Kroger Workers & Allies Demand End to Anti-Worker Messages

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Faith leaders, community allies and other supporters joined two busloads of Kroger shop stewards from UFCW locals 400 and 23 on May 13 as they headed to Kroger Marketplace store 519 in Henrico, VA to show solidarity, talk with customers, and deliver a letter to management. The letter demanded an end to the anti-worker and anti-union messages that store management has been is circulating. The group of about 150 activists sporting "Solidarity with Virginia Kroger Workers" t-shirts and buttons, marched and chanted "we are Kroger strong, we are union strong” and “we are the union, the mighty mighty union!” to the beat of Local 23's drum line in front of the store. Richmond/Tidewater Kroger shop stewards also held a seminar to learn more about strengthening their union through new member sign up, engaging members in the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations this summer, and the importance of organizing new employees at the Kroger Marketplace stores. “The power of the union is in you all, its members,” said Local 400 president Mark Federici. “The power only arrives when you all stick together and show the number one food retailer in the country that you deserve to share in their successes.”
- UFCW 400; photos by Karlyn Williams; click here to see a video of the action.