Kroger Dallas & UFCW Local 100 Health/Welfare fund dispute

Date: Sep 11, 2018

Kroger Dallas & UFCW Local 100 Health/Welfare fund dispute

Date: Sep 11, 2018

Anonymous wrote:
Union's side, per email from Burris:
UFCW: A Voice for Working America Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Healthcare is very important to you and your family. We need to share a critical issue occurring with your health care and Kroger.

Since December 2017, we have negotiated with Kroger in good faith in order to fix a serious shortfall in your Health & Welfare Fund. As you all know, the Health & Welfare Fund pays for any claims related to the health care benefits you and all our Local 1000 members depend on and is based on contributions from Kroger and members.

Here are the issues you need to be aware of:

The Health & Welfare Fund is short approximately $17 million dollars of the funding level called for by your collective bargaining agreement. Over the course of the last three contracts, Kroger has aggressively negotiated out almost $23 million in Fund reserves.

Kroger has, up until September 7th, refused to pay millions of dollars in healthcare contributions in an attempt to secure changes in your union contract terms over health care funding. UFCW has forced Kroger to pay $8.6 million in cash for your healthcare.

In exchange, Kroger has demanded massive cuts that will reduce benefits, eliminate some coverage, and raise costs for you and your family. Some of Kroger's cuts will include raising your coinsurance and weekly co-premiums, eliminating vision insurance, and increasing hourly eligibility. ( https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Eufl8qZ1QcpvL0WoTvuysDPR_jiGYuoK/view )

Even as Kroger has made billions in profit, and will make billions more in the coming years because of the recent corporate tax cut, they still slashed millions of dollars from your healthcare benefits.

Kroger engaged in a pattern of delay tactics while we negotiated responsibly and in good faith in order to fix a solvable funding problem.

The upcoming contract negotiations in 2020 gives us our strongest path to win back the benefits that Kroger has taken from you and your family. Though UFCW was able to win $8.6 million in healthcare contributions this round, we will work together as a union family to prepare for these negotiations in 2020 and any actions we might have to take to compel Kroger to do the right thing.

Never forget that your hard work has made Kroger a success. You've earned these health care benefits. They matter to you, your family, and all our members. We will never stop fighting to protect your hard-earned benefits until Kroger does what is right and lives up to its responsibilities.

Call Kroger's office right now and tell them to stop cutting your healthcare benefits: 469-645-7900. Tell them to do the right thing! See Kroger's Path of Destruction To Cutting Your Benefits In Solidarity,

Ricky Burris President UFCW Local 1000

P.S. We will be scheduling meetings in the coming weeks to discuss this issue with the membership. We will also have our previously scheduled membership meeting on October 15th.

Gallery of Kroger handout claiming Union is lying: https://imgur.com/a/moLkMIN

Get off welfare and get a damn job!!

kroagrr · Guru

RE: Kroger Dallas & UFCW Local 1000 Health/Welfare fund dispute

Date: Sep 12, 2018

RE: Kroger Dallas & UFCW Local 100 Health/Welfare fund dispute

Date: Sep 12, 2018

RE: Kroger Dallas & UFCW Local 1000 Health/Welfare fund dispute

ProduceSmartass · Veteran Member

RE: Kroger Dallas & UFCW Local 100 Health/Welfare fund dispute

Date: Sep 12, 2018

We deserve better? Really? Is that why the UFCW Local 1000 went along with Kroger during the previous contract negotiations when Kroger proposed a lower wage scale than what the union wanted to go with?

Neither Kroger nor the union have our best interests at heart. I can say with almost 100% certainty that both sides are lying - to some extent - about what is going on right now.

ProduceSmartass · Veteran Member

Here's the timeline the Union provides:

Timeline of Events

Up until September 7th, Kroger refused to pay millions of dollars in healthcare contributions

in an attempt to secure changes in your union contract terms over health care funding.

UFCW has finally forced Kroger to pay $8.6 million in cash for your healthcare.

2010 - 2013 Kroger Burns Down Reserves

Kroger aggressively negotiates for contributions by arguing that the Health and Welfare Fund is "overfunded".

