Kroger Update - March 5, 2021

Yesterday, the UFCW 21 bargaining team demanded that QFC bargain with us before finalizing a decision to close two Seattle stores.

On February 16, 2021, Kroger-owned QFC announced that it would close QFC 804 in Capitol Hill and QFC 873 in Wedgwood. In a clear attempt to intimidate workers, QFC blamed the store closures on the Seattle City Council’s passage of a $4 per hour hazard pay mandate.

“We have seen increased sales with the pandemic, QFC can afford the temporary hazard pay, and by the time the stores close they will already have paid out a lot of it. By picking on two of the smallest stores in Seattle, Kroger is simply looking for the least costly way to intimidate workers in Washington and around the country who are standing up for hazard pay.”

— Our QFC Bargaining Team

Sam Dancy, QFC Westwood Village

Amy Dayley Angell, QFC Ballard

Robin Hillistad, QFC Uptown

Jeff Alexander, QFC Wedgwood

Stefanie Cook, QFC Capitol Hill

Faye Guenther, President UFCW 21

Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer UFCW 21

Jim McGuinness, Attorney

Like other large grocery companies, Kroger has profited from the COVID pandemic as consumers shifted to at-home meal preparation. In 2020, Kroger’s profits increased 53% to $2.74 billion, and the company funneled $1.9 billion to investors through dividends and stock buybacks. 

UFCW 21 members have been taking action to fight back against Kroger’s bullying by continuing to push Hazard Pay ordinances across the state, speaking out in the media, and sitting down with the employer to bargain over the store closures.