Kroger Workers Worried About Impact of Harris Teeter Deal

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Kroger Workers Worried About Impact of Harris Teeter Deal(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Kroger announced yesterday that it’s buying Harris Teeter in a cash deal that includes taking on $100 million in Harris Teeter debt. The deal will allow supermarket giant Kroger “to enter new markets which will overlap with our UFCW Local 400 retailers including Giant and Safeway in the Beltway,” said Local 400 members on the OneKrogerblog. The workers, who are now in contract negotiations, wonder if Kroger was willing to pay cash to take on a debt-laden – and non-union -- competitor, “what about those of us that are struggling to put food in our mouths or roofs over the heads of our family members? Will you make us whole like you plan to do the shareholders of Harris Teeter?” Noting that the most profitable divisions for Kroger are in the areas represented by Local 400, the Kroger workers said “It’s time we share in that wealth.  We won’t beg to get it.  No, we demand it!”

 

Powered by Orchid Suites
Orchid ver. 4.7.6.