Starting two contracts ago, Kroger aggressively negotiated to burn down the reserves in your Health and Welfare Fund. In 2010, Kroger demanded $10.4 million. In 2011, it was another $4.8 million. In 2012, Kroger siphoned another $4.9 million and in 2013 another $2.3 million. Through hard "take it or leave it" bargaining, Kroger siphoned out almost $23 million in reserves from your Health and Welfare Fund. These reserves would have resolved the current funding crisis, but instead Kroger used these reserves to build new stores and grow their market share in Dallas Ft. Worth.

July 2017 - Contract Negotiations

UFCW Bargaining Committee and Kroger Management Sit Down to Negotiate New Contract

UFCW members and Kroger management sit down over a dozen times during the summer of 2017 to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. Kroger is fully aware of problems with the funding of the Health & Welfare Fund. Read Kroger's proposals, which include a $100 spousal fee and increases to your coinsurance and co-premiums that the Union fights off.

December 2017 - Healthcare Funding Shortfall

Kroger was made aware by the Fund Consultant of a serious shortfall in the Health & Welfare Fund.

Kroger is informed that there are over $5 million in pended medical claims that there is not enough cash in the Fund to pay. These claims are beginning to result in balance bills for Fund participants, which could harm your personal credit. Instead of abiding by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Kroger stalls and chooses to not take action, which makes the problem worse.

March 2018 - Health and Welfare Trustee Meeting

Kroger is again made aware of a continued funding shortfall.

The Fund Consultant points to the pended claim problem worsening to almost $7 million. Kroger, in an attempt to delay action, looks to blame Plan professionals for the claims problem (that it created by burning down almost $23 million in reserves). Kroger again refuses to take any action to resolve the funding problem.

June 2018 - Health and Welfare Funding Crisis Continues

UFCW makes every effort to discuss problem with Kroger management to no avail.

Between April and August, UFCW leaders meet with Kroger by phone and in person half a dozen times in Atlanta and Cincinnati. UFCW offers numerous proposals and ideas on how to escape this funding crisis in a fair and reasonable manner. Kroger refuses to agree to any proposals, but continues to delay action. Read Kroger's letter outlining a ridiculous conspiracy theory to get out of its contractual obligations and cover for the weak actions of their inept trustees.

July 5th, 2018 - Union Files Grievance Against Kroger over Healthcare

UFCW Local 1000 files grievance over Article 14.

UFCW strongly believes that Kroger is obligated to resolve the funding problem in the Health and Welfare Fund through an infusion of cash. UFCW files a grievance under Article 14 in the current agreement to compel Kroger to live up to its contractual obligation. Read the grievance here.

August 24th, 2018 - Kroger Proposes to Dissolve Fund

Kroger sends UFCW a proposal to dissolve your Health and Welfare Fund.

Kroger sends UFCW a letter outlining a proposal to dissolve your Health and Welfare Fund in exchange for forcing you and your family into a less affordable, less comprehensive healthcare plan. They propose a Devil's bargain of $10 million in cash (to pay claims they are contractually obligated to pay anyway) in exchange for moving Med-1000 participants into a worse healthcare plan with higher deductibles and less coverage. You can see their proposed plan here.

August 30th, 2018 - Kroger Demands Massive Cuts

An emergency trustee meeting is called by Union trustees.

Only in exchange for almost $9.5 million in healthcare cuts including cutting vision insurance, increasing employee contributions and deductibles, and upping eligibility requirements does Kroger consider infusing the $8.6 million in cash to pay member claims. The Union trustees argue strenuously that the cuts are massive and uncalled for and offer counter-resolutions. Read Kroger's motion here.

August 31st, 2018 - Kroger Refuses to Negotiate

Union offers reasonable counter-proposal and Kroger refuses to negotiate.

Kroger senior management orchestrated this funding crisis with the aim of eliminating your Health and Welfare Fund and cutting your benefits. When UFCW offered reasonable compromises, Kroger refused at every turn. Kroger held your healthcare claims hostage for months to play a cat and mouse game with your insurance. Read the email where Kroger senior management refuses to continue negotiating.

September 7th, 2018 - Kroger Finally Makes Contributions

UFCW finally forces Kroger to infuse $8.6 million into Health and Welfare Fund.

After delaying for months, and burning down reserves for years, Kroger finally makes the monetary contribution necessary to pay the pended claims. The Union agrees to a Letter of Understanding that ensures the continued existence of the Fund and gains $8.6 million in immediate cash contributions. Kroger, using the leverage of dissolving your Fund, extracts massive healthcare cuts in exchange for the $8.6 million even going so far as to force plan participants to pay 7% interest on the money that Kroger puts into the Fund.

