CINCINNATI -Contract talks broke off hours after they were resumed yesterday between the Kroger Co. and the union representing workers at the grocer's Cincinnati-area stores, the company said.
Kroger blamed the union for walking away from negotiations. A union representative could not be reached immediately.
The contract affects about 8,500 workers at 70 Kroger stores in southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky and southeast Indiana.
Leaders of Local 1099 of the United Food & Commercial Workers had said Monday they would recommend that members reject Kroger's contract offer in a vote today and authorize a strike, if necessary.
But talks resumed yesterday at the request of a federal arbitrator. They lasted about five hours, Kroger said.
The union and Cincinnati-based Kroger had agreed late last week to indefinitely extend the current contract, which was set to expire Saturday. The union then revoked the contract extension Monday night, meaning the contract would expire about 10 p.m. Friday, union spokesman John Marrone said.
The union said Monday it revoked the contract extension because the two sides remained far apart on issues including wages, health care and pensions.
Kroger wants workers to start paying some of their health-insurance premiums. It also wants to eliminate some situations where it pays overtime, cap the number of full-time workers and liberalize work rules.
Kroger spokesman Gary Rhodes said Monday that the company provided the union with what the company thinks is a balanced contract that gives employees good wages and health care at a cost that's fair to everyone, including customers.
Cashiers, grocery baggers and clerks in meat, produce and delicatessen departments are covered by the contract. Rhodes said the company began posting signs yesterday in affected stores, offering up to $10 an hour for replacement workers if union workers strike.
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