Grocery chain KROGER now seeking scabs...

[theHandpuppet]

They call them "temporary workers", I call them low life, scum-sucking SCABS.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071029/BIZ01/310290056
(excerpt)
Kroger seeks workers
BY JOHN ECKBERG | [e-mail]

Following a weekend of apparently fruitless negotiations for a new contract, leaders of United Food and Commercial Workers’ Local 1099 today told the Kroger Co. that it was revoking a contract extension set to expire Saturday at midnight.

The grocer reacted by announcing that it would begin to pursue temporary workers.

The action means the union can now authorize a strike anytime after Friday. The company and union had negotiated through the weekend.

“This company doesn’t seem like Barney Kroger’s company anymore,” said union spokesperson Brigid Kelly, referring to Kroger’s founder. “Instead of providing workers with opportunities for development, success and a secure future, Kroger is jeopardizing their future... ” MORE

If the UFCW goes on strike, don't shop at Kroger!!!!

[NightWatcher]

1. thanks for the news

no groceries from Kroger for me.

[fedupfisherman]

2. Never heard of Kroger n/t

[WoodrowFan]

3. Chain based in Ohio

It's a chain based in Ohio (Cincinnati). Not sure how far it's spread. I've seen them in West-by-God-Virginia as well.

[Richard Steele]

5. We have them here in the NC Triangle.

Looks like I'll be avoiding them for awhile.

[barbtries]

18. just moved to raleigh

from LA and kroger's is the only place i've found cream of asparagus soup. i am bummed if i can't shop there. guess it'll be food lion. and i'm having such a hard time finding a job - didn't expect it would be this hard - i hate to admit it but the headline got me thinking "job?"

my neighbor here tells me NC is not a union state and i better resign myself to making puny money. is that true? i'm a bookkeeper and can do any kind of administrative or office job...

nice to know i have some neighbors on DU

[Richard Steele]

24. I'm over in Durham these days, but I lived in Raleigh back in 98-2000.

Have you tried the Harris Teeter supermarket for the soup?
They always seemed to have a more varied selection than the
more everyday markets (higher prices, too, though :().

There's a good handful of DUers in the area; keep an eye on
the NC forum for meetup announcements. :hi:

[barbtries]

29. thank you

i think i've tried most of them - we got here 10-3. but i'll keep trying...thank you by the way i will start checking out the NC page!

[Clark2008]

54. No Southern state is a union state.

There's some valid historical reasons why (after some union riots in the 60s - Google it, I don't have time to go into it), but most of the reason people in the South hate unions is stupid. They've been told over and over by business executives that it leads to lost jobs because unions require them to pay fewer people more money. Stupid, I know, but propaganda works.

On the upside, however, the cost of living is less in most of the South, so your puny pay will get you just as far here as better pay in more expensive areas. I guess that's a trade off. :shrug:

[Alexander]

7. It's spread nationwide...

Out here in Phoenix there are Fry's grocery stores everywhere - they are owned by Kroger.

Many of their products even have the Kroger label on them.

My parents, who are from Detroit, told me about them - I guess they're well-known throughout the Midwest.

[ben_meyers]

11. They are the second largest grocer in the country

In Arizona they are Frys, in California it's Ralphs.

http://www.thekrogerco.com/

[TommyO]

49. In my neck of the woods, they operate Food4Less

and the Turkey Hill convenience stores, boycotting them for me would be pointless as I don't shop there, but others here in Pennsylvania may want to know. Forgot to include Littman Jewelers.

[fedupfisherman]

12. Thanks

I'll know to avoid them for groceries if I see one

[haele]

23. Kroger's is also Ralphs in SoCal -

They're pretty much interchangable. Haven't heard anything about the Ralph's stores out here.

Haele

[walldude]

4. Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Smith's, King Soopers, Dillon, Fry's

all Kroger stores...

[me b zola]

8. Thanks for the list

I was going to go to Freddies to buy dog food tonight--not any more.

[NickB79]

30. Crap. I work for a dairy plant that makes their yogurts, cottage cheese, and sour cream

We're a union plant. I feel horrible that we're going to continue to make products for a company that treats fellow union members like this.

[blondie58]

26. here is Colorado, they're known as King Soopers and

City Market stores up in the mountains. My daughter worked for one briefly as a courtesy clerk/aka bagger/cart gatherer and did not enjoy the experience. Joining the union was mandatory and she didn't understand why it was necesary.

[BootinUp]

27. Also in Georgia. n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

6. Kroger is big in the Houston area.

I usually shop there. Or HEB.

[elehhhhna]

13. I finally went to HEB. NICE! Kroger's too expensive, imo.

[Saphire]

50. Here in San Antonio, it's HEB or nothing. The only alternative is Target

or Wal-mart. Albertson's was here 5-6 years ago, but they're all HEB's now. :(

Getting back to the original OP, is Kroger the only one with a union? I can't recall another grocery chain striking. Good for them.

[stirlingsliver]

9. Do They Operate Under Other Names?

There are no Krogers where I live.

Is it possible they operate under other names in other parts of the country?

It's a shame that there isn't more worker solidarity.

ALL grocery workers -- in all supermarket chains nation-wide -- should strike in solidarity with their brothers and sisters at Krogers.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

25. yep, see post #4. nt

[JitterbugPerfume]

10. we have Krogers in Indiana

I love shopping there , so I will sure keep my eye on this.


