HOUSTON, TX -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/13/07 -- Houston grocery workers are standing up to protect good jobs with affordable health care in our community. Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 455 are joining with workers in eight cities across the country at store events, with a unified message to the supermarket giants.

Contracts covering some 12,000 grocery workers in Houston expired March 31st. While these Local 455 members are currently in negotiations with Kroger, what is happening in contract negotiations with Kroger across the nation will likely affect Houston's negotiations.

Supermarket chains nationwide, like Kroger, are refusing to provide the affordable health care and living wages their employees deserve. Communities will end up paying the price, with taxpayers shouldering the burden of government paid health care.

Workers and community members alike will be making their voices heard at these press briefings. The press conferences on Monday are all part of a growing national unity bargaining movement among UFCW members working in the grocery industry and the communities they live and work in.

For more information on the campaign, go to www.groceryworkersunited.org.

Who:    UFCW members, community members and labor allies

What:   Press Briefing

When:   April 16, 2007, 1 p.m.

Where:  Outside of the Kroger store in Houston
        10306 South Post Oak Road
        Houston, Texas  77035

Contact:
Michelle Alioto
202-285-6323