Grocery strike looms

DENVER – Contract talks between United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 and California-based Safeway Stores Inc. broke down on Oct. 20, setting the stage for a possible strike of all three major grocery chains in Northern Colorado.

Negotiators for the chain rejected the latest offer by the union, which represents 17,000 Colorado workers at Albertsons and Kroger, owner of King Soopers and City Market stores, as well as Safeway. Union contracts with Kroger and Albertsons expired in May, but the companies have agreed to mutual negotiations.

Union representatives have asked the international headquarters in Washington, D.C., for a final strike sanction, according to the Local 7 website. As of Oct. 22, the sanction had not been released, but a strike cold be called as soon as it is received. Dave Savage, vice president of retail operations for King Soopers, told employees that the company could lock them out if Safeway workers strike.

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At issue are wages, pension funding and accrual of benefits.

In response to the possible action, Progress Now Colorado is developing an interactive online map of non-union alternatives for shoppers in the event of a work stoppage, at www.alwayshereforcolorado.com.