May 14, 2020

Stephanie Spangler-Opdyke Joe Gusman

Human Resources Manager Assistant Relations/Total Rewards Division Manager
Kroger Michigan Division Office Kroger Michigan Division Office
47650 Grand River Ave. #110 47650 Grand River Ave. #110
Novi, MI 48375 Novi, MI 48375

Steve Yancey John McPherson

Corporate Vice President Vice President Labor Relations
The Kroger Company The Kroger Company
1014 Vine St. 1014 Vine St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202 Cincinnati, OH 45202

Dear Ms. Spangler-Opdyke, Mr. Gusman, Mr. Yancey, and Mr. McPherson:
We are writing urgently on behalf of employees of the Kroger Corporation who are on the front lines of America’s
response to COVID-19. We were pleased to hear at the outset of this pandemic and the imposition of stay at home orders
that Kroger responded to worker concerns and instituted $2 per hour “Hero Pay,” but are disturbed to hear that Kroger is
choosing to end this program prematurely.
As long as this health crisis persists and Kroger is open for business, Kroger has a duty to continue Hero Pay for its brave
workers. Ending Hero Pay while Kroger employees continue to put themselves at great risk is a slap in the face to
everyone who has enabled your doors to remain open. Kroger’s competitors continue to provide hazard pay to frontline
employees, and Kroger must do the same.
Michigan remains a hotspot for COVID-19, with 48,391 confirmed cases and 4,674 deaths, and as such Kroger workers in
this state are at particular risk – especially as the economy begins to reopen and more people venture outside their homes.
If Kroger can afford to pay its CEO $21.1 million in 2019, Kroger can continue to pay the workers who are the lifeblood
of the company an additional $2 per hour.
We urge you to work alongside union officials to immediately reverse these policy changes, and we look forward to an
update on the status of these requests at your earliest convenience.
Respectfully,

RASHIDA TLAIB DEBBIE DINGELL DANIEL T. KILDEE

Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress

BRENDA LAWRENCE ANDY LEVIN HALEY STEVENS

Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress