King Soopers strike begins, Union says grocery store has “unfair work practices” – CBS Denver
DENVER (CBS4) – Thousands of grocery workers in the Denver area are on strike after negotiations between the union and King Soopers fell apart. The union says King Soopers and its parent company Kroger have “unfair work practices”.
(Credit: CBS)
King Soopers made a final offer on Tuesday in a long-running negotiation battle with the company, which called it its best offer. It included an investment of $ 170 million over the next three years that went to salary increases and bonuses for existing employees and a starting salary of $ 16. The union called it insulting and said it only amounted to several kroner, and rejected it with 95% of the vote.
A King Soopers employee told CBS4 from the strike line that several people in her family are King Soopers employees, including both her parents.
‘I’m out here. I’m not going to cross. If you cross, no one wins here. If you cross, why do we bother to strike, said the striking King Soopers pharmacy technician Angelica.
King Sooper’s grocery store workers wave to a passing car Wednesday morning. (Credit: Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images)
The union – United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 – demands better security measures, higher wages and affordable health care for employees.
Approximately 8400 King Soopers employees at 78 stores started the strike at 05.00 after the union failed to reach an agreement with the company.
They demand better security measures, higher wages and affordable health care.
Live on now @CBSDenver#KingSoopers #KingSoopersStrike pic.twitter.com/XNndWOLmmG
– Shawna Khalafi (@ShawnaKhalafiTV) January 12, 2022
King Soopers called the decision to strike ruthless and self-serving. President Joe Kelley said, “Local 7 puts politics in front of people and prevents us from putting more money in the pockets of our employees.
“The most important thing right now is that it’s not just about pay, yes it’s important, Denver has gone up in prices on everything, but you have to look at the whole thing. We need health care. We’ve just crossed 1000 cases in King Soopers. “There have been at least five deaths that we are aware of. It has affected everyone,” Angelica said.
All King Soopers stores are open during the strike, which started at 05.00 on Wednesday.
(Credit: CBS)
The UFCW’s strike affects nearly 80 grocery stores in Colorado, including:
– Arvada (Sheridan Boulevard, Candelas Parkway, 64th Avenue, Wadsworth Boulevard, 58th Avenue)
– Aurora (Colfax Avenue, Hampden Avenue, Havana Street, Buckley Road, Peoria Street, Smoky Hill Road, South Parker Road, 17000 Iliff Avenue, Mississippi Avenue)
– Boulder (30th Street)
– Boulder / Gunbarrel (Lookout Road)
– Broomfield (Sheridan Boulevard, Highway 287, 136th Avenue)
– Centennial (Arapahoe Road, University Boulevard, Holly Street)
– Commerce City (62nd Avenue, 104th Avenue)
– Denver (Colorado Boulevard, MLK Boulevard, 1950 Chestnut Place, Quebec Street, Green Valley Ranch Boulevard, Florida Avenue, 2727 Evans Avenue, Monaco Parkway, 9th Avenue, Hampden Avenue, Sheridan Boulevard, Krameria Street, Speer Boulevard)
– Edgewater (Sheridan Boulevard)
– Englewood (Englewood Parkway, University Boulevard, Federal Boulevard, Sheridan Boulevard)
– Evergreen (Bergen Parkway)
– Federal Heights (84th Avenue, 84th Avenue)
– Glendale (Leetsdale Drive)
– Golden (South Golden Road)
– Greenwood Village (Holly Street, Yosemite Street)
– Highlands Ranch (Quebec Street, 3000 Red Cedar Drive, University Boulevard, Wildcat Reserve Parkway)
– Lakewood (Alameda Avenue, Alameda Parkway, 1555 Quail Street, Kipling Parkway, Wadsworth Boulevard)
– Littleton (Wadsworth Boulevard, Littleton Boulevard, South Broadway, Belleview Avenue, 6760 Pierce Street, Ken Caryl Avenue)
– Louisville (South Boulder Road)
– Parker (Cottonwood Drive, Lincoln Avenue, South Parker Road)
– Thornton (120th Avenue, 104th Avenue)
– Westminster (Wadsworth Parkway, Federal Boulevard)
– Wheat Ridge (Sheridan Boulevard, Youngfield Street)
Around 8,400 unionized workers are now on strike.
