Kroger Mid-Atlantic, which operates 41 stores in West Virginia, including three in Morgantown, said it has reached a tentative agreement with its 4,600-plus associates on a tentative labor agreement.
“Given the unique circumstances everyone is experiencing in today’s world, the Kroger Mid-Atlantic and UFCW Local 400 bargaining committees worked virtually and diligently to create an agreement that provides our associates with a solid compensation package of wages and benefits. Focusing on solutions — together — was the key in reaching this agreement,” Paula Ginnett, president of Kroger Mid-Atlantic, said in a company statement.
The sticking point between Kroger and members of United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 was health care. Kroger employees haven’t had a health care insurance increase since 2014, the company said.
Kroger has scheduled a “Tele-’Town Hall” at 4 p.m. today to review the agreement. Voting in stores will take place Thursday and Friday with results expected Saturday.
The agreed-upon labor agreement comes just days after union members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. Both sides, however, were vocal about also trying to reach an agreement.
According to the union, the agreement said:
- Funding provided by Kroger will fully cover health care costs for the life of the labor agreement.
- Real pay raises for everyone. All raises retroactive to Nov. 1, 2020.
- Premiums for all department heads.
- No increase to prescription drug cost maximums and new diabetes program to reduce drug costs.
- New hours eligibility measurement period doesn’t start until after ratification.
The last time employees of Cincinnati-based Kroger went on strike in West Virginia was 2003.
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