1,200 of Kroger's cashiers, meat cutters, stockers and clerks have elected to reject the company's "last best offer" and announced their plan to strike. The United Food & Commercial Workers union will present company officials with the union members' decision and await a response. Union members were unimpressed by Kroger's offer, which would have included a minimal pay bump, lacked paid sick leave for for associates, and did not vote to renew retirees' health insurance. Kroger and the UFCW are scheduled to meet again next Monday and Tuesday. The strike would include up to 41 stores in Roanoke Valley and impact over 3,000 employees.
See "Kroger workers vote to authorize strike, meetings scheduled for next week", WSLS 10, May 18, 2016