I'm not familiar with Publix, so I probably can't answer your question fully, but here goes:
The advantage of being in a union is that there is supposed to be a check and balance system. For example, if you are written up or disciplined for a frivolous reason (such as a low score on register or failing a mystery shop), you can file a grievance against the manager and bring the union rep and district manager into it, placing you on equal footing with management to discuss the situation.
The UFCW and Kroger go through a collective bargaining process that will normally make updates to the contract. It is through this process that your benefits are negotiated. The employees submit in surveys what they would like to see in the contract in terms of vacations, time off, working conditions, etc. while the union has somebody who negotiates the actual benefits such as insurance.
I can't compare insurance because I am not familiar with Publix but my advice would be to find someone you know who works at the Kroger in your area and see if they would recommend working there.
Another thing to consider is that Kroger invests a lot of money in programs that while some grocery stores may envy, there are some that are flat out laughable. Because Kroger is a corporation, they have people who have never worked in a grocery store who come out with programs that are supposed to "make our jobs easier" but in the process just create additional unneccessary work.
__________________
"The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent the positions, strategies or opinions of The Kroger Co. family of stores."
Why are you wanting to leave Publix? I am not trying to dissuade you but if you have vested time put in with them and are receiving vacation, bene's and whatnot why leave them to start all over with a company that ultimately you might not like?
As far as what its like - its just a damn job that unfortunately we all have to go to in order to make a paycheck. You will encounter just the same amount of drama here as you do at Publix just the characters are different. Once you accept the pay you will not get much of a pay increase b/c of the union contract. So be sure to ask for 'experience pay' and get it in writing before you hop ship then they tell you a few weeks in that you will not get it. Our pay is pretty much know by all b/c it is posted in our contract so you can sorta look and see how much you will earn in 3 months, 6 months, a year later... you will pay a weekly union due and after you reach your 1000th hour you receive your senority date. all the people who work there longer got higher senority so they can get the better hours. you will be a newbie bottom feeder so expect the crappy shifts. if hours get cut in the department, yours should be the first cut - they do not cut everybody equally across the board. dental and vision are pretty cheap and good but medical although cheap the deductable is high. my son just broke his leg a few weeks back and the bill i just got was for $9365 for which i gotta pay $1000 deductable. he can break his leg all he wants now till the end of the year. i'm not a big advocate of the union but i do see merit to it at times. but its a two edges sword. i do like the fact that the employer knows that the union will somewhat stand behind me and make discipline that much harder but i honestly do not walk around wearing a union shirt and pin.
__________________
I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
dont put too much time in at krogers ! I know of one employee with 44 yrs that is being pushed to retire!!! The union has to fight for his retirement! 44 yrs sad sad
hell no run while you can KROGERS IS AWFUL they are one of lowest paying company in america the union id ggod to have but not when they reakky dont support you...your paying them for nothing...STAY WHERE YOU ARE DONT GO TO KROGER im coimg to publix...RUN WHILE YOU CAN
Fortune ranked Publix #77 out of 100 on a list comprised of the 100 Best Companies to Work For (2013 edition). Kroger is nowhere to be found.
I never worked for Publix, although I shopped there for six years when I lived in a state that had pretty much nothing but Walmart, Publix, Target and the very, very rare Winn-Dixie and K-Mart. Publix stores are beautiful. Kroger stores... with the exception of the Marketplaces, aren't as attractive. The people that work at Publix, from what I can remember, seem happy, from the people in the deli to the grocery clerks to the front end staff. The people that work at Kroger? Eh... well, from the grocery clerks to the front end supervisors to the co-managers will sometimes openly complain in front of or in hearing range of customers about the problems of the day, the annoyances of the job, other workers and so on.
If you have to work retail, Publix seems to be one of the better supermarkets to work for. That's just based on my observations though, since like I said, I never worked at a Publix, only shopped there.
Who can PUSH someone to retire? This is not true.. With 44 years on the job. he or she is guaranteed 40 per week with 4 wks vacation pay. There is no way to push someone to retire for the sake of just retiring..perhaps there are other issues in his or her job performance and they can no longer do the job effectively for the rate of pay they are making.
people hold out on retirement so that they can draw a larger pension and social security check..the later the larger the monthly payout.
dont put too much time in at krogers ! I know of one employee with 44 yrs that is being pushed to retire!!! The union has to fight for his retirement! 44 yrs sad sad
