ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 27, 1997 TAG: 9703270050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRISTINA NUCKOLS THE ROANOKE TIMES
A union contract that assured Kanawha County workers of a transfer to Roanoke had local warehouse employees fearing for their jobs.
About half of the 150 eligible workers at a warehouse Kroger is closing in West Virginia have indicated they want to transfer to Roanoke County, Kroger officials said Wednesday.
The announcement eases concerns that local Kroger employees might lose their jobs to union members with more seniority.
"None of the Roanoke workers will suffer a layoff," company spokesman Archie Fralin said.
Under the union contract that governs workers in both locations, those displaced by the shutdown in Kanawha County, near Charleston, may transfer to the closest similar warehouse without losing seniority. The closest warehouse is in Roanoke County, where Kroger is adding 125 jobs. If more than 125 West Virginians had transferred, they might have caused some of the newest Roanoke County workers to lose their jobs.
Tuesday was the deadline for West Virginia workers to inform Kroger if they planned to transfer, but a few received their notices about the closing of the Kanawha County warehouse late and will have extra time to turn in their decision, Fralin said.
Under the Teamsters' union contract, the company must notify workers in writing that a business location will close, then give them two weeks to decide if they will transfer. Only workers who were employed when the union contract was signed in 1991 are eligible for transfer.
Union leaders have criticized the company for giving short notice, but Kroger officials said they informed workers verbally two weeks before they sent out formal notices of the shutdown, giving them a full month to decide.
Fralin declined to speculate on whether some West Virginia workers might have indicated they would transfer while they look for other jobs in the Charleston area. Kroger has informed them that their last day of work in West Virginia will be around May 17.
Randy Atkins, a representative for Teamsters Local 175 in Charleston, said he was surprised by Kroger's announcement.
"Hearing the guys talk, I thought it'd be way more than 50 percent," he said.
Kroger's distribution center in Roanoke County will be expanded, adding 125 jobs to the existing 330. Roanoke County is offering the company $1.78million in incentives to support the expansion and construction of a new trucking garage.
"I am convinced that this whole arrangement is going to work out very well for everyone," said County Administrator Elmer Hodge. "There was never any concern on my part that workers would be replaced, and I'm sure the ones who come here will find Roanoke to be a great place to live."
Kroger is offering relocation advice through a local real estate office. Leah Kinder of Waldrop Realty said she's received only a handful of calls, but expects the volume to increase now that the notification deadline has passed.
Atkins said several union members have already driven to the Roanoke area looking for housing. He predicted some would keep their homes in West Virginia and make other arrangements for staying in Roanoke during the week.
"It's cheaper to bring in their camping trailers and hunting trailers," he said.
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