(The Associated Press distributed the following article on November 4.)
INDIANAPOLIS — Union workers at Kroger’s 58 central Indiana stores on Monday rejected what the company had called its “final” contract offer, authorizing a strike that could begin early Wednesday.
Nearly 1,900 members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 700 voted to reject the offer, more than the two-thirds majority required to authorize a strike, said Rian Wathen, the local’s organizing director.
Wathen said that unless the company returns to the bargaining table before the current contract expires at 12:01 a.m. EST Wednesday, the union is prepared to strike.
Union members on Oct. 24 voted to reject a five-year contract offer that would require higher health care contributions from employees.
A similar dispute over insurance costs led to a strike by more than 3,000 Kroger workers in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia that began Oct. 13.
Cincinnati-based Kroger said Friday it had made its final offer to the union, which represents about 4,000 Indiana workers.
Kroger spokesman Jeff Golc said it was “unfortunate” union members turned down the company’s offer, calling the vote a threat to Kroger’s future in an increasingly competitive market. When asked if the company would be willing to resume negotiations with the union, Golc said: “We’re willing to listen, but we’ve made our last, best and final offer.”
The company’s four-year contract offer included more than $30 million in wage increases and pension contributions, as well as an offer to pay increased health care costs, the company said.
Union members have threatened to strike unless a new labor contract fully covers increased health care costs, continues to grant full pensions to retirees at age 60 and provides new hires bigger raises.