Press releases

Negotiations, Press releases, UFCW700 Updates

UFCW Local 700 Members Approve New Decatur Kroger Contract

Sep 13, 2019

Your UFCW Local 700 Union Negotiating Committee is proud to announce that members have overwhelmingly approved a new two-year agreement with Kroger for a contract covering about 300 workers in the three Decatur-area stores.

We stuck together in negotiations and were able to win:

Guaranteed pay increases over the life of the contract
Lump-sum compensation for top-rated, grandfathered workers, Qualified Assistant and Department Heads, Specialty and Night Grocery Leaders, Qualifying Full-time and Part-time Clerks and Utility Clerks
Higher premiums for night crews
Quality, affordable health care for members and your families
Health care benefit improvements
Retirement security for a better future
Language improvements creating more opportunity for you

Special thanks to the union members serving on the Negotiating Committee; we appreciate your time, efforts, and thoughtful consideration of contract issues and proposals throughout this process:

Jody Burns, Kroger J-946
Christine Ramsey, Kroger J-946
Diane Ridgeway, Kroger J-924
Karen Browning, Kroger J-922

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

Negotiations, Press releases, UFCW700 Updates, Worker Action

Union Members Approve New Contract with ConAgra Bakery

Jun 01, 2019

Members of UFCW Local 700 overwhelmingly approved a new, three-year contract with ConAgra Bakery. Terms of the new contract were effective upon its approval.

Sticking together, we were able to win contract improvements that will make ConAgra an even better place to work. The new contract provides stronger seniority language to help workers qualify for new jobs and better language ensuring fairness with use of workplace video. It provides for New emergency vacation days, additional vacation time for long-term workers, and extra company-provided clothing for freezer workers.

Members of the bargaining unit will receive a lump sum bonus upon ratification (paid mid-June), and guaranteed pay increases. For certain classifications, premium pay will increase. There are new options for health care coverage, including an additional plan with lower employee co-premiums.

Special thanks to the union members serving on the Bargaining Committee: Micheal Pipes, Josue Tapia, and Joslin Valle. We appreciate your time, efforts, and thoughtful consideration of contract issues and proposals throughout this process.

We expect copies of the new contract to be available by the end of June. Should you have any questions or desire further information, please contact your Union Representative.

Negotiations, Press releases, UFCW700 Updates, Worker Action

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

Oct 25, 2018

Your Union Bargaining Committee is proud to announce that we’ve reached a tentative agreement with Kroger for a new one-year contract covering South Bend stores.

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

The proposed agreement helps create a more secure future for Kroger workers and our families through regular, guaranteed wage increases; protection of affordable, quality health care; investment in securing your pension; and contract language improvements.

Union Representatives and Bargaining Committee Members will be in stores on Tuesday, October 30, and Wednesday, October 31, to discuss details of the proposed contract and answer questions. Voting will take place on Thursday, November 1; locations and times are listed below.

Political action, Press releases, UFCW700 Updates

UFCW Local 700 Announces Endorsement of Karen Salzer for State Rep

May 24, 2018

Candidate for Indiana House of Representatives (HD-20) and UFCW Local 700 Union Representative Karen Salzer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN —Today, UFCW International Vice President and Local 700 President Joe Chorpenning announced the endorsement of Karen Salzer for Indiana State Representative (HD-20). Salzer, a Union Representative at UFCW Local 700, has dedicated her career to creating more opportunity for people in Northwest Indiana. Prior to her current position at Local 700, Salzer was a leader in the grocery store where she worked and a staple in the community.

UFCW Local 700 supports candidates who will stand up for the issues most important to our members at the Indiana Statehouse. Continued inaction by Statehouse leadership on issues like living wages, paid sick leave, and other policies important to the economic health of our state have left Hoosier workers behind. These issues will be at the forefront of both Karen’s candidacy and her legislative agenda once elected.

“Karen fights for better lives for our members every day in her professional life; we know she will be a champion for all hardworking Hoosiers as State Representative. We need an advocate like Karen at the Statehouse in Indianapolis,” said Chorpenning. “We look forward to supporting Karen’s candidacy thoughout the election cycle as the most qualified candidate in House District 20.”

Press releases

UFCW Statement on USDA Decision to Eliminate Line Speed Limits at Pork Plants

Jan 20, 2018

Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to eliminate line speed limits at pork plants.

“This desire to increase line speeds is being driven entirely by corporate greed and defies common sense.

“Jobs inside pork plants are some of the most dangerous and difficult in America. We’re only putting workers at greater risk of injury and consumers at greater risk of consuming unsafe meat by asking everyone who labors inside one to work faster.

“For the sake of keeping millions of hard-working families safe, this decision deserves immediate reconsideration.”

See original post here.

BACKGROUND

The UFCW union family represents hard-working men and women in pork plants that have already had their line speed limits eliminated as part of a trial program, as well as people who are in plants that run profitably with line speed limits in place.
According to a 2013 report from the USDA OIG, the existing trial program did not result in better food safety.
Injury rates in the meatpacking industry are already twice as high as the national average and workplace illness rates are 20 times as high.
This latest announcement follows the recent regulatory effort to remove line speed limits for the poultry industry.

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The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries.

Our members help put food on our nation’s tables and serve customers in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at www.ufcw.org.

Press releases

UFCW Local 700 Statement on Shooting at South-Side Kroger

Oct 21, 2017

United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 700 represents workers in the south-side Indianapolis Kroger store where a shooting last evening resulted in loss of life of a customer.

“Our members serve the public every day; we remain committed to ensuring that they are safe on the job. While we do not yet know the full circumstances of what took place, the well-being of our members will continue to be our priority,” said UFCW Local 700 President Joe Chorpenning.