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Presidents of UFCW Locals in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Kentucky sent additional correspondence to Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen, calling on him for additional hourly compensation for Kroger workers. The letter is as follows:

Across the country, COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing and putting frontline workers more at risk than ever before – including Kroger workers. Throughout the ongoing coronavirus crisis, access to food has been essential, and it is made possible because of the serious risks that our members – Kroger workers – are willing to take in order to keep stores stocked and open.  They are continuing to show up for our communities in the face of this growing danger they face with cases continuing to increase, and more of our friends, neighbors, and family getting exposed or sick every day.And, as you know, among the frontline workers who face the gravest of risks are grocery and food workers who often interact with thousands of customers every single day.

Kroger says its “most urgent priority” is “meeting our societal obligation to provide open stores, e-commerce solutions and an efficiently operating supply chain so that our communities have access to fresh, affordable food and essentials.” Accomplishing this is impossible without our members, the Kroger workers, who are continuing to serve the public amidst a raging health crisis. 

We cannot wish or ignore away a global pandemic. The reality is that grocery workers continue to get sick and die from COVID-19. A new Harvard study found that 1 in 5 grocery workers had COVID-19, with most workers showing no symptoms. Additionally, a new report confirms there have already been over 130 grocery worker deaths and thousands of grocery workers infected or exposed to the virus.

Throughout a pandemic, during the holidays, and all year long, members of UFCW work to ensure that people in our communities have the food and supplies they need at Kroger stores all across our region. These workers have earned additional compensation for the hazards that still very much exist. While fuel points and gift cards are a step in the right direction, Kroger workers deserve the extra money in their pay checks for continuing to work during the worst pandemic in a century.

Instead of continuing to invest in your shareholders and corporate employees (many of whom can and are working from home, away from stores or crowded offices), invest in your frontline workers. As this pandemic rages on and the risks workers face grow, America’s food retail companies, including Kroger, continue to authorize billions in stock buybacks for wealthy shareholders. Meanwhile, profits are up, by 90% according to one recent study, while you seemingly ignore the danger employees are facing on the frontlines of this pandemic.

We will only get through this crisis together, and that begins with Kroger putting workers first, not the corporate bottom line. Please do what is right and compensate our members – Kroger workers – with the additional hourly pay they so deserve.

UFCW Local 700 is proud to award $22,000 per year in scholarships to members or dependents.

Applicants must be UFCW Local 700 members in good standing, or their legal dependents; have graduated or will graduate from high school or are currently enrolled in college or trade school; must have completed the SAT or ACT; and must be accepted to an accredited institution OR met the requirements and enrolled in a two-year community college, technical, or trade school.

Twice a year, we award $11,000 in scholarships: Five at $1,000 each and twelve at $500 each.

Click here for more information.

Applications available:

• Online
  • UFCW700_Scholarship_App_4Yr_DeadlineDEC2019
  • UFCW700_Scholarship_App_2Yr_DeadlineDEC2019
• CALL UFCW Local 700 at 800.334.3619
• CONTACT your Union Representative

Applications must be postmarked no later than December 3, 2019.

UFCW Local 700 is proud to award $22,000 per year in scholarships to members or dependents.

Applicants must be UFCW Local 700 members in good standing, or their legal dependents; have graduated or will graduate from high school or are currently enrolled in college or trade school; must have completed the SAT or ACT; and must be accepted to an accredited institution OR met the requirements and enrolled in a two-year community college, technical, or trade school.

Twice a year, we award $11,000 in scholarships: Five at $1,000 each and twelve at $500 each.

DEADLINE EXTENDED!
Applications must be postmarked no later than July 15, 2018 July 29, 2018.

Click here for details on scholarship program.

Applications available:

• Online
  • UFCW700 Scholarship App – 2 Year – Deadline July 2018
  • UFCW700 Scholarship App – 4 Year – Deadline July 2018
• CALL UFCW Local 700 at 800.334.3619
• CONTACT your Union Representative

On June 17, members of the newly formed Lift Retail Jobs Campaign, held a press conference to highlight the economic plight of local retail workers and  unveiled a Retail Workers’ Bill of Rights. The Lift Retail Jobs Campaign is a coalition of retail workers, local businesses, and community groups who  have a vested interest in improving the quality of retail jobs in Indianapolis.

The newly launched campaign is challenging retailers in Indianapolis to be better corporate citizens and support a Bill of Rights for retail workers which  promotes workplace protections so that all workers in this growing industry have a pathway to the middle class. The workplace protections include full-time work and access to hours; fair scheduling practices; access to healthcare benefits; and paid sick leave for both full and part-time workers.

Debra Hill, a retail worker with more than 20 years of experience in the industry, addressed the media and the assembled crowd of nearly 100 workers  and community supporters.

“We’re finally seeing jobs being created in our city again, but they’re mostly in these low-wage industries, like fast food, retail, and service work,” Hill said. “Our city can’t recover while hardworking people are paid poverty wages.”

Hill presented members of the Indianapolis City-County Council, including Pamela Hickman, Monroe Gray, and Kip Tew, with a copy of the Retail Workers’ Bill of Rights.

The retail industry in Indianapolis is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy and a significant employer of women and people of color; but many of these jobs are low-wage, part-time positions with erratic hours that are preventing retail workers from climbing up the economic ladder. A recent study conducted by the research and policy center Demos and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) notes that, nationwide, people of color in the retail industry are often relegated to lower-paid positions and given fewer hours. Thirty percent of women in the retail industry live in poverty or near poverty.

Jessica Dixon has 16 years of retail experience in Indianapolis. “When you work in the retail industry, you sacrifice so much for so little. The pay is low, scheduling is unpredictable, we don’t share in the company’s success when they profit, and we’re treated like we’re disposable,” Dixon said.  “A Retail Workers’ Bill of Rights would protect our rights and make it possible for people like me to imagine a future in this industry.”

For more information about the Lift Retail Jobs Campaign and the Retail Workers’ Bill of Rights, visitwww.LiftRetailJobs.org.

Workers at Bloomingfoods Co-op in Bloomington, Indiana are organizing a union with UFCW Local 700 to win respect, better benefits, and a voice on the job. Here’s what they have to say:

“I love the people that I work with, the food and products that I sell and eat, and the customers and member-owners that I’m so lucky to interact with. [Organizing] has the potential to create better job security, due process, improved health benefits, strengthened voices and communication.” –-Abby Shifriss

“I love Bloomingfoods and I believe it can still be one of the great hopes for our community’s future. But I am tired of watching intelligent and kind-hearted employees leave due to neglect and mistreatment. …I support a union because I believe the workers deserve a voice within Bloomingfoods!”--Andy Marrs

“Unionizing our co-op will bring a sense of camaraderie and give workers a voice in a safe and equitable workplace. Bloomingfoods is part of what I love most about Bloomington. …Pro co-op! Pro union!”--Casie Jetter

Unfortunately, instead of supporting workers in their efforts to create a better working environment, Bloomingfoods has taken a page from their corporate competitors’ playbook. The co-op has even hired a union-busting law firm to silence workers’ voices.

But Bloomingfoods workers won’t be silenced. They’ve launched a petition calling on the company to respect their right to organize. Will you sign and then share with your friends and coworkers?

Support Bloomingfoods workers