King Soopers Workers Vote To Stee-rike

13 Comments

by: Colorado Pols

Denver7’s Robert Garrison reports:

Members of the union representing Kroger-owned King Soopers/City Market employees voted Friday night overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.

More than 92 percent voted in favor of walking off the job, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union…

A strike date has not been set, but a strike authorization allows union leadership to call for a strike at any moment going forward, according to a release from the union.

UFCW Local 7’s contract with Safeway stores, the other major neighborhood grocer in Colorado, is not affected by this impasse between the union and The Kroger Company. That and the proliferation of grocery options since the last time UFCW workers went on strike in 1996 in theory puts Kroger in a much more difficult position–it’s going to be a very easy logistical decision for consumers who don’t want to cross a picket line to get their groceries somewhere else.

It’s possible that the leverage union negotiators now possess with the authorization to strike in hand will bear fruit in last-minute negotiations that Kroger agreed to following the vote. We’ll update with news on that front–or when it’s time to look at your grocery alternatives–as it becomes available.

13 thoughts on “King Soopers Workers Vote To Stee-rike”

Pseudonymous says:

March 18, 2019 at 10:52 am

Solidarity, sisters and brothers. Makes a quick list of things to pick up on the way home today…

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1. Blackie says:
  
  March 18, 2019 at 11:10 am
  
  I have both Safeway and Wal-mart as alternatives. And both are very close.
  
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  1. gertie97 says:
    
    March 18, 2019 at 11:17 am
    
    Walmart is no alternative. They treat their employees worse than shit.
    
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    1. Diogenesdemar says:
      
      March 18, 2019 at 11:22 am
      
      Yep. You can’t think you’re supportting unions, or workers, by shopping WalMart. They’re an absolute last resort.
      
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      1. notaskinnycook says:
        
        March 18, 2019 at 11:48 pm
        
        I would only be caught dead in a Mal-wart. Not only do they mistreat their employees, but when they invade small towns with their mega-marts and cut-rate prices, they put the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker out of business.
        
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Phoenix Rising says:

March 18, 2019 at 11:32 am

I need bigger Safeway stores along my normal routes. The ones I normally pass are too small to stock certain items.

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DENependent says:

March 18, 2019 at 1:21 pm

Fortunately I have a backlog of stuff to eat from my freezer and pantry that I really need to use up anyway. The best form of thrift is using up stuff you already own.

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davebarnes says:

March 18, 2019 at 1:35 pm

I hope there is plenty in the strike fund. After all, Local 7 has had 20+ years to build it up.

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deathpigeon | they/them says:

March 18, 2019 at 2:02 pm

"Seeking temporary workers"

Scabs. Seeking scabs.

Solidarity with the striking workers. I'll make sure not to shop at King Soopers once the strike begins and for the duration of the strike.

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1. Voyageur says:
  
  March 18, 2019 at 4:13 pm
  
  DP,
  
  I am Voyageur 's artist daughter and he told me how you appreciated my strange creations. I am touched and would like to send you one. Do you have a color you would like me to use as a focal color in the piece?
  
  Misty Morehead
  
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  1. deathpigeon | they/them says:
    
    March 18, 2019 at 5:35 pm
    
    Oh! That's really nice of you! Your art is amazing! I like pastels a lot. A pastel pink would be nice. ♥
    
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Voyageur says:

March 18, 2019 at 4:03 pm

Go to Costco, not virulently anti-union Wal-Fart. C ostco is union.

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1. gertie97 says:
  
  March 18, 2019 at 5:21 pm
  
  If there were a Costco closer to GJ than Gypsum, I'd be happy to. In the meantime, I'll suck up Safeway's higher prices. I won't cross a picket line.
  
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