Kroger Union Workers Ratify New Contract

Over 1,000 workers in mid-Michigan to receive immediate wage increases & improvements to paid time off, health care

  GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951 voted this week to ratify a new Kroger contract containing improvements to wages, paid time off, and health care. UFW 951 is the largest private sector union in the state, representing nearly 30,000 workers in a variety of industries, over 1,000 of which are Kroger workers.

“We fought hard for significant wage increases and an overall improved contract for the Kroger members,” Courtney Phillips, secretary/treasurer of UFCW Local 951, said. “I am proud of the members who served on the bargaining committee and worked together to achieve contract gains that improve the lives of their fellow members.”

The contract is a three-year agreement, effective June 30, 2024, with immediate wage increases of up to $1.50 per hour. Other improvements to the contract include:

• More paid time off for workers with 18 years of service, hired after 12/31/2008.
• No increase in the weekly cost of health and welfare benefits for the life of the agreement.
• Improvements to safety protocols within the stores.

Richelle Anderson, who works at Kroger #793 in Okemos, served on the bargaining committee.

“I think overall it will have a really good impact on workers and their families, especially with the health insurance package and keeping those costs down for the employees,” said Anderson. “That is huge for us!”

Jackie Davis, who works at Kroger #738 in Saginaw, was able to use her experience from serving on a past Kroger bargaining committee to help achieve the committee’s goals with this contract.

“I have been on the bargaining committee in the past and this is the most money I have ever seen from the company,” Jackie Davis, from Kroger #738 in Saginaw, said. “I am very proud. The committee was able to come together and made decisions for what was best for all the employees.”

UFCW 951 is the largest private sector union in the state representing nearly 30,000 workers across Michigan in a variety of industries including grocery, retail, food processing, and pharmacy who are employed at a variety of companies including Meijer, Kroger, Rite Aid, JBS, JLL, Sunberry Beverages, Polly’s, Harding’s, and Grandville Roasting & Packaging Plant. The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States representing over 1.3 million UFCW members nationwide.

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