The Kroger store I shop at is called Scotts

[Little Star]

38. I will never understand how

one can be a democrat and not support unions against scabs and all union busting.

Just sayin'

[Clark2008]

55. True, except that some of us don't have much of a choice.

Where I live, Kroger is the ONLY union grocery store and that's why we shop there. Our other choices are Ingles, Food City, Food Lion and Sam's. We don't even have a CostCo.

I really don't want to shop at any of those other stores. :(

[Bongo Prophet]

14. Our Kroger in DFW, Tx - I will ask workers about this.

And let them (and management!)know I will boycott until this is resolved.
I always go around midnite, so the late shift knows me. :hi:

[Parche]

15. Fred Meyer

Here in Oregon :hi:

[rucky]

37. owned by Kroger. n/t

[backscatter712]

16. It's King Soopers in the Colorado Front Range area.

[Chulanowa]

17. Well, crud

I was just about to put an application in at Fred Meyers', too.

The job hunt continues, I guess.

[JFN1]

19. I will vocally boycott them

I know the manager of our local Kroger (he's a good friend and fellow Dem) - I'll give him an earful if they strike (in fact I'll likely do it anyway).

[Snarkturian Clone]

20. Why pinto? Why not?

[vademocrat]

21. We have them in Richmond, VA -

they're one of the few union stores left in VA...

Thanks for the heads up - if the union goes on strike I'll go elsewhere or do without!

[earth mom]

22. Union busting. That's what's for dinner.

:puke:

[blondie58]

28. I know that in CO, the employees were dealt a bad deal a few years ago

they had decent pay, but their big draw was outstanding health benefits. However, the company was able to throw a lot of their health share cost back onto the employees. National health care, anyone?

[JitterbugPerfume]

31. I called my local Kroger(Scotts)

and the manager let me know in no uncertain terms that they are NOT union, and I let HIM know in no uncertain terms that I support the union


Kroger just bought Scotts out in July. THIS does not look good!

[Fierce]

32. Nothing but a scab.

Hold the line!

[JitterbugPerfume]

41. I will not be shopping there

ever again

[theHandpuppet]

33. Kicking for the morning crowd and because we'll need an update

I'll keep an eye on the Cincy paper and will report any updates in the negotiations.

Here's another article:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071025/BIZ01/710250320/1076/BIZ
Union pressures Kroger
BY JOHN ECKBERG | [e-mail]

With negotiations between Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. and the UFCW Local 1099 on hold until Friday, union backers on Wednesday stepped up efforts to pressure the company for contract concessions by circulating handbills outside Kroger stores.

"We've had police outside stores telling our members not to pass out handbills. There have not been any arrests as yet," said Brigid Kelly, UFCW spokeswoman. "Our goal is to hit every store throughout our jurisdiction."

Distributing union information to co-workers and customers in non-work areas is a legal activity, according to the National Labor Relations Act, Kelly said....

MORE

[RebelOne]

34. There is no way I could boycott Kroger.

That would be cutting off my nose to spite my face. Kroger is the only decent grocery store in my area. There is Publix, but their prices are higher than Kroger.

[RubyDuby in GA]

35. Kroger is the only union grocery store in Georgia and my Teamster husband works in their warehouse

We'll boycott if need be though. I'm a Congressional District Vice-Chair for the DPG and my Chair is the legislative coordinator for the UFCW 1996. We will support our Brothers and Sisters however we can!

And this truly sucks because we have a brand new Kroger less than a mile from our house that has only been opened for a couple of months - it's totally nice! Damn.

[rucky]

36. At least I'll have one other union grocery in the area

Meijer

if they hold a sister strike, then it's off to Trader Joe's for me.

[JitterbugPerfume]

42. I love Miejers

they even have recycled paper TP!:bounce:

[Little Star]

39. K&R for the working people!!!!

[Odin2005]

40. Hiring scabs should be illegal.

And anyone who is a scab is scum.

[Hubert Flottz]

43. Did you know there was a big list of folks who can't shop at Kroger's

anymore in the newspaper, every day and that it's been in there for many many years now?

Edit...that list gets longer every day!

[rucky]

44. How do you get 86'ed from Kroger?

Too many double coupons?

[Hubert Flottz]

45. Everbody will be on that list, sooner or later my friend...

Even the most powerful and wealthy on the planet can't escape that ever growing list!

[Melynn]

46. You're talking about the obits

Yep, everyone dies sooner of later. What that has to do with Krogers escapes me.

[Hubert Flottz]

48. If one is dead they can't shop anywhere anymore!

Not even Kroger!

Edit ...There could be a Wal-Mart in Hell I guess!

[TheFarseer]

47. known as Bakers here in Omaha

I'm not sure if there are any Bakers outside of Omaha.

[ileus]

51. Union Kroger = Stronger Wal-Mart. Sorry but it's true...

Kroger isn't going to be around much longer. And union wages prolly don't figure into the equation that much sad to say.

[theHandpuppet]

52. UPDATE.... UPDATE....

Read some of these comments by union-haters in Cincinnati. I wonder how much some of these neo-Nazis got paid for these letters... but then we're talking Jean Schmidt country, after all.
http://frontier.cincinnati.com/comments/threadview.asp?threadid=418

And here's an update on the negotiations:
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071101/BIZ01/711010327

[Clark2008]

53. That sucks.

I love and support my Kroger because of the unions. It's one of the very few businesses - period - let alone grocery stores - that have unions in my Southern town.