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King Soopers, City Market workers could vote to strike after contract talks break downKing Soopers, City Market workers could vote to strike after contract talks break down
Union says Kroger-owned retailers failed to meet on several concerns
2 Min Read
The contracts were originally set to expire on Jan. 5, but both the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 7 and Kroger, which owns King Soopers and City Market, agreed to extend the deadline to Jan. 16. King Soopers
Contract negotiations have broken off between King Soopers, City Market workers in the Denver area, and Kroger, the union representing the workers announced on Jan. 17.
Biggest news for grocery?
The contracts were originally set to expire on Jan. 5, but both the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 7 and Kroger, which owns King Soopers and City Market, agreed to extend the deadline to Jan. 16. Negotiation sessions went into the night on Jan. 15 and Jan. 16, but ultimately resulted in a "last, best, and final" concessionary offer, according to the union.
With the contract now expired, this could lead to a strike, and a vote could be held on Monday. Neither UFCW Local 7 nor Kroger has responded to a request for comment. The union stated that negotiations failed to address several concerns, including:
No action to address staffing issues at stores
Kroger pulling more than $25 million from health care plans for active workers and retirees to fund wage increases
Potential cuts to health care benefits, both immediate and future
Elimination of seniority-based scheduling
Lack of clear pathways to full-time employment
Some workers facing wage cuts, while others receive only minor wage increases
The company’s ability to outsource union jobs
Sometimes, when labor and retailers are negotiating a new contract, an extension is agreed upon because both sides have made positive progress. However, this might not have been the case here.
It all worked out before
When the two sides reached a deal three years ago following a 10-day strike, the terms were historic. Some workers received raises of $5.99 per hour, the largest wage increase ever negotiated by a UFCW local chapter for grocery workers, according to the union. That contract also protected pension benefits and required Kroger to pay a higher share of healthcare costs for workers. New in-store security policies were also implemented, including a self-defense clause to provide more protection for workers dealing with unruly customers.
They said it
“It is unfortunate that the negotiations have come to this point. We started meeting with the company in October with clear goals: necessary wage increases so workers could afford to live in our state, maintain decent health and retirement benefits, and address a staffing crisis that is causing daily strife for workers and customers alike. The company’s proposal fails on all fronts.” UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova
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