Our contract expires this June and I have not heard anything regarding negotiations or updates of any kind. Has anyone heard anything regarding the status of our next contract ? I am wondering how the passage of right to work will affect talks between the union and Kroger (Michigan). Any info would be appreciated thanks. My calls to the union office have gone unanswered.
Although im not a Kroger-ite anymore, the negotiations out here for UFCW 555 contracts were pathetic. They were nearing a year of negotiating! The Eugene area was over 2 years of negotiating! We do have the difference of it being an area contract, as not only Fred Meyer and QFC but Safeway and Albertsons and a couple other small stores are included. The employers would show up at the meetings and refuse to negotiate at all. It took threat of a strike vote to get them to even offer a proposal, and of course the union lapped it up and presented it for a vote. People are rightfully scared of their livelihoods so they approved the contract.
The details are awful. While some ridiculous company proposals were defeated (eliminating the 5 day work week,ie schedule someone 7 days but below 40 hours, no overtime. Raising the health insurance deductible to the stratosphere, etc.) others werent, such as new hires will no longer recieve holiday pay ever, only current employees. They'll still get overtime for working on holidays but not the rather generous holiday extra pay situation. Also prescriptions are now "generic first". Unless your doctor explicitly says you have to have a name-brand drug, you will only be approved for generics. Not a big deal, but its just ridiculous that employers now want to check off on what your doctors say!
Wages were even worse. Our last contract featured a whopping 30 cent raise over 3 years, with two 15-cent-an-hour bonus payments for journeyman as well. They offered NO wages increases at all till the end, and this contract nets a HUGE 25 cent raise over 3 years. Whats worse is that the next-to-nothing raise from the previous contract was promoted and passed ratification easily because it was sold as "We are negotiating for funding healthcare and pensions properly this time, next time, we'll get you good raises!" And obviously that didnt happen. I'm glad I dont work for these ****ty employers anymore, but I feel for everyone who still does! Pathetic!
I don't really think its so much that the union is worthless, its more that conventional grocers are worthless. They are a dying business model. People with very little money to spend on food have migrated to Wal-Mart, Grocery Outlet, or regional "low price" chains like WinCo. People with more money to spend, or who care about what they eat in some fashion or the other, shop at Trader Joes if they're not too wealthy, or Whole Foods, local co-ops, or regional "natural" chains like New Seasons and Market of Choice here in Oregon, PCC in Seattle etc. etc.
The conventional grocer loses on both ends of the spectrum. They try to dable with good deals, and dabble with natural/organic foods, but they cant be cheaper than the first group, and have no credibility with the second group. So to the employers, the only way to stay alive is to screw the employees over, by just refusing to offer good contract terms, or by implementing crap like Key Retailing so they can eventually get rid of all experienced/skilled employees and replace with computer programs and a bare bones staff of ever-revolving people who just need a paycheck, no benefits or careers avaialble.
That's why I got out of Fred Meyer - The future isn't too bright, better employers exist, and besides I enjoy selling REALLY top quality natural and local products and promoting some of the changes in the food system that need to happen, instead of what Kroger offers us!
I don't really think its so much that the union is worthless, its more that conventional grocers are worthless. They are a dying business model. People with very little money to spend on food have migrated to Wal-Mart, Grocery Outlet, or regional "low price" chains like WinCo. People with more money to spend, or who care about what they eat in some fashion or the other, shop at Trader Joes if they're not too wealthy, or Whole Foods, local co-ops, or regional "natural" chains like New Seasons and Market of Choice here in Oregon, PCC in Seattle etc. etc.
The conventional grocer loses on both ends of the spectrum. They try to dable with good deals, and dabble with natural/organic foods, but they cant be cheaper than the first group, and have no credibility with the second group. So to the employers, the only way to stay alive is to screw the employees over, by just refusing to offer good contract terms, or by implementing crap like Key Retailing so they can eventually get rid of all experienced/skilled employees and replace with computer programs and a bare bones staff of ever-revolving people who just need a paycheck, no benefits or careers avaialble.
That's why I got out of Fred Meyer - The future isn't too bright, better employers exist, and besides I enjoy selling REALLY top quality natural and local products and promoting some of the changes in the food system that need to happen, instead of what Kroger offers us!
This is seriously one of the best posts I've seen on here, in its depth and correctness.
HEY IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE JOB THEN F*(K|NG QUIT DUMB @$$. NOBODY IS MAKING YOU BAG GROCERIES FOR A LIVING.
I see the usual idiot coming on here yet again ranting about how unions have "outlived" their purpose. I can tell you first hand they haven't outlived their purpose and creates fairness in the workplace. There has been times where the company has tried to demote me without jusitification or a write up for that matter. Some hippy decided they wanted to go on a power trip and target me. Well, I showed them my pair and with the aid of the union I got my title back. Its also not a job, if you want a "job" go work at a convience store. What we have are CAREERS and we will fight for our job especially in terms of MEAT CUTTING, which is still to some degree SKILLED LABOR.
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My Views and Opinions do not reflect that of the Kroger company. I'm an indivdual expressing my 1st amendment right.
Word on the street is that 876 is voting on an extension on Friday, March 22. The company and officers from the local are meeting soon to finalize a proposal that would extend the contract for several more years - possibly 4 or 5 instead of 3. I have no further details available at this time, other than both parties seem optimistic that it's a good idea.
