McMullen and Sankaran find the EPI report to be misleading, if not inaccurate. Increased concentration will suppress wages for all grocery store workers in affected cities- not only those workers currently employed by Kroger or Albertsons.” We find that: the merger will lower wages for 746,000 grocery store workers in over 50 metropolitan areas of the U.S. “Our analysis uses grocery store employment and earnings data and the specific locations of Kroger and Albertsons stores. If the merger also leads to layoffs or hours cuts, this would add another dimension of damage to affected workers. Crucially, the wage effects we identify are solely driven by this increase in labor market concentration. By decreasing the number of outside options available to workers, the merger will limit competition for hiring and retaining employees, and grocery store worker earnings will fall as a result. “Workers’ ability to negotiate better pay and working conditions rests on their capacity to switch jobs. “Given the lack of transparency, and the impact a merger between two of the largest supermarket companies could have on essential workers and the communities and customers they serve, the UFCW stands united in its opposition to the proposed Kroger and Albertsons merger.”Ī few days earlier, a report by Washington, DC-based think tank the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) said that if the merger were approved it would reduce the number of outside employment options available to workers, lowering grocery store workers’ annual wages by a total of $334 million – about a $450 loss in annual wages per worker. At our 9th Regular Convention, hundreds of UFCW delegates representing our entire union from around the country came together to unanimously declare mergers pose a serious threat to the livelihoods of our members, and we must act to confront them,” UFCW International president Marc Perrone said in a statement. “For months, the UFCW has called for transparency, engaged independent experts and assessed the publicly available information on this proposed merger to determine the widespread impact it will have on our members and the communities they serve. In recent weeks, the UFCW has doubled down on that narrative by officially rejecting the merger at their annual convention earlier this month. He added that discussions with the FTC were continuing and the deal’s progress is “where we thought we would be at this time.” In this case we both committed to litigate in advance,” emphasizing that regulators haven’t indicated opposition to the proposed transaction at this time. They also touted that their business strategy is to lower prices and expand product selection.Ībout two weeks later in an interview with Bloomberg, McMullen went on the offensive again noting, “Usually you wouldn’t commit in advance to litigate. Late last month Rodney McMullen and Vivek Sankaran, CEOs of Kroger and Albertsons respectively, wrote an op-ed piece in the Cincinnati Enquirer defending the deal, noting that no frontline workers would be laid off and that all stores, even ones that are divested (and presumably unsold), would remain open. At some point, the harsh criticism merits a level of counter-response.Īfter staying silent for nearly six months (except to fight legal action by several states to nullify the deal and stop Albertsons’ $4 billion special dividend), both chains are fighting back. Perhaps this was a preordained strategy, but I believe that at least part of the uptick in action comes from the loud backlash both retailers have felt from several interested and important parties. See the disclosure policy for more information.While the ultimate decision if the FTC approves the Kroger-Albertsons merger is likely 10-16 months away, both retailers have taken a more aggressive posture in recent weeks when it comes to promoting the benefits of the $24.6 billion transaction. Get the exhaustive list of Albertsons coupon match-ups with a printable list feature here. What has been your best Monopoly ticket you received so far?įind more Albertsons deals here. Tums Ultra Strength (72-96 ct) on sale $3.99 Hefty Trash Bags (18-45 ct) on sale $6.99 Use $.75/1 coupon from 1/26 RP insert – expires 2/22 Sargento Shredded Cheese (7-8 oz) on sale $2.50Ĭheetos or Fritos (8.75-10.25 oz) on sale $2.50Įssential Everyday Orange Juice (64 oz) on sale $2.69 See this week’s ad for a full list of items. Here is a list of items that you can purchase this week to get you bonus tickets. An extensive list of possible prizes can be found here. The tickets include in-store coupons and chances to win a number of prices. You can qualify for game pieces by purchasing items at the store and many products give “bonus” tickets. Albertsons is running a promotion from now until playing the Monopoly Game.
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