Kroger union revokes contract extension, prepares for strike

CINCINNATI (AP) _ The union representing nearly 11,000 workers in Kroger Co.'s home region revoked a contract extension on Monday, and both sides say they are getting ready for a strike.\nThe action by the United Food and Commercial Workers union means workers could go on strike as early as Friday morning. An earlier extension had been set to expire Saturday night. Workers voted overwhelmingly this month to authorize union leaders to call a strike.\nThe workers are in 77 stores in southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana.\nThe union set a rally for Tuesday evening in downtown Cincinnati and said union representatives will be meeting with store workers to discuss strike preparations.\nA spokeswoman for the nation's largest traditional grocery chain said Kroger is making plans to keep stores operating.\n"We are making preparations to hire replacement workers," spokeswoman Meghan Glynn said. "We certainly hope it doesn't come to that."\nNo new talks were scheduled, although both sides said they would like to meet again.\nThe union says Kroger isn't fully funding pension and health care plans and is offering subpar wages. The company says it is increasing wages and benefits while facing increasing competition from retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other chains.\nUnion leaders say Kroger has reported financial success in its competition, and should share more with the workers who have helped improve customer service and other store attributes.\n"The company lives in a secure world, but wants to leave your future hanging in the balance," the UFCW Local 1099 said in a statement on its Web site.\nKroger has negotiated new contracts in a half-dozen other regions this year including Texas, Michigan and southern California.\nThe company, which had $66.1 billion in 2006 revenues, operates 2,491 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banners, including Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's, Fry's, Dillons, QFC and City Market.