DENVER, Jan. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, King
Soopers/City Market proposed, by email, a Last, Best and Final
Offer to UFCW Local 7. The investment of $170 million over the next three years includes
wage investments plus ratification bonuses for all associates. The
company also proposed an additional investment in healthcare
benefits that would result in zero impact to associates current
healthcare premiums based upon the current projections – premiums
that have not increased in 12 years if this agreement is
ratified. This offer not only puts more money in associates'
pockets but if accepted, promises to bring stability to our
associates and Coloradans who have endured enough uncertainty and
disruption.
"At King Soopers, we want what is right for our associates, and
that is more money in their paychecks while continuing to receive
industry-leading healthcare benefits," stated Joe Kelley, president of King Soopers/City
Market.
Here's what this proposed investment means for King Soopers
associates:
Wage Investments –
Wage increases up to
$4.50 per hour in the first year,
based on job classification and tenure, with additional increases
over the life of the contract.
- Starting rate of pay will be increased to $16 per hour.
- Ratification bonuses for active associates:
-
- $4,000 for associates with 10+
years of service
- $2,000 for associates with less
than 10 years of service.
What does this investment mean for a checker with five years of
experience?
A checker's current wage is $19.51
an hour, and this contract will provide the following
increases:
- 2022 + $1.50 = $21.01
- 2023 + .80 cents = $21.81
- 2024 + .80 cents = $22.61
For a full-time checker, their annual compensation would be over
$47,000 annually, in addition to
their industry-leading healthcare and pension benefits.
Market Leading Healthcare –
King Soopers
associates have not experienced an increase in healthcare premiums
since 2012, and based on projections, and there will be no
increases through 2025.
To demonstrate the value of these affordable, top-quality
benefits, the attached image is an example of what
associates currently enrolled in the company's family coverage plan
pay, compared to the average monthly cost of healthcare in
Colorado – of note, Local 7 does
not contribute to healthcare benefits.
King Soopers/City Market remains focused on the bargaining
process and doing what is best for its associates, customers, and
community. As Colorado's grocer,
King Soopers aims to balance significant wage increases for
associates with keeping food affordable for customers. King Soopers
encourages the UFCW to join the company in doing what is best for
everyone by presenting this offer to its members and allowing them
to determine what is best for them and their families.
To learn more about King Soopers, please visit here.
About King Soopers/City Market
At King Soopers/City
Market, a company of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for
Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®.
We are 22,502 associates who serve customers daily through a
seamless shopping experience throughout Colorado. We are committed to creating
#ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us,
visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
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SOURCE The Kroger Co.