WA grocery workers confirm strike against Kroger and Albertsons, receives 97% approval
Jun 6, 2025, 10:10 AM | Updated: 11:00 am
A photo of a grocery store aisle. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 3000 (UFCW) has voted to strike against Kroger and Albertsons.
Thousands of grocery store employees voted to reject the latest contract offer from Kroger and Albertsons, receiving more than 97% approval, according to KING 5.
The union members pushed for a contract that better addressed workers’ wages, staffing shortages, and improved healthcare.
WA grocery workers strike
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The former three-year contract between the UFCW, Kroger, and Albertsons ended in May. New contract negotiations began in January. Both parties previously agreed to a short-term contract extension in order to continue negotiating.
“We authorized a strike to fight for better wages, better staffing, and a fully funded healthcare plan so that we can deliver the kind of service our customers deserve,” Vickie Logerstedt, a cashier at Redmond Ridge QFC, said. “We have been more than patient for months, but these companies have offered nothing but crumbs and mealy language. Time has run out,” according to KIRO 7.
More than 30,000 grocery store employees from stores including QFC, Safeway, Fred Meyer, and Albertsons in Washington participated in a union vote this week, organized by the UFCW, according to KING 5.
Nearly 150,000 grocery workers in Washington, Colorado, and Southern California are participating, according to People’s World, and voting closed June 5 at 8 p.m.
Yasmin Ashur, long-time cashier at an Albertsons in Port Orchard, gave her reasoning for participating.
“Nobody wants to strike, but it’s come to that point,” Ashur told KING 5. “I used to work 40 [hours]. I work now 28, maybe 30,”
Resolving the strike
A Kroger spokesperson said the company is working on improvements for its workers. Kroger offered a proposal that included up to a 12.42% wage increase for top-rate associates, along with continued investment in healthcare and pensions, according to KING 5.
“We remain actively engaged in bargaining with UFCW 3000 because we believe the best outcomes are achieved at the table, not through disruption,” A Kroger representative told KIRO 7.
Bargaining is scheduled to resume on June 12 between the UFCW and employer representatives, according to KING 5.
Contributing: KIRO 7
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