Industry Intelligence

Associates at Kroger Co. supermarkets in two Michigan towns have agreed to another contract extension until Sept. 15, officials said.

David Way, vice president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951, said negotiations were ongoing, and that after the last extension that expired Tuesday night, there were “a couple more issues that are unresolved,” the Saginaw News reported.

The contract affects about 1,900 workers at Kroger New Market Stores in Saginaw and Flint, who authorized their locals to take any action necessary, up to and including a strike, to reach a fair contract. UFCW Local 951 represents the Saginaw associates, while Local 876 represents union workers at Kroger’s 14 Flint stores.

Dale Hollandsworth, spokesperson for Cincinnati-based Kroger, said in a release that union leaders for both locals earlier had expressed support for the company’s offer and Kroger officials were disappointed by the union’s actions. Kroger officials said the proposal invests more in associates and asks for no concessions.

Under the previous offer, more than 650 members would make less than $8 per hour after working for the company for three and a half years, the News reported. Union officials said a proposal included a three-year wage freeze and a lack of containment on employee health insurance costs.