OP here: Our region's union voted 92% retail/94% meat in favor of the strike, which left Kroger that one last chance to negotiate before the union went on strike. Apparently they did reach a deal, though. I just hope the raise isn't the pathetic 35¢ or so that I've been hearing, because we got a 30¢ raise I think three years ago and I topped out a few years before that. Meanwhile minimum wage has gone up a few dollars and cost of living is getting ridiculous because of everyone moving to Colorado. The money used to be good, but I can't afford s*** for rent on my own anymore at my current $18.41/hr. My specific district isn't union outside of meat and deli departments (I'm grocery), but their negotiations still determine our contract. What's messed up is that because of all of these houses going up, and the state legalizing full strength beer in grocery stores this past January, business is through the roof. Competing grocery stores also pay a few dollars more per hour than us for the same position (I've heard mid-$20s); I'd jump ship, but I can't afford to lose benefits and take a big cut in pay for however long it takes to obtain those with the new company. It works against me trying to go back to school and get out of retail within the next 3-5 years.