Kroger Union

Date: Jun 14, 2012

Kroger Union

grumpy1 · Guru

Anonymous wrote:
I'm in the process of being hired at Kroger. What are the benefits of being in the Kroger union? By joining the Kroger union, does that increase your wage?

Look at the differance between wokers ( ther benifits, their treatment and rights they have ) at kroger and Wal mart and then ask if being a member of a union is worth it.

thedude · Guru

Usually by being hired by Kroger, you will be required to join the union. This is what is known as a CLOSED SHOP.

Stranger · Senior Member

I know in my area you can opt out of the union but still have to pay a maintenance fee to them.

If I remember rightly, in my state at least, a non member would still benefit from the existing rules of the union, however the union is not obligated to incur costs on your behalf. So if you ever need to file a grievance, you are pretty much out of luck. So in essence Kroger is supposed to treat you like a union member for seniority and such, but isn't really held to doing so.

Net effect, you are theoretically equal to your union member coworkers. Practical effect, management can do whatever they like with you, union rules be damned. New hires are pretty screwed for pay all around, but at least you get raises once in a while. No union, no enforcement in you getting your raise.

My advice, join the union, read your handbook, follow the rules as they apply to you, call the union before the store if you have a complaint.

barada · Guru

In union, you pay union dues.

that was the only differance they made for me.

when i needed them, they played me for a fool, laughed behind my back, and let me get humilated by vulgar launguage, and personal insults, during my meetings to fight for my job.

thedude · Guru

I am personally real torn over the kroger union. This is my 1st job I have had that requires participation in a union. I see a lot of laziness and nonchalant work ethics as a result of our union where employees know how to ride the coat tail of the union. Then I have seen the opposite where upper management screws up in their way of dealing with a particular employee and that employee needs a little 'union protection'. I myself have used the backing of the union to support my position at times with situations I seem to find myself in over time.

Stranger · Senior Member

barada wrote:
In union, you pay union dues.
that was the only differance they made for me.
when i needed them, they played me for a fool, laughed behind my back, and let me get humilated by vulgar launguage, and personal insults, during my meetings to fight for my job.

I get the impression that some individuals in the UFCW are like that, and somewhat it seems like it gets worse the closer to the store a person is. My store steward for example, does not keep up to date on the rules as they apply to the most recent couple contracts. He informed me that I would be unable to get a copy of the full contract and would have to make due with the little, short version handbook. That smacks of bullcrap, and it may well be that there is an unspoken understanding between him an management that they will look the other way about his perfomance and overtime as long as he does not really do any union business in the store.

That said, I have also seen the union be a real help to people who get some medical conditions and the management trying to screw them over. Generalizing, at one point someone was being made to expend a week of their vacation for a day of allowable medical leave. Management actually hid the forms for that medical leave and told her that they did not exist. The union definitely helped out there when they forced management to cough up the forms to fill out.

Edit: Wording

-- Edited by Stranger on Wednesday 20th of June 2012 12:17:43 AM

Date: Jun 22, 2012

Union = guranteed job security

Indy1979 · Senior Member

Just this year, Indiana became a Right to Work state or RTW for short. This means than if an individual does not wish to join a union, they are not required to. However, (and the bad part of this is) Even though the individual is not a paying member, they are still entitled to the same benefits and protection as a dues paying member. I don't know all the specific details to this, but the non paying member is a part of the bargaining unit. I was not in favor of this and was @ the Indiana Statehouse several times to protest.

As far as Kroger and RTW here in Indiana, Until we agree on a new contract which expired in May, and negioations wont resume until the Obama Care issues are decided. When a new contract comes out, current and future Kroger workers can opt out of membership.

Allknowingeye · Newbie

In a RTW state there is No reason to join a union. Unions hurt america, they almost destroyed the american car industry. The only people who benefit from a union are the individuals unwilling to do their job. Management and the clerks need to work together to ensure a future for the company so that everyone can have a job they need each other.

producepro99 · Senior Member

The health insurance is really, really good. In the central division, it is only $5 a month. The only bad thing about it is it takes 18 months to be eligible.

Date: Jul 13, 2012

The thing about health insurance is that they have to give you enough hours or else you don't get it.

At my store, people have to save their vacation days in order to maintain enough hours for it.

producepro99 · Senior Member

I work full-time, so I'm pretty sure I get the health insurance.

