Kroger union workers approve contract, avoid strike

Kroger union workers at 82 stores in Ohio have signed off on a new contract with the grocer after rejecting previous ones.

Members of the Local 1059 of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union approved the contract by a vote of 3,546 to 3,193 this week, according to a union member who shared the voting total with The Dispatch Friday morning.

The local has about 12,500 members in a region that extends to 47 counties in central, north-northwest, and south-southeast Ohio including cities such as Mansfield, Zanesville and Portsmouth.

Union leaders and the company say they are pleased with the outcome.

"Throughout the entirety of this contentious and uncertain bargaining period, Local 1059 members have continued to make their voices heard and advocated tirelessly for the best contract possible for Kroger employees across the central Ohio region," local President Randy Quickel said in a statement.“This deal modernizes pay scales and guarantees wage increases to every member, while protecting benefits. The security of a union contract is vital for so many Local 1059 members and their families. Now that the members have voted to ratify, the contract will immediately go into effect."

Kroger likewise welcomed the outcome.

"Congratulationsto our Kroger Columbus Local 1059 area associates who have ratified the modifications to the collective bargaining agreement," the company said in a statement. "This is great news for everyone, including our community partners and customers."

Despite the approval, two union members who reached out to The Dispatch expressed frustration over the vote and say they don't understand why this contract was approved while previous ones were rejected.

The previous contract offer was turned down by 55% of those who voted and 81% of those who voted authorized a strike, according to the union.

Kroger said many jobs within the store will get at least a $2-per-hour increase in wages over the three-year contract. Starting wages for clerks will go to $14.25 per hour. Many workers also will get ratification bonuses.

Workers have expressed frustration during the talks over wages, benefits and staffing after working through a pandemic that they say threatened their health while also putting up with difficult customers.

"The union has failed us and this is just another win for the ultra-rich, and another loss for the average American," one worker said. "With these wages, the young members who are trying to move out of their parents will not be able to. Single-income households will undoubtedly struggle for the next three years and good help will be impossible to find/keep when fast food is paying more."

Another worker said many of the same things.

"Most everyone I talk to on a daily basis feel the union has sold us out because they did nothing but encourage people to vote yes by saying things like 'this is all Kroger has to give.' And trying to scare people from voting no by saying it would be a long strike if we went," the worker said.

mawilliams@dispatch.com

@BizMarkWilliams