After employees at three stores and a Denver distribution center walked off the job this weekend, Safeway workers in other Colorado cities will vote on whether to join them in a strike.
The upcoming vote will be at locations in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, and Longmont, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 7. Voting to authorize a strike doesn’t mean a strike will happen at those stores — it just clears a path for the union to stage a walkout.
Employees in Estes Park, Fountain and Pueblo started an unfair labor practice strike on Sunday morning. The strike is starting off small but could expand, the union said.
“This will allow time for the public to understand the problems these workers are facing, allow Safeway/Albertsons time to understand the seriousness of the workers’ resolve, and at the same time reduce the hardship on shoppers and workers alike that result from a wide-spread strike,” the union said in an emailed statement.
The union has been negotiating with Safeway and parent company Alberstons for a new contract for seven months, the statement said. Workers at many stores across Colorado, including in the Denver metro area, already voted to approve a strike in the past two weeks. Those
employees could strike any day if the parties are unable to reach a deal.
“It’s too bad that things have come to this point … but the ongoing unfair labor practices, including bad faith bargaining, as well as surveilling and threatening workers, have given us no choice but to strike", Monique Trujillo, a Safeway worker from Fountain, said in the emailed statement.
Kroger on edge too
Safeway workers are striking at the same time as contract negotiations between workers and King Soopers are coming to a head. The union is negotiating with King Soopers and parent Kroger after a strike in February. That strike lasted almost two weeks before a deal was reached to pause the labor action for 100 days. That pause expired last month.
Safeway, owned by Albertsons, and Kroger-owned King Soopers are the two biggest grocery chains in Colorado, not including Walmart. Kroger owns 148 King Soopers and City Market stores, while Albertsons operates 105 Safeway and Albertsons locations.
The union contends the two supermarket giants are working together to wring concessions from workers.
“Instead of working with the union, Safeway/Albertsons has instead put its faith in its supposed competitor King Soopers and City Market in an attempt to drive down healthcare and pension benefits for active workers and retirees alike,” said Kim Cordova, president of UFCW 7.
Editor's note: Safeway is a financial supporter of CPR News. Financial supporters have no editorial influence.
