023
4/4-4/13 – Grocery store workers take actions in front of stores across the nation to connect with customers and share concerns about the proposed merger and how it would harm workers and customers with closed stores, lay-offs, higher prices, and in some locations food deserts.
May 2023
After months of deliberation and ultimately a unanimous vote at the UFCW International Convention opposing the merger, UFCW International Union announces opposition to the proposed Kroger Albertsons merger. National press coverage is widespread including a Wall Street Journal headline: “Biggest Grocery Union Opposes $20 Billion Kroger-Albertsons Deal - UFCW International is concerned about potential divestitures and stores’ future viability.”
June 2023
6/29 – A week of actions held by UFCW grocery store workers across the nation include many in California that generated local press coverage like KTLA 5 TV story: Southern California grocery workers rally against Albertsons-Kroger merger (youtube.com)
July 2023
7/26 – Coalition of UFCW locals issue statement condemning announced pay-outs of over $146 million to top executives if merger were approved. Coverage includes Cincinnati Enquirer article.
August 2023
8/23 – State Treasurers raise concerns about proposed merger. News stories include Bloomberg Law article: “Kroger Grocery Deal Will Harm Workers State Treasurers Tell FTC”
September 2023
9/20 – National press conference held by coalition of local UFCWs to expose concerns about the recently announced divestiture to C&S Wholesale. Generates significant local and national press coverage and begins the public discussion of major concerns about C&S as an inadequate proposed remedy to the proposed mergers anti-trust challenges. Results in many stories including Supermarket News story titled “UFCW cites ‘echoes of Haggen’ in proposed C&S deal”
9/27 – UFCW local 7 hold Town Hall with members to update on opposition to proposed merger and take questions. Thousands attend.
October 2023
November 2023
11/1 - FTC Chair Khan hold listening session in Denver and hears widespread concerns from workers, consumers, suppliers and others. Significant press coverage of event includes stories like the Colorado Public Radio story: “Grocery workers ask FTC chair to stop Kroger Albertsons merger during Denver visit” UFCW members from California, Washington and Colorado attend this important event to share their stories.
11/11 – Marshall Steinbaum, an economic from University of Utah, issues report that was supported by coalition of local UFCWs 5, 7, 324, 400, 770 and 3000, titled: Evaluating the Competitive Effect of the Proposed Kroger-Albertsons Merger in Labor Markets
11/14 – American Economic Liberties Project, hold national briefing and press event with UFCW grocery store members and representatives from five additional organizations including: Ranch Foods, Independent Grocers Association, Open Markets Institute, Farm Action and Alaska Public Interest Research Group
December 2023
12/11 – Teamsters International issues strong statement in opposition to merger divestiture proposal: TEAMSTERS CALL ON FTC TO REJECT KROGER-ALBERTSONS PROPOSED ASSET SALES TO C&S
January 2024
1/15 – UFCW local coalition Issues statement applauding Washington State Attorney General Lawsuit – with our quote in local and national press coverage of the lawsuit. Coverage includes national AP story: “Washington State Sues to Block Proposed Merger of Kroger and Albertsons Grocery Chains”
1/23 - Held two webinars (1/23 AM and PM) to update members on details of the proposed merger and collective efforts to fight the proposal with over 500 members in attendance.
1/25 - Held multiple meetings with Kroger as well as C&S Wholesale. We found out no new information in the meetings that dissuaded us from our position of opposition, in fact we found out additional concerning information as well continued to ask for information that was still not provided.
1/26 - Held national online press conference (1/26) to continue to clarify our position of opposition so media and members of the public understood our reasons and the various threats to workers, consumers and communities by both the proposed merger and the proposed divestiture plan – with over 50 reporters in attendance. Generated local and national press coverage educating the public, workers and others. Example: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/grocery-worker-union-gives-update-proposed-kroger-albertsons-merger-timeline/
February 2024
2/1 - UFCW 3000 and Teamsters 38 hold live Telephone Town Hall to update and educate members, and answer questions of members with thousands of members in attendance.
