The third-party operator of a Kroger Co. warehouse in the Denver area is holding a job fair today and Wednesday to hire temporary workers to replace members of Teamsters Local 455, who went out on strike at the facility on April 27.
The 363,000-square-foot distribution center is operated for Kroger by Advantage Logistics, a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Supervalu.
No negotiations to resolve the dispute are scheduled, a spokesman for the teamsters told SN. “We made the last move with the strike, so it’s Advantage’s turn to get back to us,” he said.
The spokesman said delivery trucks are crossing the picket lines because they use non-union drivers. Prior to the job fair, Advantage has been operating the warehouse with managers, supervisors and employees from across the company, local reports said.
Representatives of Kroger did not comment directly on whether the strike is having any impact on its 329 stores, encompassing Kroger, King Soopers and City Markets in Colorado and five surrounding states. "This is an issue between the union and Advantage," a chain spokesman told SN. "Advantage has implemented business contingency plans to ensure no disruption in service to our stores."
Advantage Logistics and the union have been negotiating since February on a contract that expired April 23. The 303-member union authorized the strike after rejecting the company’s final contract offer.
The local subsequently filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in Denver against Advantage, alleging a variety of unfair labor practices. As a result of the complaint, the union spokesmen declined to discuss specifics.
However, local reports said the teamsters are seeking parity with union members at a warehouse Advantage operates for Kroger in Aurora, Colo., where workers are paid $2.57 more per hour and have better pensions and a better health and welfare plan.