Kroger, UFCW 400 reach agreement, avoid strike

May 25, 2016 — ROANOKE, Va. (WSET) -- Kroger and UFCW 400 have reached a tentative agreement. This affects 5,100 associates working in 41 stores. The union is fully recommending the agreement for ratification by the members.

Employees from the local union said 41 different Kroger stores in our area voted on May 18th to authorize a strike if needed. The union has been working under a temporary contract that ends June 4th.

Kroger had given the union an offer. However, union reps say it was too low so the group voted to reject the offer and authorize a strike if an agreement couldn't be reached.

But on Wednesday, bargaining representatives for the company and union reached the agreement after two days of negotiations meetings.

The agreement provides significant investment by Kroger in higher pay, affordable health care and pension support for associates.

The union will share details of the agreement at voting meetings to be scheduled soon.

The stores in the contract area in Virginia include the Roanoke area and from Bristol east to Appomattox and from Martinsville north to Harrisonburg. It also includes three stores in Kingsport/Johnson City, TN and two stores in the Bluefield, WV area.