KROGER Strike looms after union rejects offer

The supermarket chain says the strike vote threatens its future.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Union workers at Kroger's 58 central Indiana stores on Monday rejected what the company had called its "final" contract offer, authorizing a strike that could begin early Wednesday.
Nearly 1,900 members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 700 voted to reject the offer, more than the two-thirds majority required to authorize a strike, said Rian Wathen, the local's organizing director.
Wathen said that unless the company returns to the bargaining table before the current contract expires at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the union is prepared to strike.
Union members voted Oct. 24 to reject a five-year contract offer that would require higher health care contributions from employees.
A similar dispute over insurance costs led to a strike by 3,000 Kroger workers in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia that began Oct. 13.
Cincinnati-based Kroger said Friday it had made its final offer to the union, which represents about 4,000 Indiana workers.
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Kroger spokesman Jeff Golc said it was "unfortunate" union members turned down the company's offer, calling the vote a threat to Kroger's future in an increasingly competitive market. When asked if the company would be willing to resume negotiations, Golc said: "We're willing to listen, but we've made our last, best and final offer."
The company's four-year contract offer included more than $30 million in wage increases and pension contributions, as well as an offer to pay increased health care costs, the company said.
Union members have threatened to strike unless a new labor contract fully covers increased health care costs, continues to grant full pensions to retirees at age 60 and provides new hires bigger raises.