To start, my store in Louisville, KY is the highest volume store in the Mid-south Division of Kroger. I thought it would be nice to do something different after the company I worked for closed due to the owner retiring and a lack of work in that field, (I did finish grading and drainage problems on new homes). I was hired on at the Middletown Kroger in December of 2012 at $7.80 an hr. and told by the HR (Doug Ackerman) that I would receive a .25 cent raise after 6 months. Because I couldn't verify my prior retail experiences I reluctantly hired at this rate. The rate of pay I was used to was $9.00 to 12.50 an hour depending on what work I was doing. But, because I would get this raise I agreed to start at this rate (7.30 + .50 for night shift work). 6 months passed and I received my raise.............only .10 cents. I then learned this was now the new raise for part time workers (you MUST hire in as part time I was told). The HR man is a union member and certainly new of the contract changes. I was lied to to get me to hire in.
To add, my only request at start, that I be off on Mondays, was ignored. I didn't get many Mondays off, and on the days I was off, my job was not being fully covered. I would come back to stock (that should have been run) on the back stock carts and the back stock not always run, which was a requirement for my aisles, (I stocked the water and drink aisles).
To close, working for less than $8.00 with only .10 every 6 months to look forward too, and little or no support from those who do my job when I'm off, I left Kroger very disappointed with them, and the union that was supposed to be looking out for me. A rosy picture was painted for me, -and I know it's never like the picture shows- but the thorns just became too much for my backside to bear.
I hope this isn't a trend being experienced by many in this company.
-- Edited by DHB on Tuesday 6th of August 2013 01:31:41 AM
-- Edited by DHB on Tuesday 6th of August 2013 01:33:38 AM
Reading straight out of the contract, you should have started at a minimum of 9.65 for night shift work and gotten .20 raises every 6 months. 7.30 isn't even on your wage scale at all. Also, if you set your availability as unavailable on mondays, they shouldn't have scheduled you, and they know it. Sounds like you got screwed over several different ways by your HR person.
You have got to be kidding. How could they hire someone for less than they're supposed to? The new HR lady gave me a copy of a pay schedule and it was .10 every 6 months. She seems very genuinely interested in the welfare of the employee. She said she would have given my previous retail experience from some companies that are no longer around. The old HR guy didn't act like he was able to do anything in that regard. I mean, I realize now, I could have gotten W-2 from my old tax returns if I still have them. I would say there's little I can do about it now if your correct. I quit. This really stinks though.
I've read the Local 227 contract book since I read your reply, and it does state that what I started at, without "verifiable retail" experience, is correct. I couldn't verify my experience since the stores I worked at no longer exist. Except maybe by W-2s from my old tax returns that I may or may not have still had.
Doug Ackerman stepped down as the HR person and is currently stocking in Drug/GM. I'm told that he stepped down because Kroger was/is making the HR position "management" and Doug didn't want to have to leave the union. Being this big union fan bugs me that he would tell me I would get a .25 cent raise when all I could get is .10 cents. I've played it over and over in my head, and I am positive he told me that.
I've kept all of my pay stubs. I am afraid it won't do any good since I just "no called / no showed" when I finally quit. I did go in and talk to the new HR person and told her why I was quitting. I know I could have handled it better. I think my body and my subconscious mind were making the decision for me. It really depressed me to think how much longer it was going to take to make a decent wage.
Well I quoted the local 1995 contract, since according to the cover it's for the midsouth division. It sucks that you've probably gone too far to do anything about it.
I had a similar issue. I threatened to go work at Wal-Mart, and times were a little rough for our little store so... they told me I was due for a raise from being in the position I was in. Expected around 8.00 or so. Well when time came around
because I stuck around. I ended up only gaining (like you) .10 cents. Which is no where near the amount I expected.
They re-promised me another potential raise that may be coming off of our new September (non-union) contract. I don't know
what to expect now. A raise? bonus'? I don't know anymore. Still working at 7.40 after two years. (For anyone that doesn't know...
