Kroger Action Days Target Customers

Kroger Action Days Target Customers

April 12, 2001

Teamsters from coast to coast took to Kroger-owned store parking lots and doorways Saturday and Sunday, April 7-8, to send the grocer a powerful message:

Teamsters will stand united to protect the rights of members any- and everywhere.

"Based on initial reports, the National Kroger Action Days were an outstanding success, said Ken Hilbish, Warehouse Division Director. "Hundreds of Teamster Kroger workers and supporters turned out at Kroger and Kroger-owned stores around the country. Im sure that Kroger management got our message - Teamsters are ready to fight to keep good jobs and that we will take our fight to Krogers customers.

Teamsters fanned out to handbill Kroger customers in a two-day action prompted by Krogers decision to take away deliveries at 38 stores from Local 435 and Local 537 drivers in Denver, Colorado.

Since the announcement, which disrupts a five-year contract between Kroger and the locals, Kroger has eliminated 31 loads from the bargaining units work. The move affects about 200 drivers.

"These workers arent blind to the profits they help create, said Charlie Stephenson, a two-year organizer for Local 166. "These workers chose the Teamsters for the same reason 1.5 million other people chose us--we get better pensions, higher wages and help them secure a voice in their workplace. Whos next?