UFCW Local Unions to Call on Regulators to Oppose Proposed Kroger-Albertsons Merger
Watch the Press Conference here at 8AM PST 11/29/2022: https://vimeo.com/event/2646900/5e01f38fb2
Watch the Senate hearing here at 12PM PST 11/29/2022: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/examining-the-competitive-impact-of-the-proposed-kroger-albertsons-transaction
*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
UFCW Local 3000 of WA & ID, UFCW Local 400 of MD, DC, VA, WV, KY, OH, & TN, UFCW Local 7 of CO & WY, UFCW Local 770 of Southern CA, UFCW Local 5 of Northern CA, UFCW Local 324 of Orange County, CA and Southern Los Angeles County
Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949-246-1620 (Local 324)
UFCW Local Unions to Call on Regulators to Oppose Proposed Kroger-Albertsons Merger
Capitol Hill Press Conference will Precede Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing Scrutinizing Devastating Merger of Two Largest Grocers in the Country
Washington, DC – Six local UFCW Unions – representing twelve states and the District of Columbia, and over 100,000 Kroger and Albertsons workers – will hold a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to discuss the proposed merger’s negative impact on workers, consumers, and suppliers such as farmers and ranchers if approved by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Union members and other experts will discuss the devastating impact of the proposed deal on local communities and will call on federal and state regulators to stop the merger.
The press conference will precede a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights on Tuesday, 11/29 at 3 pm ET, announced by Subcommittee Chair Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ranking Member Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT).
WHAT: Local union presidents and members from six local UFCW Unions, representing twelve states and the District of Columbia and over 100,000 Kroger and Albertsons workers, and other experts will discuss the devastating impact of the proposed merger on local communities and will call on federal and state regulators to stop the merger.
WHO:
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Union Members from UFCW Local 3000 (WA & ID), UFCW Local 400 (MD, DC, VA, WV, OH, KY, TN), UFCW Local 7 (CO & WY), Local 770 (Southern CA), UFCW Local 5 (Northern CA), and UFCW Local 324 (Orange County CA/Southern Los Angeles County)
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Carter Dougherty, Americans for Financial Reform
WHEN: Tuesday, November 29th // 11am ET
WHERE: Capitol Complex (Exact Location TBA) // Event will also be live-streamed at https://vimeo.com/event/
Background: Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing is the latest in a series of ongoing efforts to scrutinize the proposed Kroger/Albertsons merger, along with an alarming, up to $4 billion “special dividend” announced by Albertsons in connection with the merger agreement. In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging the agency to intervene, more than two dozen antitrust experts and local unions representing Albertsons’ workers decried the payout as “nothing less than an out-and-out looting of the company” and a brazen attempt to destabilize the company ahead of regulatory review of the merger. Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit in state court seeking to stop the payout and a temporary restraining order was granted through December 9th until the matter can get a full hearing on antitrust grounds.
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