Kroger, UFCW Michigan Local Ink Tentative Pact

After missing the deadline to renew its contract with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 876, The Kroger Co. reached a tentative agreement late last week with the labor union that represents 12,000 Michigan workers.

Details of the agreement will be distributed to the membership over the next several days and a membership contact ratification vote will be held next week, according to the local.

“We feel the tentative agreement reached today addresses our members’ needs while allowing the company to remain viable,” said Roger Robinson, UFCW Local 876 president and chief negotiator. “We appreciate the support and patience the Kroger membership has shown during this difficult process.”

Cincinnati-based Kroger didn’t respond to requests for comment on the negotiations at presstime.

Specifics of the tentative agreement won’t be released to the media prior to the membership vote. According to the union, sticking points of the negotiations involved a proposed defunding of a health benefits trust account, plus other wage and benefit details.

In other Kroger news, the Cincinnati-based grocer is inviting customers to help hungry people in their own communities by joining in “Bringing Hope to the Table,” a two-week campaign that runs through June 19 in Kroger’s family of stores, which include Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s.

With the help of numerous vendor partners, the program is expected to generate $4 million in cash and food donations to assist 80 local food banks in communities where Kroger’s customers and associates live and work.
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