Kroger just can't stand it if they're not the number one grocery store in a given area. It would be one thing if all the stores were losing money, but they're not. Kroger just isn't getting as big a piece of the pie as they are normally use to.
The company plans to sell all 14 stores, which are in its mid-Atlantic division. It is currently under contract with Food Lion for one store, Crunch Fitness for one store and Harris Teeter for eight stores. Kroger bought Matthews-based Harris Teeter in 2014, but Kroger mid-Atlantic and Harris Teeter are two separate business entities within the Kroger family of companies.
How much do you wanna bet this is about replacing union (Kroger) stores with non-union (Harris Teeter)? Clever.
What happens in these types of situations with the union? Contract says around here that if a store closes, then we are to be given positions in surrounding stores based on seniority, or the severance package. So if there are no stores in the area, everyone's just screwed?
I work in this district. Our union and corporate are supposed to meet on Friday to discuss severance pay. They also offered us the ability to transfer to Kroger stores in Virginia but that's about it. They said we can also apply to Harris Teeters in the area or apply to the new ones that open but it'll be like starting over/no seniority etc. Our contract runs through 01/26/2019 so idk if that'll impact severance pay. Idk what'll happen to the union either since we were the bulk of there members. They'll most likely be merged into another local or be dissolved.
Notice there's not a peep about this on the GreatPeople site yet (at least in Cincy division). I wonder if this is the beginning of the end for the whole company.
Maybe this will be a wake-up call for the company. Perhaps there will be less greed at the top and more money spent on properly staffing stores so that departments are kept full and fresh by associates that are happy to meet expectations and take care of customers because they themselves are paid well and are taken well care of by the company.
Who am I kidding? Rodney McMullen and his pals at the top will continue to pilfer the company left and right until Kroger goes the way of K-mart. Of course, by the time that happens, they will have already amassed enough money for several lifetimes over while those that made them that money will have had their livelihoods destroyed. Kinda hard to Feed the Human Spirit when the Kroger store you work at gets SHUT DOWN.
I don't know if we're all really processing the fact that Kroger just killed the union in an entire state. This **** is ****ed up. We should all be a little worried imo if this is the new precedent being set.
Kroger just broke the union. did the union see this coming or was the union in their pocket? I am afraid that will happen to other Kroger stores in other states. Kroger does not care about their employees. There is no loyalty at Kroger anymore. I have been with this Kroger going on 32 years and I never thought I would have to worry if I am going to get my pension.
Yeah, that's what i'm thinking too. This union local was powerless to stop the closures. I mean sure, one store is one thing but they left the whole state so that the union couldn't do anything.
I mean, I would like to think that as i'm in the Cincy division, home of where Kroger was founded, i'd be safe... but there are no guarantees are there?
If you look at the map its was a strategic decision to eliminate overlapping store in 2 Kroger affiliated banners. With the purchase of Harris Teeter, you began competing against yourself for sales, and spending 2x on advertising the same sales at times. Its really isn't good business to own 2 chains and have them compete against themselves, the same thing happened with Harris Teeter in Nashville (which converted to Kroger). With the elimination of these stores they cut expenses and most likely raise sales per store. Store closing like this isn't anything new, it just doesn't happen too often. In reality the only BS is happening with the employees not being automatically hired at HT. You know what I would tell all the currently employees! Take the severance and apply at HT, they will most likely give experience pay and your they are still going to need to staff 8 new locations. You cant tell me that Str Management isn't going to basically be hired onto HT for these locations? Legally what they have to say and what is really done it 2 different things. Companies by stores locations instead of "operating entities" because of liability. If I purchase Walmart, I have all the legacy costs and inherit all the contracts that were signed. If I purchase a location, I just assume the property and the costs associate with it.
Maybe if they treated their employees right, the company would go. Morale is low at kroger on the employee level. Noone isn't gonna' work as hard if they don't see an incentive or reward to push further & better. The turn-over rate is really bad at my store. There's more care about the customer than actual employees who without them there would be no customers.
Kroger just broke the union. did the union see this coming or was the union in their pocket? I am afraid that will happen to other Kroger stores in other states. Kroger does not care about their employees. There is no loyalty at Kroger anymore. I have been with this Kroger going on 32 years and I never thought I would have to worry if I am going to get my pension.
Bingo! Kroger's saying on every check is," A customer helped make this happen," no I disagree. If it weren't for the employees stocking the shelves, expending overtime, going the extra mile, taking the initiative etc etc, there would be NO customers.
