September, 2022

Negotiations, UFCW700 Updates

UFCW Local 700 Members Approve New Contract with Kroger for South Bend Stores

Sep 30, 2022

Your UFCW Local 700 Union Negotiating Committee is proud to announce that members have approved a new, three-year contract with Kroger; the proposed contract covers about 800 workers at nine stores in the South Bend area.

The new contract includes:

  • Guaranteed pay raises and ratification bonuses
    • Pay raises are effective three weeks following ratification
  • Affordable, quality health care for you and your families
    • Weekly co-premium will increase by only $1 per week in 2025 
  • Retirement security through UFCW Consolidated Pension and VAPP plans
    • Defined benefit pension extended to a new group of workers 
  • Language improvements include better provisions for earning holidays and holiday pay, greater flexibility for vacation, and additional non- discrimination language

Special thanks to our members serving on the Union Negotiating Committee:
Mike Alvarez, Kroger 966
Katt Batman, Kroger 889
Lisa Bogue, Kroger 963
Julie Bolton, Kroger 915
Kyle Dooley, Kroger 886
Ninfa Garza, Kroger 903
Samantha Griffin, Kroger 879
Patrick Harlan, Kroger 901
Mariann Taft, Kroger 938

UFCW700 Updates

Tracy Bartak Sworn in as President of UFCW Local 700

Sep 28, 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters of UFCW Local 700:

I want to thank former UFCW Local 700 President Joe Chorpenning for almost 37 years of dedication to the members of UFCW. Joe spent his career fighting for our members and working to uplift all hardworking families. During his career, Joe built strong Local unions and a better future for all UFCW members. He used his experience to build a bigger, better, stronger union.

Today, the Executive Board selected me to succeed Joe; I am honored to continue this work.

Together, we increased the size of our union and made it stronger. Because we worked together, members approved strong contracts, raised pay, and protected the health care and pension benefits that you’ve earned and deserve. Working together is how we were able to expand our members-only benefits programs and become an early adopter of the free college program. It’s why we were able to organize new members in several industries. All of that means that our members and their families can have a better life.

I will put my experience to work for our members. I’ve been a Union Representative in both retail and in plants and have negotiated major contracts in both of those industries. During my career at UFCW, I’ve also worked on organizing campaigns. Prior to working at UFCW, I worked on the administrative side of both health care and pension funds. 

We will work together with an eye toward the future. Solid contracts. Long term stability for our union. Continuing to find new and innovative ways to serve our members in the workplace. Developing additional members only benefit programs.  Growing our union by organizing new members. 

I appreciate the opportunity to serve with you and for you, and look forward to building a bigger, better, stronger union together.

In solidarity,

Tracy Bartak

Tracy Bartak takes the oath of office.

UFCW700 Updates

Joe Chorpenning Announces Retirement from UFCW Local 700

Sep 28, 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters of UFCW Local 700: 

It has been an honor to spend my career serving the members of UFCW. For nearly 37 years, I have been privileged to work as an Organizer, Organizing Director, and Business Agent; as President of UFCW Local 700 since 2006; and as an International Vice President since 2012.

I’m proud of the work we’ve done at Local 700, because together we have created a better future for our members. We won strong contracts, lifted starting pay, expanded members-only benefits, added Stewards, and organized new members. We protected health care and pension benefits for thousands of members. The Heartland Health and Wellness Fund is one of the largest UFCW health care funds in the country. For members in plants, we ensured that members and their families have access to care. We were a founding local of the UFCW Consolidated Pension; Meat Department members approved an historic agreement to secure that pension. We work to be an industry leader in pension benefits for members in packing and processing facilities.

Our members do the hard work of serving our community every day, making and selling the food and essentials that ends up in households across the country. Our members deserve a big, strong union that can build upon what we have achieved in the past to meet the challenges of the future; with negotiating power to uplift their families and provide a good life; and that fights tirelessly every single day. 

I am grateful to have fought alongside you for nearly four decades but am taking the next step in my journey; I retired effective August 27, 2022. I’m looking forward to supporting you in all the ways that you’ll continue to build better lives for the members of UFCW Local 700.

In solidarity,

Joe Chorpenning

Negotiations, UFCW700 Updates

UFCW Local 700, Kroger Reach Tentative Agreement for South Bend Contract

Sep 26, 2022

Your UFCW Local 700 Union Negotiating Committee is proud to announce that we’ve reached a tentative agreement with Kroger for a new, three-year contract; the proposed contract covers about 800 workers at nine stores in the South Bend area.

YOUR UNION NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE, OFFICERS, AND STAFF RECOMMEND A YES VOTE TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED CONTRACT.

The new contract includes:

  • Guaranteed pay raises and ratification bonuses
    • Pay raises are effective three weeks following ratification
  • Affordable, quality health care for you and your families
    • Weekly co-premium will increase by only $1 per week in 2025
  • Retirement security through UFCW Consolidated Pension and VAPP plans
    • Defined benefit pension extended to a new group of workers
  • Language improvements include better provisions for earning holidays and holiday pay, greater flexibility for vacation, and stronger non-discrimination language

Union Representatives and Negotiating Committee Members will be in stores to discuss details of the proposed contract and answer questions. Voting will take place on Friday, September 30.

A full schedule for voting will be available on our website at www.ufcw700.org.

Negotiations, UFCW700 Updates

UFCW700 – Kroger Begin Negotiations for South Bend Contract

Sep 20, 2022

The contract between UFCW Local 700 and Kroger South Bend expires on October 6, 2022; it covers about 800 workers in 9 stores. We began negotiations today.

Your UFCW Local 700 Union Bargaining Committee is comprised of Union leaders and representatives, and a group of members working in South Bend stores. We will be negotiating pay and work rules (contract language). Your health care coverage is negotiated as part of the Indianapolis Kroger contract; that new contract protects affordable, quality health care for Kroger workers and your families. The agreement governing the pension for members in the Consolidated Fund was recently renewed through 2024. Meat Department members in the National Pension Fund are covered in an agreement through 2028.

We spoke mostly today about marketshare and noneconomic issues. As we continue in negotiations, we remain committed to raising pay, improving contract language, and creating more opportunity for you.

Should you have any questions or want further information, please contact your Union Representative.