‘Hero pay’ ending: Kroger-owned grocery stores to halt worker bonus, union says

Kroger-owned grocery stores told employees that it soon will eliminate workers’ “Hero Pay” bonuses, according to a worker’s union.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local Unions said in a news release that Kroger-owned grocery stores told their employees that the company will eliminate their $2 essential-worker bonuses, called “Hero Pay,” on May 17, according to a news release.

Kroger owns several grocery store chains, including Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter and Ralphs, according to the company website. It is also America’s largest supermarket chain.

“Grocery store employees, deemed essential workers by the government, are a constant on the frontline in all natural disasters or national crises -- risking their lives to ensure America is fed no matter what,” the union’s news release said.

Kroger confirmed the “Hero Bonus” cuts to Intelligencer, saying they will end this month.

“In the coming months, we know that our associates’ needs will continue to evolve and change as our country recovers,” Kristal Howard, a Kroger spokesperson, told the news outlet. “Our commitment is that we will continue to listen and be responsive, empowering us to make decisions that advance the needs of our associates, customers, communities and business. We continuously evaluate employee compensation and benefits packages. Our average hourly wage is $15 and with benefits factored in, like health care, the hourly wage is over $20.”

Kroger did not respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.

In April, the company announced that it would be giving more than 460,000 grocery workers nationwide a $2 per hour wage increase.

“Following talks between UFCW, America’s largest food and retail union, and Kroger, UFCW is proud to join the company today in announcing a $2 per hour wage increase, additional emergency paid leave, new workplace safety measures, and other critical worker protections,” UFCW International President Marc Perrone said in a news release. “Working together, UFCW and Kroger have listened to workers and customers across the country to identify the most urgent needs and determine the best way to support these hardworking men and women on the front lines who are serving our communities every day throughout this national crisis.”

Kroger and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union also called for state and federal leaders to temporarily designate grocery workers as first responders or emergency personnel, McClatchy News reported.

The designation would ensure that workers would have access to personal protective equipment like masks and gloves, according to McClatchy News.

Employees and seven UFCW Local Unions are calling on people to ask Kroger to keep “Hero Pay,” the news release said.

“In any natural or man-made disaster, grocery workers never stop,” said Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, which represents grocery workers at Kroger grocery-chain workers in Colorado and Wyoming. “For more than two months, these workers have put their lives and their families lives at risk to protect and serve the communities they live and work in. Kroger is the biggest retail grocer in the US, possibly the world, and during this pandemic it has experienced record profits because families and communities rely on grocery workers to feed themselves and their families.”