Approximately 10,000 grocery store employees in the greater Denver area initiated a strike on Thursday, citing unfair and unlawful negotiation practices from King Soopers as they seek a new contract with the grocery chain. This strike affects 77 King Soopers locations spread across Denver and its nearby suburbs, including areas like Boulder and Louisville, Colorado. Employees have set up picket lines urging customers to refrain from crossing them, beginning their actions early in the morning.
In a letter to union members, President Kim Cordova of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 7 encouraged solidarity among workers, emphasizing the importance of staying united during this time. Last week, union members expressed overwhelming support for the strike by voting 96% in favor of action due to perceived unfair labor practices.
King Soopers, a subsidiary of Kroger and operating 121 stores in Colorado and Wyoming, has been in negotiations for a new contract since October, with the previous agreement having lapsed in January. According to spokesperson Jessica Trowbridge, the stores with participating workers will adjust their hours, opening one hour later and closing two hours earlier than normal.
Cordova has criticized the company for allegedly bringing in out-of-state workers to fill roles at stores during the strike. Meanwhile, the locations not impacted by the strike in northern and southern Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyoming, will continue to operate on their regular schedules.
The union has raised several accusations against King Soopers, including claims of unlawful interrogation and monitoring of union members, a failure to supply necessary information for contract talks, intimidation of members displaying union-supportive attire, and the proposed allocation of $8 million in retiree health benefits to enable pay raises for current employees.
In response, King Soopers has rejected these allegations, affirming through a statement that they are fully compliant with legal standards and collective bargaining obligations. The management contends it has made significant efforts to provide the union with necessary information and maintains its commitment to fair negotiations. President Joe Kelley noted that the union’s strike focus is not centered around wages, healthcare, or pensions but rather on claims they consider unfounded.
Kelley also indicated that the ongoing strike would likely result in higher prices at competitor stores and those without union representation. This strike comes during a time of heightened labor actions across the U.S., with the Teamsters union recently reaching a tentative agreement with Costco to avert a strike.
Moreover, approximately 200 union ski patrollers at the largest ski resort in the U.S., Park City, ended a two-week strike after negotiating for increased pay along with other benefits. Other recent labor woes have led to significant agreements from various groups, including Boeing factory workers, dock workers at significant ports, video game performers, and hospitality staff on the Las Vegas Strip.
