DENVER (KDVR) — King Soopers employees were up early Thursday morning to get on the picket line and go on strike after bringing up a series of issues they said they wanted addressed by the large grocery chain.
The UFCW local 7 union represents the grocery store workers and said the strike will cover all unionized King Soopers stores throughout Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties, as well as King Soopers stores in the cities of Boulder and Louisville.
“After more than three months of contract negotiations, and after the contract expired last month, UFCW Local 7 grocery store members voted by 96% last week to authorize a ULP (Unfair Labor Practice) strike,” said Monique Palacios with the union in a press release. “These strikes cover approximately 10,000 workers at 77 King Soopers stores.”
There is no estimate of how long the strike will last.
The union claimed there have been unfair labor practices, including “illegally interrogating union members about our bargaining and surveilling members in discussions with union staff.”
“Illegally refusing to provide information necessary for the union to be able to make or consider proposals in contract negotiations, including sales data necessary for staffing proposals, illegally threatening members with discipline and sending home from work for simply exercising their union right to wear union clothing, buttons and other union gear that allow workers to stand in solidarity,” Palacios said. “Unlawfully insisting on gutting $8 million in retiree health benefit funds to pay for wage increases for active workers.”
Back on Jan. 16, King Soopers gave its “Last, Best and Final Offer” to the union after three months of negotiations. Ultimately, UFCW Local 7 grocery store members voted to authorize a ULP strike.
King Soopers also sent out a large statement about the strike and said they respect their employees and they have the right to collectively bargain. However, they said they believe the union workers called for a strike for other reasons.
“We want to be clear—the Union’s call for a strike is not about wages, healthcare, or pensions. It is based on allegations we believe lack merit and have yet to be validated by the NLRB or any court,” said Joe Kelley, president of King Soopers. “We are deeply concerned for our associates, who are being misled into a work stoppage that doesn’t serve their best interests. This also harms our customers, who will face higher prices at Safeway—often 10-12% more—or have to shop at non-union competitors,” Kelley added.
King Soopers told FOX31 that store and pharmacy hours will be slightly impacted.
