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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is set to challenge the proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, marking a pivotal moment for FTC Chair Lina Khan's efforts to use antitrust laws to protect workers. The case, scheduled for Monday, will see the FTC argue that the merger would significantly diminish the bargaining power of unionized workers, particularly in regions where both chains have a strong presence. Under Khan's leadership, the FTC has shifted its focus from merely protecting consumers from high prices to also defending workers from anticompetitive practices that could squeeze their paychecks. This case is the first major test of Khan's labor-focused antitrust strategy, highlighting her commitment to safeguarding the interests of workers in an increasingly consolidated market. “This is really important for her,“ says Rebecca Haw Allensworth, an antitrust professor at Vanderbilt Law School. The merger, if allowed, could lead to the closure of many
