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1. Today, @Kroger is closing two stores in Seattle to retaliate against a local $4/hr hero pay law. More than 100 workers will be fired or dislocated.
Kroger made $2.8B in profit in 2020. CEO Rodney McMullen got a pay raise to $21M.
Some heart-breaking details are emerging.
Kroger made $2.8B in profit in 2020. CEO Rodney McMullen got a pay raise to $21M.
Some heart-breaking details are emerging.
2. At one of the stores, neighbors and customers raised $205.88 for each of the 51 impacted workers as a gesture of thanks.
Employees, "some with tears in their eyes," received a round of applause and kind words at a community farewell event. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/as-a-qfc-store-winds-down-neighbors-and-politicians-thank-employees-criticize-owner/
Employees, "some with tears in their eyes," received a round of applause and kind words at a community farewell event. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/as-a-qfc-store-winds-down-neighbors-and-politicians-thank-employees-criticize-owner/
3. One of the shuttered locations has been an active grocery store for 44 years. Neighbors are lamenting the loss of convenience & a community hub.
No other grocery chain except Kroger, America’s largest, has closed locations to protest hazard pay laws.
https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2021/04/90-in-tiff-with-seattle-city-council-over-covid-19-hazard-pay-kroger-says-most-employees-chose-to-continue-working-with-qfc-but-has-no-answers-on-whats-next-for-capitol-hill-grocery/
No other grocery chain except Kroger, America’s largest, has closed locations to protest hazard pay laws.
https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2021/04/90-in-tiff-with-seattle-city-council-over-covid-19-hazard-pay-kroger-says-most-employees-chose-to-continue-working-with-qfc-but-has-no-answers-on-whats-next-for-capitol-hill-grocery/
4. Seattle isn’t the only place where Kroger is punishing its own workers to fight hazard pay.
Kroger closed additional stores in Long Beach, CA, last week over a city hero pay ordinance.
More closures are planned in Los Angeles next month. https://twitter.com/gncordova/status/1382436357985894401?s=21
Kroger closed additional stores in Long Beach, CA, last week over a city hero pay ordinance.
More closures are planned in Los Angeles next month. https://twitter.com/gncordova/status/1382436357985894401?s=21
5. Amid record profits, Kroger claims it is closing stores because they’re underperforming.
But local employees consistently say it’s not true.
Via @seattletimes:
But local employees consistently say it’s not true.
Via @seattletimes:
We spoke to Kroger workers in Seattle earlier this year.
They wanted to be safe on the job and to be paid a fair wage for their work.
One employee told us that the extra $4/hour would be “a buffer between me and homelessness.”
They wanted to be safe on the job and to be paid a fair wage for their work.
One employee told us that the extra $4/hour would be “a buffer between me and homelessness.”
7. Kroger is planning to shutter 3 additional stores in Los Angeles on May 15.
These are profitable stores where 250 people work. They will all be fired or have their jobs dislocated.
Workers are organizing with their union, @UFCW770, to fight back.
These are profitable stores where 250 people work. They will all be fired or have their jobs dislocated.
Workers are organizing with their union, @UFCW770, to fight back.
