Find your voice — join the Virginia Kroger Union.
Kroger workers in Richmond and the Tidewater region of Virginia have been joining the growing Kroger union to fight for a better future on the job.
Together, they’re uniting with over 250,000 of their coworkers across the country who’ve already won better benefits, industry-leading pay, and respect for their essential work.
Most recently, workers at several stores in the Richmond/Tidewater region announced that they’re unionizing with UFCW Local 400, and more are joining the movement every day.
Want to learn more? Fill out the form below to talk to a union Kroger worker about how you and your coworkers can keep the union wave surging at Kroger to make our jobs better.
Join us in making Kroger better for all of us.
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Two years ago, Kroger workers in Richmond and the Tidewater voted to approve their current union contract. This agreement improved their wages, benefits, and other working conditions like in-store safety measures and scheduling standards.
Now, even more Kroger associates across the region are demanding more from the company. Here’s what having a union and fighting for fair treatment at Kroger means to our coworkers in Virginia:
Hear from Kroger Union Workers Across the Country
The Power of a Union Contract at Kroger
Union contracts are crucial in advancing the rights of working people like you and your coworkers at Kroger. A strong contract gives you real power to protect your needs in work and life and hold the company accountable for their behavior.
Winning a union contract also gives you a voice in the decisions that impact your career. Here are some of the biggest improvements that Tidewater and Richmond Kroger workers won in 2024 when they ratified their newest deal:
- Raises of up to $2.90/hr over the life of the contract
- $1.46 /hr for part-timers
- $2.31 / hr for full-timers
- Improved Vacation Policies
- Stronger Job Protections
- Better Seniority Language
- And many other policies that improve working conditions across the board!
- Reduction in number of hours needed to maintain top pay
- No increases to weekly healthcare premiums
On top of this, one of the biggest benefits of having a union contract at Kroger is that the company CAN’T make any sudden changes to your working conditions. Instead, they’re legally required to negotiate with you over these changes and put everything in writing.
Union contracts also lift up our peers at other Kroger stores and grocery chains. When we win better working conditions with a union, Kroger and other big supermarkets face more pressure to raise the bar for their non-union workers. Over time, this results in a steady stream of improvements that make it easier for us to work in the industry – not just a specific store.
Why does it make a difference when YOU join the Kroger Union?
Our coworkers across Virginia were only able to negotiate their new union contracts by coming together as a group. The more Kroger employees who stand up for a better future, the easier it is for us to call on Kroger to give us a better deal.
Coming together also shows Kroger that we won’t stand for any differences in the way we’re treated and compensated. Everyone working at Kroger in Virginia should have the same opportunities to win good pay and strong benefits – we can’t rely on the company to do the right thing and give us what we need.
Kroger Union News and Victory Updates
Kroger Workers Across Virginia Ratify a New Union Contract
September 4th, 2026 in Hayes, VA: — In early September, Kroger workers rallied across five different locations in the Tidewater region to raise awareness about the company’s failure to respect their union. These employees recently unionized at these 5 stores, and now, they’re ready to secure the same union contract that their coworkers have won.
But Kroger has decided to make things difficult for everyone: The company is trying to freeze wages for these new union workers, and they’re making it difficult for them to sign on to the union contract that their coworkers already have at other stores throughout the state.
Workers and customers were outraged with Kroger’s behavior, so they decided to hold union rallies with the support of UFCW Local 400 to raise awareness about what’s going on and what needs to change in order for them to reach a deal. Read more here:
Kroger Workers Across Virginia Ratify a New Union Contract
August 9, 2024 — This summer, Kroger workers across virginia ratified a new union contract that gives them better wages, stronger job protections, and many other new policies that help improve their working conditions across the board.
Learn more about this new contract over at UFCW400.org.
Kroger Workers Across Virginia Ratify a New Union Contract
March 14, 2024 — “Following votes taken in stores this week, UFCW Local 400 members working at Kroger under the West Virginia contract voted 596–265 (69%) to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement.”
This victory set a new standard of what Kroger workers in the South can win when they come together to stand up for themselves.
Kroger Workers in Smithfield, VA Unionize and Win Big with First Contract
December 13, 2022 — Kroger workers in Smithfield, Virginia, voted yes to start their union with UFCW Local 400. Shortly after winning their union election, they were able to negotiate for wage increases and are happy to announce that every employee at the store received an immediate raise or bonus. The average increase for full-timers was $2.31/hour (more than $4,800/year) and part-timers gained $1.46/hour on average (more than $1,500/year).
Support Unionizing Kroger Workers — Sign Our Petition
Workers at many Kroger stores in Virginia’s Richmond and Tidewater regions have unionized with UFCW Local 400. Most Kroger stores in the area already have a union contract that sets pay, benefits, and working conditions, and these workers should be covered by it too. Kroger is refusing.
Instead, Kroger has stopped giving most newly organized workers raises. Most workers missed the raise they usually get in August, and under Kroger’s plan many wouldn’t see another one until 2028 or longer. Kroger also wants to give each store its own separate contract, which splits workers up and makes it harder for them to stand together.
These are the people who stock our shelves, ring up our groceries, and know us by name. Kroger makes billions every year and can afford to treat them fairly. As customers, we have a voice. Add your name and tell Kroger to respect their choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Kroger Union in Virginia:
How many Kroger stores in Virginia have unionized?
Right now, we’ve unionized at over 50 stores across Virginia. Twenty seven of our union stores are located near Richmond and in the Tidewater area, and the number keeps growing as more are unionizing every month.
The vast majority of our union locations have already won great contracts that raise the bar for the value of our hard work at Kroger. See above for a breakdown of all the ways that our union contracts are making it easier to do our best work, even on the busiest days of the week.
Why did workers in Richmond and the Tidewater rally alongside customers recently?
Earlier this month, our unionized coworkers rallied at 5 different stores in Richmond and the Tidewater to raise awareness about Kroger’s disrespectful behavior. The company has been trying to freeze wages at five locations instead of folding workers into the existing great union contract as they agreed to in the past.
These rallies helped us build connections with shoppers and grow public support for our movement, despite Kroger’s attempts to stall the process.
Why is Kroger trying to freeze wages for new union workers? Is this legal?
Kroger is trying to freeze wages at some stores because they want to punish us for following in the footsteps of our union coworkers. The company KNOWS that folding us into the existing union contract will give us the collective power to win improved pay and benefits, so they want to make it seem like having a union won’t lead to anything worthwhile. It’s a distraction – an attempt to paint our union as the one holding everything back, so we don’t realize that the company CAN pay us more, they’re just refusing to do so.
But this isn’t legal. Because of our union, can’t freeze our wages. Under federal law, they’re required to negotiate with our union over any proposed changes to our working conditions.
Right now, we’re working with our union representatives from UFCW Local 400 to hold the company accountable and ensure they don’t keep trying to break the law to bust our union.
How do I get involved with this growing movement?
The best way for you to connect with our union at Kroger is to fill out the form above! After you tell us a bit about your experience at the company, we can put you in touch with a coworker or union representative who can help answer your questions about what’s next at your specific store.
Ready to be part of the Virginia Kroger Union?
Join our movement to win better pay, respect, and protections to our jobs!