UFCW Locals Speak out Against the Proposed Kroger and Albertsons Merger and the Recent Store Sales Announcement with C&S Wholesale Grocers

UFCW 5, UFCW 7, UFCW 324, UFCW 400, UFCW 770 and UFCW 3000

For Immediate Release: September 18, 2023

Contact: Monique Palacios mpalacios@ufcw7.com

Significant Reasons for Concern will be Discussed.

WHEN:
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
8 AM PST / 11 AM EST

Please use the link below to register for attending the press event and to ask questions:

Media Registration Link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bhbNZdKBTeif7-cNJcX6OQ

WHAT: 

Press conference to air our concerns and to expose the problems with the recent announcement by Kroger and Albertsons, and their announced agreement to sell hundreds of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers if a merger were approved.

WHO: 

• President Faye Guenther of UFCW 3000 (WA) and President Kim Cordova of UFCW 7 (CO & WY).

• Monique Hightower, grocery store worker at Albertsons in South Los Angeles, CA and member leader at UFCW 770.

• John Marshall, CFA, Capital Strategies Director with UFCW 3000 and UFCW 324.

• Phillip Contee, grocery store worker and 40-year veteran at Safeway in Oxon Hill, Maryland, and member leader at UFCW 400.

• Q and A with members of the media.

Why/Background:

Our local unions have strongly opposed the proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons since it was announced last October. Our position has not changed because of the recent news from Kroger and Albertsons of their plans to sell some stores. This sales deal would only move ahead if / when federal regulators were to approve the merger. We don’t think this sales deal will appease the Federal Trade Commission or the various State Attorneys General that have expressed concerns over the merger.

The announcement about this sales deal is a troubling sign that history could repeat itself and raises more questions than it answers. We’ve seen deals like this before. The news is all a reminder of the Haggen debacle where Albertsons bought Safeway in 2015 and subsequently sold off more than 100 stores to a chain called Haggen to help them pass antitrust review. In less than a year Haggen had declared bankruptcy and 100+ stores were shut down, and thousands of workers were laid off. We have not been given any assurances that this deal with C&S is any different.

We will add personal stories of workers who have reason to be concerned and the expert research from our team as to what is some concerning history and current challenges of C&S Wholesale Grocers and its financial backers. Our highest priority is to ensure our members’ jobs, wages, pensions, and benefits are protected. We will use every resource to enforce our collective bargaining agreements and protect our members.

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The Stop the Merger campaign includes over 100 national, state and local organizations representing diverse interests who share a common goal: to stop the proposed Kroger-Albertsons grocery merger because of its negative impact on our nation’s communities. For more information visit www.NoGroceryMerger.com