King Soopers: ‘Holding a picket line is totally unnecessary’King Soopers: ‘Holding a picket line is totally unnecessary’

As King Soopers and City Market workers in Colorado prepare to strike on Thursday, King Soopers Division President Joe Kelley sees one similarity to the 10-day strike back in 2022: It will cost the workers.

In 2022, according to Kelly, the original contract proposal from the Kroger-owned grocer was some $18 million more than what was agreed upon to get workers back on the job. At that time, the contract was labeled “historic” by the union and included a $5.99-per-hour wage increase.

But that kind of deal hasn’t manifested this time around.

This time around Kelly is calling out what he says are false claims by the union regarding staffing issues, health care, and wages. He also says he has yet to receive a staffing proposal from the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 7.

UFCW Local 7’s Kim Cordova says those claims aren’t false at all—that these are all very real issues affecting King Soopers workers. 

The workers at the Kroger-owned grocery chain represent 77 supermarkets throughout Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties, as well as King Soopers stores in Boulder and Louisville. 

“My concern is the hardships a strike causes [the workers]; they don’t get paychecks,” Kelley said. “The stress it puts on them and their families…standing out on the sidewalk holding a picket line is totally unnecessary.”

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Cordova added that she believes it makes sense for her members, who have authorized a strike due to what they claim are unfair labor practices.

Kelley is also accusing the union of not allowing its members to vote on King Soopers’ final offer, which was laid on the negotiation table in early January. Cordova says the reason the union hasn’t voted yet is that the offer is “unlawful” in that it pertains to taking money from a worker’s retirement fund to pay for an increase in wages. 

As for staffing levels, Kelley says the grocer continues to hire every day, both part-time and full-time, and that worker turnover is the lowest King Soopers has experienced in over four years. Additionally, Kelley has asked the union for a staffing proposal but has yet to receive one.

Cordova says that in order to put together a staffing proposal, other elements must be finalized, especially wages, which have not happened. The union leader also disputes Kelley’s claim that all stores are adequately staffed. In fact, staffing hours have decreased by 18%, Cordova said.

“The staffing issue is real, and it’s an issue that workers want addressed,” she said.

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King Soopers is offering $4.50 an hour in wages this time around, but wages remain another area where the two sides appear to be miles apart. The union insists the wage increase will not cover everyone at the grocery store. Kelley, however, says it will. When asked if it would apply to cashiers and those who stock the shelves, the territory president said, “Everyone is going to get a raise.”

But that “wage increase” uses an illegal tactic, according to the union, which fears that King Soopers will stop making contributions to workers’ retirement funds and will instead use that money to cover the hourly raise.

Kelley denies any shifting of funds or changes in contributions. He also says the grocer is working hard to keep health care affordable. In the latest contract proposal, King Soopers is asking employees to contribute $29 a week for health insurance, an increase from $26 a week in the previous contract. Kelley says the average Colorado family pays $133.50 a week for health insurance.

King Soopers claims it has shared its final offer with associates because the union has failed to put it up for a vote.

“We’re hearing an awful lot from our stores that they want to vote on it, and they’ve contacted the union to allow them to vote,” he said. “But unfortunately, there is a different agenda as to why [the union] is not allowing them to vote, and it doesn’t make sense.”

Related:Colorado King Soopers workers plan to strike on Thursday

There are no scheduled negotiation meetings this week between the two sides. Cordova points to the 96% strike approval rate as reason enough to move forward with the work stoppage. The strike, which is scheduled to begin Thursday, is set to last 14 days but could be extended if necessary. Meanwhile, the union has filed additional unfair labor charges against King Soopers.

“If they continue to violate the law, we can strike again,” said Cordova. “[Kroger’s] proposing these types of proposals around the country, and they are going to have labor unrest if they continue to move in this direction. There is no reason to attack their associates.”