May 9, 2007: Local 89 Teamsters at Kroger’s Kentucky Distribution Center have new agreements that protect Teamster standards after a quickie two-day strike.

Teamsters were fighting for their job security and their Teamster standards after Kroger turned over the warehouse to two third-party contractors, Zenith and Transervice, in February.

Teamsters at the facility walked out on April 18 after negotiations broke down with the two contractors.

Local 89 members put up strong picket lines at the facility. “We heard that no work got done inside,” reported Mark “Gator” Horsley from the picket line. Horsley is a Local 89 member at Zenith.

The new agreements are for six years—two years longer than the regional Kroger agreement.

The new Zenith agreement includes new language on overtime. If forced overtime is not reduced, the company will start having to pay double-time for forced overtime. Before the strike, many warehouse employees were working seven days a week.