FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 25, 2022
UFCW Local 1996 Demands Kroger, Albertsons Provide Transparency on Merger
Today, Local 1996 of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which collectively represents 1.3 million workers in grocery stores, meatpacking plants, and other essential industries across North America, released the following statement on proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons, two of UFCW’s largest employers.
UFCW Local President Steve Lomax released the following statement:
“This proposed merger will have monumental impacts on grocery retail jobs, the supply chain, and the cost of food for families across the country, who are already dealing with historic rates of inflation. As the Southeast’s largest union of essential grocery workers, we are publicly calling on Kroger and Albertsons to provide full transparency on what they expect those impacts to be.
“Both companies have made a number of assurances and promises in their rollout of this merger but that is not enough. Our union has formally requested complete financial data and company assessments of the labor and community impact this deal would have. Additionally, our union has engaged a team of antitrust, financial, and legal experts to provide their own analysis of what a merger of this size would mean for the workforce and communities these stores serve.
“Protecting UFCW Local 1996’s members and our communities is our highest priority and we will vehemently oppose any merger that would have negative impacts on good jobs, food prices, and our food supply chain.”
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The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States. UFCW International represents 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries. Our members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.