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January’s Quarterly Membership Meetings were canceled due to the severe weather that swept across our area. While it was the right call for safety, I know many of you were still out there—reporting to work, keeping stores open, shelves stocked, and communities served. You are essential workers in every sense of the word, and pillars of the neighborhoods you serve. Thank you for showing up when it mattered most.
Because we missed that opportunity to meet face to face, this newsletter is dedicated to covering the key updates and discussions that would have taken place at those January meetings.
One of the most important updates is the state of our bargaining unit. Over the course of the past year, the bargaining unit is down 632 employees. At the same time, our membership is only down 191 members. That distinction matters. Part of this change is the result of the closure of four Homeland stores in August. It also reflects a broader and ongoing concern: Kroger’s continued efforts to reduce bargaining unit work by shifting jobs to outside vendors. We are seeing this through the use of companies like Snow Fox for fresh-cut fruit and Pax and Beneficia for in-store coffee operations. These are bargaining unit jobs, and your Union remains vigilant in pushing back against attempts to erode them.
I also want to extend a sincere thank you to the members who took the time to participate in the January nominations meetings. Your involvement is what keeps our Union strong and member-led. Congratulations to the members elected to serve on the Local Executive Board along UFCW Local 1000 staff:
- Angela Johnson, Front End Cashier, Kroger – Richardson, TX
- Kim Bert, Price Integrity Clerk, Kroger – Longview, TX
- Scott Wells, Lead Clerk, Fuel Center, Kroger – Flower Mound, TX
- Devin Howard, Lead Front End, Homeland – Edmond, OK
- Jill Mencke, Youth Policy Analyst, Oklahoma Policy Institute
These members bring a wide range of experience, perspectives, and commitment to our Union, and I look forward to working alongside them on your behalf.
Additionally, the Local moved quickly into discussions over Homeland’s next Collective Bargaining Agreement, as the current CBA was set to expire on March 3rd. Shown above is a Zoom meeting President Burris held with Homeland Shop Stewards to share updates from his meeting with the new CEO. Given the challenges Homeland continues to face and the CEO’s recent start in December, a recommendation was made to extend the current CBA up to one year. This extension protects members’ wages and benefits while giving Homeland up to one year to stabilize operations and better position itself to engage in meaningful, good-faith bargaining that delivers improvements for our members.
Thank you to all of the members that participated in ratifying this extension.
In solidarity,
Ricky Burris
UFCW Local 1000 President
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