UFCW Grocery Store Workers Tell Personal Stories For Opposing Proposed Kroger-Albertsons Merger to FTC Chair Lina Khan and Colorado Attorney General Philip J. Weiser
UFCW 5, UFCW 7, UFCW 324, UFCW 400, UFCW 770, UFCW 1564 and UFCW 3000
For Immediate Release: October 30, 2023
Contact: Monique Palacios mpalacios@ufcw7.com
Denver, CO – WHAT: Grocery store workers voice their concerns about the proposed megamerger at a listening session with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan and Colorado State Attorney Philip J. Weiser. This event is hosted by UFCW Local 7 based in Denver, Colorado.
Good visuals: workers holding signs to Stop the Merger.
WHO: Union Members from UFCW Local 7 (CO & WY), UFCW Local 3000 (WA & ID), Local 770 (Southern CA), UFCW Local 5 (Northern CA), UFCW Local 324 (Orange County CA/Southern Los Angeles County), and UFCW Local 1564 (New Mexico).
Interviews with workers can be arranged upon request from the media.
WHEN: Wednesday, November 1st // 12pm MST
WHERE: Mi Casa Resource Center, 345 S. Grove St. Denver, CO 80219.
Event will also be live-streamed (we will send follow up advisory with link by Wednesday morning)
Background:
Seven local UFCW unions –representing workers in fourteen states and the District of Columbia, and over 100,000 Kroger and Albertsons workers have been speaking out in opposition to the proposed megamerger of Kroger and Albertsons. Grocery store workers from these UFCW local unions will join federal and state regulators who are scrutinizing the proposed megamerger of Kroger and Albertsons. Union members and other experts will discuss the devastating impacts of the proposed deal on local communities and will call on federal and state regulators to stop the merger. UFCW local unions have strongly opposed the proposed megamerger between Kroger and Albertsons since it was announced last year.
Recently, Kroger and Albertsons announced their plan to divest over 400 stores, distribution centers, and private label brands, among other assets.
The $24.6 billion deal 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 declared bankruptcy and 100+ stores were shut down, and thousands of workers were laid off.
In lieu of the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons, 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