Over 3,000 Kroger employees from over 40 stores in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia will be returning to work following a nine-week strike. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400 members ratified a contract yesterday, ending their strike over medical coverage. In exchange for the company increasing their contribution toward health benefits the union members agreed to switch from an open insurance plan to a Blue Shield/Blue Cross plan which limits choices, but keeps costs down.
See "Kroger Employees Eager to Get Back on Job", Associated Press, The New York Times, December 11, 2003