Date: Sep 14, 2018

Anonymous wrote:
We deserve better? Really? Is that why the UFCW Local 1000 went along with Kroger during the previous contract negotiations when Kroger proposed a lower wage scale than what the union wanted to go with?
Neither Kroger nor the union have our best interests at heart. I can say with almost 100% certainty that both sides are lying - to some extent - about what is going on right now.

1000 is currently on lower wage scale than union wanted? What wage scale did union ask for?

Date: Sep 16, 2018

Anonymous wrote:
I think most of us are already aware of what this means for the near future: reduced benefits and/or more money out of our checks every week for health insurance.

UFCW75 here, they stole 20% of my take home pay. My insurance went up 400%.

I don't give a **** if its the company or the union, i earned that money, my job is only getting harder and no one is willing to do it anymore. I'm working on my way out due to suicidal idealization, the constant belittlement and harassment, some underlying health issues that i been able to deal with up until now, when my shifts started having 4-6 hours between the end of one and the beginning of another. Union is nowhere to be seen on that one huh?

Only option anymore is protect yourself from these scumbags. I have been collecting information where they accept my ADA, then refuse to honor it. I'm not asking for anything amazing, i asked for 8 hours to sleep. Union says 8 hours between shifts but wont even return my calls. The next is pretty much legal.

This company is a joke, the union is a joke and they cant go out of business fast enough, although their trying with how they are running it. I get you are coming to the digital age, but you suck pretty hard at it. You lost your employees, you lost your shareholders, and now your losing your customers. I'd laugh if you weren't just going to blame the employees and cash your 6 figure welfare checks.

kroagrr · Guru

RE: Kroger Dallas & UFCW Local 1000 Health/Welfare fund dispute

Date: Sep 22, 2018

RE: Kroger Dallas & UFCW Local 100 Health/Welfare fund dispute

kroagrr · Guru

RE: Kroger Dallas & UFCW Local 1000 Health/Welfare fund dispute

EUID_Unknown · Guru

Kroger Dallas & UFCW Local 100 Health/Welfare fund dispute

Date: Sep 24, 2018

So what happened do we still keep vision,or are they still fighting over the issue?

Date: Sep 24, 2018

There was a posting in my store's break room, but now it's gone. Among other things, it stated effective January 1st 2019, vision would no longer be covered.

Date: Nov 2, 2018

kroagrr wrote:
Re: UFCW Local 1000
Ricky Burris pays himself $267,000 to $299,000 a year . . . out of dues from people who make as little as less than $8.00 an hour.
Ricky Burris employs his wife as office manager . . . to the tune of $95,000 a year.
Ricky Burris employs his baby brother as a business agent . . . a business agent who isn't obligated to return calls and emails from dues-paying members.
Anyone ready for a union president other than Ricky Burris?

A new union president won't solve anything. That will not put an end to the greed and corruption.

Union members are the only ones that have the power and ability to hold these people accountable and elect trustworthy individuals into positions of power.

You would need the majority of Kroger union employees to take a stand. That's not going to happen for multiple reasons: Kroger has a high turnover rate, so a lot of these new union members won't be sticking around long enough to take an interest in making a stand. On the other end of the spectrum, you have long-term union members that have been with Kroger for 20+ years and are grandfathered in and enjoy the benefits of older union contracts - a portion of these people are looking to retire soon and thus don't want to rock the boat. Then you have the spin that comes from both Kroger and the union that makes it hard to find out the truth and so you have some people that just write both off as equally bad and impossible to change. On top of that, it takes time and energy to mount a campaign to bring about positive change, and it's not the easiest thing in the world to get people to commit to something like that, especially if there is fear of retribution from management and uncertainty whether the union will back you up.

So you can go and just say everything I just typed amounts to nothing more than "excuses" but my opinion is this is the hard reality of the situation. Many of us are more likely to lose our jobs to outsourcing (look at how much Kroger brings in that is prepackaged now versus what employees used to make/do in-store, look at Kroger trying to expand partnerships with personal shopping companies in order to downsize ClickList) and technology (look at Scan, Bag Go + additional self check outs, all designed to reduce front end labor costs, look at the push to use robots to replace stockers) in the near future than we are to get a union that truly represents the interests of the employees.

For multi-million dollar companies, the future is bright and profitable. For the average worker, not so much.