Management, union really don't want a grocery strike

The decision by employees at King Soopers and Safeway to keep working amid continuing negotiations with management through at least May 30 despite the fact that their respective contracts have expired indicates an understanding that striking amid an economic downturn is a worst-case scenario for all concerned. That doesn't mean...

By Michael Roberts

May 11, 2009

Audio By Carbonatix

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The decision by employees at King Soopers and Safeway to keep working amid continuing negotiations with management through at least May 30 despite the fact that their respective contracts have expired indicates an understanding that striking amid an economic downturn is a worst-case scenario for all concerned. That doesn't mean a work stoppage is an impossibility. But the last thing grocers want these days is to be viewed by customers as hard-hearted and uncaring -- something the folks at United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local No. 7 understand full well. The union has set up AlwaysHereForColorado.com, a website that has avoided hardcore hectoring since its launch. That's especially true of the most recent video to be posted on the site. In it, veteran King Soopers staffer Michael Sampson talks about his dedication to his job, his skills as a "people person," his hopes and dreams for his family -- everything except how he's being mistreated and exploited by The Man. The idea seems to be: Get the public to relate to grocery workers as their friends and neighbors, as opposed to muddying the waters with divisive facts and figures. Click above to check out the latest pitch.

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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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