Local 528 Drivers Threaten Strike for Fair Contract at Kroger Facility

The Facts -

Forest Park Drivers Push for Contract Amid Negotiation Struggles

(FOREST PARK, Ga.) – In a bold step to secure better working conditions, drivers at Kroger's Forest Park fulfillment center have voted to authorize a strike. This decision follows ongoing frustrations with Kroger's reluctance to agree to a satisfactory contract. Teamsters Local 528, representing the drivers, is advocating for a first contract that includes substantial wages, robust benefits, and enforceable workplace protections.

Marion Jackson, a driver and Local 528 shop steward, expressed the drivers' determination, saying, “Kroger needs to stop dragging its feet and deliver a real offer that respects the work we do. This company can more than afford what we’re asking for. We are ready to strike if Kroger doesn’t start taking our demands seriously.”

Kroger, as a dominant player in the U.S. grocery sector with over 2,700 stores, reported impressive financial figures in 2024, including $147.1 billion in revenue and more than $2 billion in profits. Despite these figures, Kroger has not yet met the expectations of the Teamsters at the Forest Park site.

Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division, Tom Erickson, emphasized their readiness to hold Kroger accountable: “These workers organized with the Teamsters to win better wages, real benefits, and respect on the job. If Kroger refuses to deliver, we’ll do whatever it takes to hold them accountable. We will never allow any company to shortchange our members.”

The drivers, numbering 30, overwhelmingly voted to join the Teamsters last year, with a 96 percent majority. Despite this, negotiations have seen little progress, and local community organizations, such as the Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, are backing the drivers.

Rev. Shanan E. Jones, President of the Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, criticized the current situation, stating, “It is a shameful and unjust practice to disenfranchise the very people who sacrifice daily to help a corporation like Kroger achieve and surpass its profit goals. The men and women who drive and deliver Kroger’s products are the same ones driving Kroger’s profits. They deserve dignity, respect, and their fair share.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, established in 1903, represents 1.3 million members across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. For further details, visit Teamster.org. Follow on X @Teamsters or like on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

---
Read More USA Works News