KROGER DIVISION, UNION LOCAL SIGN FIVE-YEAR LABOR ACCORD

CINCINNATI -- Kroger Co.'s division here and a union local have agreed to a longer-term labor contract -- their first five-year pact -- that provides staffing percentage guarantees and no-cost health insurance benefits for 8,300 employees at 91 stores. The agreement, ratified by members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1099, which covers Kroger's Cincinnati/Dayton division, includes increased hourly wages over the five years of $1 for journeymen and 65 cents for entry-level positions.

Wulfeck told SN that Kroger favored going longer before renegotiating contracts. The new pact expires Oct. 8, 1999.

John J. Marrone, director of research and education for Local 1099, said the union opted for the long-term agreement to lock in no-cost health insurance benefits for its members at a time when many contracts are initiating some type of premium co-payments.