King Soopers looking to defend the blitz

As noted yesterday, King Soopers is avoiding the nuclear option when it comes to negotiations with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Local No. 7, rapidly agreeing to go back to the bargaining table as opposed to locking out employees who overwhelming rejected the retailers latest contract offer. But...

By Michael Roberts

June 19, 2009

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As noted yesterday, King Soopers is avoiding the nuclear option when it comes to negotiations with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Local No. 7, rapidly agreeing to go back to the bargaining table as opposed to locking out employees who overwhelming rejected the retailers latest contract offer. But the firm isn't above a little confrontation to show it means business. Hence, yesterday's federal court hearing, during which King Soopers' attorneys asked a judge to stop UFCW reps from talking to staffers while they're on the job -- a tack identified in the headline of an AP account as "blitzing." Have union types actually disrupted operations at King Soopers stores by having such conversations? Probably not. But the proceeding was essentially a warning that the King can only be pushed so far....

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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