<p> A new, three-year collective bargaining contract that raises living standards and maintains benefits for 4,800 workers in Roanoke was successfully ratified by members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 working at Kroger, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “This agreement is as good as any in the country,” said Local 400 President Mark P. Federici, noting that current benefits could be maintained despite major new burdens that were imposed against Taft-Hartley Funds by Obama administration regulations covering implementation of the Affordable Care Act. “Despite the still-struggling economy, we were able to negotiate actual raises and bonuses.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Some of the highlights in this contract include:<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Increases in total compensation of nearly $2/hour over the life of the contract including wages and employer contributions to the healthy and retirement funds, plus bonuses.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Maintenance of healthy and retirement benefits for current employees.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Expansion of job classifications that increase the number of lead positions, creating new paths for career advancement and increases in earnings.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Defeat of numerous management proposals for worker concessions.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“Our members deserve all the credit for this strong contract, because their solidarity and activism is what made everything possible,” Federici continued. “I couldn’t be more pleased that our Kroger Roanoke members will be able to work for the next three years under an industry-leading collective bargaining agreement that empowers them to continue improving their lives.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.ufcw400.org/" target="_new"> United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 400 </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
