On Feb. 26, the UFCW responded to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) decision to join the attorneys general of eight states and the District of Columbia in suing to block the Kroger and Albertsons merger. In addition to the District of Columbia, the states involved in the lawsuit are Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming.
“The FTC’s decision reflects clear concerns over the impact such a megamerger could have on workers, food prices, and millions of customers,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone in a statement. “As our delegates made clear last year at our International Convention, the UFCW stands – and will continue to stand – in opposition to any merger that would negatively impact our hundreds of thousands of hard-working members who work at Kroger and Albertsons.”
“As this legal process now moves ahead, our focus will remain the same,” Perrone added. “The UFCW will continue to advocate for a stable and long-term solution that is in the best interest of our members and the customers and communities they serve. That means that any company who is looking to purchase stores must first and foremost honor our collective bargaining agreements and be committed to protecting these essential jobs now and in the years ahead. Regardless of the next legal steps, we must never forget that Kroger and Albertsons are successful because of these incredibly dedicated workers, and no proposed merger should be allowed to endanger their jobs or their livelihoods.”