In a recent update, the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 announced that its union members have voted to authorize a potential strike at 38 Kroger stores in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. The stores affected include locations in Morgantown, Clarksburg, Elkins, and Buckhannon in West Virginia.

The decision to authorize a strike comes after union members rejected the company's contract proposal by a significant margin. The union had recommended the strike due to concerns over "inadequate wage increases" and "unacceptable increases to health care costs."

The voting results were overwhelming, with 87% of members voting to reject the contract proposal and 85% voting to authorize a strike. This authorization empowers the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 Union's bargaining committee to call for a strike at any given moment, although it does not imply that workers are currently on strike.

To voice their discontent and mobilize support, the union has planned rallies at three Kroger stores on Monday, March 11 at 4 p.m. During these rallies, the union will announce the next steps towards a potential work stoppage.

Additionally, the union will dedicate the upcoming week to recruiting and training picket captains to lead the strike if and when it is called. This strategic move demonstrates the union's preparedness and determination to fight for better wages and more affordable healthcare options for its members.

Some of the Kroger store locations that might be affected in West Virginia include Clarksburg, Morgantown, Buckhannon, Elkins, and other cities. A comprehensive list of the stores potentially impacted can be found on the union's website.

The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 Union has reached out to Kroger in an effort to resume negotiations. They are hopeful that the company will come back to the table and address their concerns to achieve a fair and satisfactory resolution for all parties involved.

As the possibility of a strike looms, both the union and Kroger must carefully navigate negotiations to find common ground and avoid disruption to the operations of the affected stores.