Workers went on strike in twenty cities in Colorado at over forty stores and one distribution center in Denver, accusing Albertsons, Safeway's parent company, of not bargaining in good faith on expired contracts. According to United Food & Commercial Workers Local 7, the grocery union in Colorado, workers wanted better pay and higher staffing levels, and were worried about possible cuts to retirement and health plans.
In a Facebook post announcing the end of the strike, the union shared that those priorities had been achieved. Specifically, pension funds and retiree health benefits will be maintained and workers will earn raises with bonuses for any employee with over a year of seniority. Prior to the strike, workers had not had a raise since January 2024.
Safeway workers have all returned to their usual work schedules as of today, July 7. Now, workers will have the chance to vote to make the contract official, though the union has not set dates for those votes.
King Soopers, Union Find Agreement
Before Safeway's two-week strike in June and July, King Soopers and City Market workers held a twelve-day strike in February. According to UFCW Local 7, which represents both sets of workers, the two companies offered similar proposals in the negotiation process despite a merger between Albertsons and Kroger, King Soopers' parent company, falling through last December.Within the last week, Kroger also reached a tentative agreement with City Market and King Soopers workers, according to another UFCW Facebook post.
According to the union, the new agreement would last for three years. And, like the Safeway agreement, Kroger workers would get raises and have their healthcare preserved, including for retirees.
Both new agreements promise "test-and-learn" studies over staffing, which has been a sticking point in negotiations. King Soopers workers in Colorado even sparked a national study showing the chain overcharges on many items, alleging that there are not enough employees to properly update price tags throughout the stores.
Though the contracts don't appear to directly require higher staffing levels, both grocery chains will take steps to examine the issue and see what could be done through the test-and-learn studies.
King Soopers workers will also need to vote on the agreement. Dates for those votes have not been publicized yet.