Date: Dec 4, 2012

i am with the union and no its not worth it stay away form the union

Date: Oct 3, 2013

No, You are NOT required to join the union once you are employed by Kroger. It is highly encouraged, but no required. If you choose to

join, you will have an opportunity to expunge membership on a yearly annual enrollment... By joining the union, this also does NOT increase

your salary. In actuality, this decision decreases your salary by an ACH payroll deduction per your signed approval.....

Date: Oct 4, 2013

I agree..but they don't always work together for the good

Date: Oct 9, 2013

How much are Kroger union dues?

SayWhat · Guru

Anonymous wrote:
Union = guranteed job security

Oh yeah? Just ask thedude how guaranteed it is.

AnonymousCutter · Guru

SayWhat wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Union = guranteed job security
Oh yeah? Just ask thedude how guaranteed it is.

It was a situation he brought upon himself. I'll give you a perfectly good reason why the union help me keep my position and get retroactive pay in the end.

I got promoted to Assistant Meat Market Manager and got overwhelmed in a big store. I was new to the concept of being a market assistant and so it took me time to learn all my duties as such. Well, I had transferred to another store and didn't like it there either, but a spot at my old store opened up and my friend didn't want to be the market assistant. Well, the Meat Merchandiser didn't want me going back to my store, but did it anyways after she had told me that should have to bump my pay. Well they demoted me with a clean record and no reason. It took 10 months to get my position back, but after it was over I got retro pay from the pay I missed. My demotion was not just cause.

Date: Oct 9, 2013

if you feel that Kroger, or any employer, is willing to invest in their employees and treat thme as an asset to be leveraged, then I would say it's not worth having a union.

if you feel that you, as an employee, are treated as a "cost" to be controlled, then I would say its useful to have a union to advocate on your behalf.

it also helps sometimes if you work for an employer that switches management around often. Even if you work at a place and are fine for years, there's nothing stopping someone new who doesn't know you or your history from disciplining or firing you because they plain don't like your face.

Date: Oct 16, 2013

Pam wrote:
How much are Kroger union dues?

Its about 7.50

Date: Oct 16, 2013

Anonymous wrote:
Pam wrote:
How much are Kroger union dues?
Its about 7.50

It depends on where you are. Here it's $10.

Date: Oct 16, 2013

Dues are calculated by what you are paid per hour.

the more members your local has, the stronger your bargaining power. Another consideration. Many locals also offer other benefits, such as scholarships, fundraisers, outings, discounts, and legal services. You also can't vote on contracts if you aren't a member.

I take advantage of as much of that stuff, and as many of the Kroger discounts, as possible.

Date: Oct 16, 2013

There are things unions can't do for people. They can't always make you feel like you're treated fairly, or get you a boss you'll like. If you are part of the rank and file, and you don't feel that you are being represented, remember that it is a democratic organization and that you can step up and fix things. Is your steward an idiot? Take it to your rep. Does your rep suck? Call one of the officers, or better yet - take it to the executive board. Can't find anybody to listen to you, even though you have a well-reasoned and documented case of the union failing? Take it to other members. Tell the officers you're going to file a complaint with the NLRB. Not every local is the same. Not every rep is good at their job. You'd be surprised how often you can get someone to listen to you if you have a good point and you don't seem like someone that just wants something to bitch about and someone to blame.

we had a succession of terrible reps and a steward that was a bully and control freak. None of those situations exist now because people in my store stepped up.

Date: Nov 19, 2013

there are no benefits, I've worked there for a year and they do nothing for me.

Date: Dec 24, 2013

^^^^ What they said!

Date: Feb 22, 2014

I'm very upset of the fact that when my store had 1,500-2000 piece trucks with little help and a high turn over rate of new hires leaving the company I was getting 40+ hrs at a status of part-time and now they have me working only 1-2 days a week. I applied with a resume requesting full-time hours but the KROGER 504 store was only hiring part-time and placed me as a part-time employee, but I was working full-time hours. Management began to transfer full-time employees who worked in dairy in the day and employees from the frozen food department to the grocery dept when our trucks are smaller, which should be a mixture of full-time and part-time employees to balance out the payroll and for part-time employees to have 25-30 hrs per week. In retrospect I feel used and not valued as an valuable KROGER EMPLOYEE. Management says that under "Union" contract the full-time employees have seniority, but me as a female overnight grocery clerk employee working as a full-time employee doing 2-3 aisles on a regular basis and a union member

should be considered and treated fairly.

Date: Apr 11, 2014

BULL****

Date: Apr 12, 2014

what exactually is kroger to provide, as a uniform? i've heard they have to provide s...what else?

