| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2001 |
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Detroit Area Supermarket Workers: Contract Negotiations 2001 Thousands of Detroit-area supermarket workers voted today to authorize a strike against the two biggest grocery chains in the area, Kroger and Farmer Jack. The 17,000 United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 876 members voted overwhelmingly today to send the companies a strong message: we will fight to protect affordable health care benefits for our families. UFCW Local 876 leaders are meeting as long as it takes this evening with management representatives in order to reach a fair contract settlement that protects affordable family health care and provides a living wage. Detroit supermarket workers are taking a stand. Companies across the country are shifting increasing health care costs onto the backs of working families. With 44 million uninsured Americans, UFCW members are fighting back against corporate greed that would deny health benefits to hard-working people. Kroger is the largest supermarket company in the nation, with 2,343 stores in 31 states. Over the past seven years, Kroger's net profit per employee has risen by 220%?yet the company's contribution to the health and welfare fund has not increased at all. Kroger's net profit rose from $242 million in 1994 to an estimated $860 million in 2000?and increase of 355%. Contracts for both companies expires at midnight tonight. |
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