Zero progress evident in grocery-worker negotiations

In early May, it looked like a strike against King Soopers, Safeway and Albertsons by union employees was a real possibility. Since then, however, the situation has dragged out and out and out, with continued extensions creating little pressure on either side to get something done. Earlier this month, the...

By Michael Roberts

August 21, 2009

Audio By Carbonatix

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In early May, it looked like a strike against King Soopers, Safeway and Albertsons by union employees was a real possibility. Since then, however, the situation has dragged out and out and out, with continued extensions creating little pressure on either side to get something done. Earlier this month, the chains and labor reps agreed to push the contract deadline to September 12. And while talks are underway on the Western Slope, where workers don't think it's fair that they're paid $1-per-hour less than their Eastern Slope colleagues, the closest thing to an action alert from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local No. 7 about the aforementioned stalemate is a tweet earlier this morning linked to recommended points customers can make if they write letters to company CEOs.

Have both sides simply decided to wait until the recession is over to resolve their disputes? Seems like it at this point.

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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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