Date: Jul 8, 2014

How do you get in contact with a union?

Date: Jul 29, 2014

no you do not have to join with Kroger

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Anonymous wrote:
How do you get in contact with a union?

1) Find a knife
2) Slice the palm of your hand
3) Drip the blood onto any Kroger brand product
4) Chant 'Would You Like...?' over and over again
5) Wait and soon a union representative will appear in a cloud of smoke.

Just be sure to remove the batteries from your smoke detector, when I did it the process set mine off. And the scar never heals btw.

NutritionWhore · Guru

Stranger wrote:
I know in my area you can opt out of the union but still have to pay a maintenance fee to them.

If I remember rightly, in my state at least, a non member would still benefit from the existing rules of the union, however the union is not obligated to incur costs on your behalf. So if you ever need to file a grievance, you are pretty much out of luck. So in essence Kroger is supposed to treat you like a union member for seniority and such, but isn't really held to doing so.

Net effect, you are theoretically equal to your union member coworkers. Practical effect, management can do whatever they like with you, union rules be damned. New hires are pretty screwed for pay all around, but at least you get raises once in a while. No union, no enforcement in you getting your raise.

My advice, join the union, read your handbook, follow the rules as they apply to you, call the union before the store if you have a complaint.

My state requires that companies treat union and non-union workers alike. The only "difference" is the priority of who the union grieves for first (nowadays, they're all lazy). Management CANNOT do whatever they like with non-union members.

Your advice is terrible, to be honest. It'll be much better to ask his union co-workers if their union is worth paying for. You and I know that once you join, Hell would have to freeze a thousand times over before you're allowed to even get a chance to leave.

OP, your starting wage will be the same, whether you're union or not. Your wage increases will depend on whether you're full or part time. But like I said, don't join unless you're comfortable with YOUR local union. Don't let the reps pressure you into joining.

Date: Oct 13, 2014

I wish that were true my 19 yr old son works at the local Kroger. And forgot to clock out for his 15min break and was fired for that alone . No verbal or written just let go. Now I was in the U.A.W for 8 years and was the shop steward and finally the chairperson. I handled many grievances and even ratified our contract along with one long 9 month strike. But the union was there legally and financially during our hardships. Is the Union just as strong that handles Kroger well I guess we will find out. I will be calling them to see a copy of the contract they have at Kroger along with their SOP'S for disciplinary action. I believe in unions without them the power hungry pimple faced managers would have to much power and control.

Roger Cast.

Lord_Uboat · Guru

Anonymous wrote:
I wish that were true my 19 yr old son works at the local Kroger. And forgot to clock out for his 15min break and was fired for that alone . No verbal or written just let go. Now I was in the U.A.W for 8 years and was the shop steward and finally the chairperson. I handled many grievances and even ratified our contract along with one long 9 month strike. But the union was there legally and financially during our hardships. Is the Union just as strong that handles Kroger well I guess we will find out. I will be calling them to see a copy of the contract they have at Kroger along with their SOP'S for disciplinary action. I believe in unions without them the power hungry pimple faced managers would have to much power and control.
Roger Cast.

Was your son in probationary period?

Date: Feb 12, 2015

I been Working Part-Time For 23 Years a 4 hour a Day of 5 Days a Wks

Now it is 3 day a Wks 16hr and I Have been a Loyal employee For Years.

Can you Help Me?

techelite · Guru

Anonymous wrote:
I been Working Part-Time For 23 Years a 4 hour a Day of 5 Days a Wks
Now it is 3 day a Wks 16hr and I Have been a Loyal employee For Years.
Can you Help Me?

So you went from 20 hrs a week to 16? After factoring in the lesser fuel and maint costs for your car from driving to and from work 2 days fewer per week, you really didn't lose much. And if they cut your hours along with everyone else's, there's not much you can do.

Date: Apr 13, 2015

techelite wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I been Working Part-Time For 23 Years a 4 hour a Day of 5 Days a Wks
Now it is 3 day a Wks 16hr and I Have been a Loyal employee For Years.
Can you Help Me?

So you went from 20 hrs a week to 16? After factoring in the lesser fuel and maint costs for your car from driving to and from work 2 days fewer per week, you really didn't lose much. And if they cut your hours along with everyone else's, there's not much you can do.

You have to understand that Kroger is a small mom-and-pop operated store. They can't afford to pay their employees a living wage. It's just something you'll have to deal with.

kroagrr · Guru

Re: Krogrr

Date: Jun 16, 2015

RE: Kroger Union