2/14 – Colorado Attorney General files lawsuits against the merger. Local and national coverage. One example: CBS News Colorado: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-attorney-general-files-lawsuit-block-merger-between-kroger-albertsons/
2/22 – The Washington State Legislature passed SB 6007 – a new law to provide protections for grocery store workers from the harm that can result when chains merge and the consequences include layoffs and store closures.
For Immediate Release: February 20, 2024
Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 3000, 206-604-3421
Our coalition of local UFCW unions, collectively representing over 100,000 Kroger and Albertsons workers in over a dozen states, welcomes the actions by the Colorado Attorney General last week, joining others in moves to block the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons.
Our coalition has been outspoken in its opposition to the proposed mega merger of Kroger and Albertsons since it was first announced by those companies in October of 2022. Over the last 16 months, our opposition has both deepened and broadened. The revelations contained in the lawsuits filed by the Attorney General of Washington last month and the Attorney General of Colorado last week, have only increased our opposition to the proposed merger and further exposed the damage it would inflict on consumers, workers, and communities if it were allowed to proceed. The addition of the companies’ deeply flawed divestiture plan has likewise increased our opposition as we believe it would result in the closure of grocery stores in hundreds of communities. Again, we oppose this merger in the strongest terms possible and remain hopeful for federal enforcement action to block it and protect consumers, workers, and the public.
Background: In addition to our coalition’s volumes of actions and press statements over the past 16 months and actions by others in the NoGroceryMerger.com coalition, the below are statements from the two International Unions representing most unionized grocery store and grocery warehouse workers:
Statement from UFCW International after a unanimous vote at the UFCW Convention to oppose the proposed merger: https://www.ufcw.org/press-releases/americas-largest-union-of-essential-grocery-workers-announces-opposition-to-kroger-and-albertsons-merger/)
Statement from Teamsters International in opposing the proposed divestiture: https://teamster.org/2023/12/teamsters-call-on-ftc-to-reject-kroger-albertsons-proposed-asset-sales-to-cs/
Last week, our member bargaining team told stories of trying to survive on our wages. Fred Meyer and Safeway/Albertsons force us to decide between paying for groceries over utility bills, paying for our kids’ medical needs before our own, and filling our gas tank to get to work over making a needed repair.
The Employers didn’t respond to our stories with words, but they did respond through their proposal: They came back to the table, proposing the first dollar raise for Journey that we have seen in this round of bargaining. The Employers current proposal on Journey wages stands at $1/$0.50/$0.50. We deserve more!
We are standing united and fighting to win:
Journey wage increases of multiple dollars over the life of the contract that gain ground on the West side.
Raises of multiple dollars for Journey Meat Cutters over the life of the contract, a proposed dollar premium for Head Meat Cutter, and new designation of Head Butcher Block.
Increase the amount between steps from $0.10 above minimum wage and $0.05 between steps to $0.25 above the minimum wage and between steps so that every step sees an increase as the minimum wage increases with cost of living.
Reduce the length of our wage scales and align our scales so our coworkers can reach the Journey rate sooner and at the same time no matter what county we work in.
We also continued to fight to maintain our healthcare benefits and strengthen our pension:
We won a Tentative Agreement to improve the rate to qualify for our healthcare: Now, all Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, and Northern Idaho members will accumulate the 80 hours per month to qualify for healthcare which includes all compensable hours, not just hours worked. This means that vacation and sick leave hours will count towards the 80 hours. When we’re ill or injured and need our healthcare the most, we now will not have to fear losing it.
We continued to push to maintain our healthcare with improvements to vision, podiatry, and hearing care.
We also won Tentative Agreements over:
Additional premium for workers when we are in charge of the store: An extra 50 cents per hour for a worker in charge of the store when the manager/assistant manager is absent for more than three hours per day.
Rest periods for Idaho Meat Members: Idaho doesn’t have rest period laws, so we won a Tentative Agreement to ensure Idaho Meat Members have 10 minutes rest for every 4 hours worked, just like the rest of our Idaho Grocery Members.
Our next bargaining dates are April 15, 16 and 17.
Wear your union buttons at work!
