INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Kroger and the union representing its workers in Indiana have extended their current contract while negotiations continue. Contract talks have spanned several months, and the two last met on Friday.
Leaders at the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 700 say they set a schedule to continue negotiations, including an Aug. 6 return to the bargaining table.
The union represents 8,000 grocery store workers at Kroger locations across central Indiana.
UFCW 700 members have rejected two tentative agreements with the grocer. The first was in May while the organization announced the second rejection last week.
Demands include hourly raises and retroactively applying some pay increases, among other benefits. Union leadership also reports they have no plans for workers to walk off the job any time soon. However, the length of negotiations has left Vern Sowers and other union members on edge.
“There’s a lot of fear there,” Sowers said. “A lot of [my coworkers] say they can’t afford to strike — I can afford to strike, but there’s a lot of people I know at work that can’t.”
The 30-year industry veteran says he’s worked just about every job in retail. He’s worked for Kroger for 20 years and previously worked for K-Mart for 10 years.
As a shop steward, Sowers says he wants to fight for his coworkers at the store on Olio Road in Fishers.
“It seems like they’re trying to slap us in the face,” Sowers said.
Kroger offered the union a $2.75 per hour raise by 2028 in its latest proposal. In a bargaining update, the company reported it pays an average hourly wage of $18.18 an hour.
The most recent rejected contract would have given employees a 5.7% pay bump if accepted. The company argues it is more than double the current rate of inflation. Sowers, on the other hand, says this still isn’t enough in today’s economy.
“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to stay ahead of the cost of living. Of course, prices are going up. You can see it in the store. You know, prices are going up little by little, but they’re going up,” Sowers said.
Last month, Kroger reported an operating profit of $1.3 billion. Sowers says the company can afford to meet the union on its demands.
“Maybe some appreciation to the employees that helped make Kroger get these record-breaking earnings,” Sowers said. “That’s kind of where my head’s at.”
Kroger declined an interview with News 8 and instead referred to a statement made by Central Division President Colleen Juergensen last week:
“At Kroger, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of our associates, and we’re proud to invest in them through market-leading wages, strong benefits, and career opportunities. We believe that by working together with the Union, we can reach an agreement that truly reflects the value of our associates and the communities we’re honored to serve.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
