ARKANSA
Kroger employees strike against unmet demandsby Jeane' Franseen
Friday, July 2nd 2021
Several Kroger workers participate in strike, urging the company to listen to their requests.jpg (Photo: KATV)
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Some Kroger employees held a strike on Friday, voicing frustrations with work conditions.
Around 10 a.m., United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 2008, the Union for 2,000 Arkansas Kroger grocery workers, held a strike at the Kroger store in Hot Springs.
Kroger employees said that the event was part of a new call for the store to provide a strong contract to its essential grocery workers. They say they are asking Kroger to protect healthcare and other benefits that are critical for employees who are still helping to protect food access for Arkansas families.
Kroger workers say they have been unable to come to an agreement with the company.
Kroger Delta Division released the following statement in response to today's strike:
"Our offer rewards and recognizes our associates for their hard work – it is not concessionary. It includes a $25 million investment in wages," said Teresa Dickerson, Kroger Corporate Affairs Manager Delta Division. "It comes down to switching our over 2700 Arkansas associates to a more reliable healthcare plan. We want to merge our retail associates into the same plan enjoyed by our Meat Associates. Let’s make it clear, our associates will still have access to premium healthcare coverage. Our offer is to move them into a company-administered healthcare plan that is more reliable and will sustain them for the future. Our goal is to avoid any disruption to the communities we serve having access to fresh food, COVID-19 vaccines, and other essential items during a pandemic especially considering COVID numbers are increasing in the state."
Officials say that negotiations between the two parties could take a while.
Several Kroger workers participate in strike, urging the company to listen to their requests.jpg (Photo: KATV)
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Some Kroger employees held a strike on Friday, voicing frustrations with work conditions.
Around 10 a.m., United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 2008, the Union for 2,000 Arkansas Kroger grocery workers, held a strike at the Kroger store in Hot Springs.
Kroger employees said that the event was part of a new call for the store to provide a strong contract to its essential grocery workers. They say they are asking Kroger to protect healthcare and other benefits that are critical for employees who are still helping to protect food access for Arkansas families.
Kroger workers say they have been unable to come to an agreement with the company.
Kroger Delta Division released the following statement in response to today's strike:
"Our offer rewards and recognizes our associates for their hard work – it is not concessionary. It includes a $25 million investment in wages," said Teresa Dickerson, Kroger Corporate Affairs Manager Delta Division. "It comes down to switching our over 2700 Arkansas associates to a more reliable healthcare plan. We want to merge our retail associates into the same plan enjoyed by our Meat Associates. Let’s make it clear, our associates will still have access to premium healthcare coverage. Our offer is to move them into a company-administered healthcare plan that is more reliable and will sustain them for the future. Our goal is to avoid any disruption to the communities we serve having access to fresh food, COVID-19 vaccines, and other essential items during a pandemic especially considering COVID numbers are increasing in the state."
Officials say that negotiations between the two parties could take a while.
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