You cannot be permanently replaced for participating in a valid ULP strike. You can be permanently replaced only if the strike is caused solely by economic issues and only after the actual hiring of a permanent replacement for your position. If the strike is called in part to protest unfair labor practices by the employer, the employer cannot legally hire a permanent replacement for you. In the unlikely event our unfair labor practice charge is not upheld, we will provide an update about the return-to-work situation.
If the employer chooses to lockout employees they have to lockout all employees. Workers locked out by their employers are generally eligible for unemployment benefits. The Employment Security Department will determine eligibility for unemployment benefits on a case by case basis.
You will not accrue sick leave or vacation while you are on strike. The employment security department determines eligibility for unemployment benefits on a case by case basis for workers in a labor dispute.
Although an employer may not discriminate against strikers with respect to the use of vacation time or paid time off during a strike, an employer is not required to allow strikers to use their accrued vacation time or other benefits during a strike unless they are otherwise entitled to do so. Thus, if a worker had submitted a vacation request before a strike and it was approved in accordance with the employer’s established policies, the employer must pay the vacation benefits even though the approved vacation occurs while the member is on strike.
It is possible that members on strike may experience a temporary disruption to their healthcare. You should work with your healthcare provider on details for eligibility.
The Executive Board of UFCW 3000 has approved strike benefits for grocery store workers who take part in strike duty. Strike benefits will not fully replace our wages but will help. They have approved strike benefits of $500 for workers, union members, and non-members who picket a minimum of 20 hours a week, $800 for 32 hours a week and $200 a week respect the line benefit for striking members who cannot join their coworkers on the strike line but respect the strike line and do not cross (for a maximum of 4 weeks). Our Union also has a hardship fund to assist members whose families face particularly difficult financial situations. Additionally, food assistance and other financial aid may be available through community organizations and other unions. Notify your creditors prior to falling behind. Communicate your situation and explore options for reduced payments or refinancing. Prioritize your expenses, placing essentials like mortgage/rent, utilities, insurance, car payments, gas, child support, and alimony at the top.
To receive Union Strike Benefits, grocery store workers will need to complete a W9 for provided by the union.
Become a Strike Picket Captain by telling your union rep that you are ready to help lead a strike by becoming a Strike Picket Captain.
More information:
To get updates and join the fight to Stop the Mega-Merger, go to nogrocerymerger.com
For information about your health care plan with Rehn go to www.ufcwhealth.com or call 800-872-8979
If you have questions about the Pension contact Zenith at soundretirmenttrust.com or call 800-225-7629
After months of bargaining, we have voted in our first contract with many amazing improvements including:
After nearly six months of bargaining with Albertson/Safeway and Kroger for a new contract that respects our work, increases our wages, and improves our retirement and healthcare, we are holding a contract votes across Washington, Idaho and NE Oregon! This notice serves to inform all members that a critical membership meeting will be held on August 20, 21 & 22, 2024. We will be conducting a vote on the fully recommended tentative agreement our bargaining team reached on April 30, 2024.
Shelly Clark has worked for Safeway for almost 8 years and in that time has become a leader at the Cheney store (just Southwest of Spokane). Her fellow coworkers consider her the "Store Mom," and she happily takes that title. She keeps track of her coworker's birthdays to wish them a happy birthday, and keeps morale up with her positive energy and sense of humor. She has worked in several different positions for Safeway, including cashiering, file maintenance, night stocking, and is currently the head bookkeeper.
Our union won historic wage increases for our region through months of fighting for our contract through negotiations. We deserve to get these raises in a timely manner after winning these wage increases. Our union met with Albertsons/Safeway to discuss the implementation of All Purpose Clerk raises and retro pay.
In our last bargaining session, the Employers told us that because cost of living is lower in Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, and Northern Idaho, journey union members do not need the same kind of raises as the Westside. Over the last two days of bargaining, we came to correct this.
We know that Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and Eastern Oregon grocery workers desperately need and deserve meaningful raises. We presented data on rising rents and home sale prices in our region. We compared Westside and Eastside counties which have very similar housing costs and very different wages.
