Your Competitive Wage and Benefits Package by the Numbers

Last week, the Company and Union bargaining committees reached a fully recommended tentative agreement, which was developed through close collaboration with and endorsed by your Union’s bargaining committee. We believe it delivers on the Company’s goal to invest in you, our hard-working Fort Wayne associates, while keeping groceries affordable.

Tentative Agreement Highlights

• Wage enhancements, including two wage increases in 2026
• Spousal coverage for eligible associates
• New Senior Utility Clerk position, which includes an additional $0.50 wage increase

Wage Investment

In addition to enhancing wages for courtesy clerks, our latest tentative agreement would increase top-rate clerks’ hourly wages by 15.6% over the life of the three-year agreement—with a $2.75 hourly wage increase through the life of the agreement.

• The initial wage increase at ratification for top-rate clerks would be 7%, or slightly less than twice the current rate of inflation, according to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Think about these numbers from the expired contract as you weigh our tentative agreement—they tell an important story.

• $17.87 per hour – average hourly rate for Fort Wayne associates under the expired contract.
• $23.33 per hour – current Kroger Fort Wayne average hourly rate + hourly wage spend on fringe benefits (healthcare, pension, paid time off and vacation) for associates under the expired contracts.
• 20% – percentage the Kroger Fort Wayne average hourly rate has grown since 2021.
• 146% – percentage more the Kroger Fort Wayne average hourly rate is from the federal minimum wage of $7.25.

Healthcare Investment

Based on your feedback, the tentative agreement would open eligibility for spousal coverage a year early.

• Spousal Coverage – NEW benefit starting January 1, 2028, for eligible associates and includes dental, vision and medical coverage
• Healthcare Eligibility – Improved benefit starting in 2028 by reducing the wait time from five years of service to three years of service for Plan A coverage, if one maintains at least 36 minimum average hours worked per week.

Pension Investment

• While many companies have walked away from pensions, our tentative agreement fully funds your pension, something most non-union competitors do not provide.

Next Steps

With your store leader, make a plan to vote on the fully recommended tentative agreement on Monday, October 13 or Tuesday, October 14.   Contact your store leader if you have any questions.  Thank you for the uplifting service you deliver to our customers and communities.