King Soopers employees, who work for the Kroger-owned grocery store chain, have voted to authorize a strike over allegations of unfair labor practices. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 union announced that 95% of workers in the Denver Meat Bargaining Unit and 96% of workers in the Denver Retail Bargaining Unit voted to strike.
The union claims that Kroger has engaged in illegal intimidation, failed to provide necessary information, and is attempting to rob retiree healthcare benefits to fund wage increases. The union’s president, Kim Cordova, stated that the company’s “last, best, and final offer” was unlawful and did not engage on key union proposals.
King Soopers management has maintained that it remains committed to increasing employee paychecks while keeping groceries affordable for customers. However, the company believes that the union’s allegations of unfair labor practices are unfounded and that the strike authorization vote is premature.
The votes come after King Soopers presented its “last, best and final offer” and claimed it would increase workers’ wages and keep grocery prices down. The union claims the offer failed to address key proposals and is attempting to suppress worker voices.
Additional votes for workers in Colorado Springs and Pueblo are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, which could authorize strikes in additional locations. The National Labor Relations Board has not yet determined whether King Soopers engaged in unfair labor practices during negotiations.
The strike is set to begin after the company determines the exact times, dates, and locations of the strike, which will be announced in advance.
Source: https://kdvr.com/news/local/denver-metro-king-soopers-union-workers-authorize-strike-dates-not-yet-announced