We compared a grocery basket in Spokane and near Seattle to show that the astronomical food prices set by these companies are the same regardless of where you live. Our grocery costs are the same, our rents are the same, and it’s all going up. But they insist on keeping a wage scale that pays us DOLLARS less!
Bargaining committee members shared our stories: having to choose between paying the power or the water bill that month, putting our children’s healthcare costs before our own, and struggling to afford to pay for the gas to get to work. We also shared over 100 stories submitted from UFCW 3000 grocery members under these Eastside contracts. Kroger and Albertsons can afford to pay us the wages we need so we don’t have to choose between buying groceries or putting gas in the tank.
If Safeway can afford a 4 billion dividend, they can afford to pay us what is fair. If Fred Meyer can afford to buy Safeway, they can afford to pay us what is fair.
Create Journey wage increases of multiple dollars over the life of the contract that gain ground on the West side.
Institute one wage scale for all UFCW 3000 Eastern Washington, Oregon and Northern Idaho and the same journey wage rate across all grocery scales.
Create raises of multiple dollars for Journey Meat Cutters over the life of the contract, a proposed dollar premium for Head Meat Cutter, and new designation of Head Butcher Block.
Increase the amount between steps from $0.10 above minimum wage and $0.05 between steps to $0.25 above the minimum wage and between steps so that every step sees an increase as the minimum wage increases with cost of living.
Reduce the length of our wage scales so our coworkers can reach the Journey rate sooner.
Maintain our strong healthcare plan and coverage and improve benefits without increasing employee premiums.
All the while the employers only came up $0.10 in the third year of their wage proposal. Proposing $0.50/$0.50/$0.60. This is not enough!
We’ll be back next week for bargaining. Next bargaining dates: February 15 and 16
Become a Strike Picket Captain by telling your union rep that you are ready to help lead a strike by becoming a Strike Picket Captain. Review the training here >>
Sign a Strike Pledge Card.
Wear your union buttons at work!
To get updates and join the fight to Stop the Mega-Merger, go to nogrocerymerger.com
For information about your health care plan with Rehn go to www.ufcwhealth.com or call 800-872-8979
If you have questions about the Pension contact Zenith at soundretirmenttrust.com or call 800-225-7629
General Membership Meetings happening next week
Attention all UFCW 3000 Grocery Store Members. You are invited to join our live Telephone Town Hall on Thursday, February 1 at 4pm to hear updates on our efforts to oppose the Kroger and Albertsons’ proposed merger, and a live Question and Answer session with members on this important topic. We will be joined by our union’s top officers, experts, and also our partners from Teamsters 38.
When your phone rings Thursday at 4pm, just answer and you will join the call. If for some reason you do not get a call or you get disconnected, you can also join us by dialing 1-888-652-0383 and entering meeting ID 7803 during the time of the call.
For Immediate Release – Wednesday January 24th, 2024
What: A national press conference to update media and expose many of the troubling details underlying the proposed merger as well as debunking the claims being made by the companies about themselves, the reasons for the proposed merger in the 1st place, the troubling picture of C&S as the proposed divestiture company, and more. Short informational session will be followed by a Q and A session for the media.
Who:
Faye Guenther, President, UFCW 3000 (WA)
Tom Olson, Grocery store worker and UFCW 7 member (CO)
John Marshall, CFA, Capital Strategies Director, UFCW 324 (CA) and UFCW 3000 (WA)
Upon request, post event interviews can be arranged for media with local grocery store workers in Washington State. And interviews with grocery store members at UFCW locals in CA, WA, CO and the Washington DC/surrounding states areas can also be arranged.
When: Friday January 26, 2024: 9 AM PST, 12 Noon EST
Where: Pre-register here in advance of the press conference HERE >>
Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 3000, 206-604-3421
We are the Union. The members of UFCW 3000 are over 50,000 members working in grocery, retail, health care, meat packing, cannabis, & other industries across Washington state, north-east Oregon, and northern Idaho. UFCW 3000 is a chartered member of UFCW International with over 1.4 million workers in North America.
To build a powerful Union that fights for economic, political and social justice in our workplaces and in our communities.
