Safeway and Albertsons workers in Colorado vote to go on strike

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local reported union members working for Safeway and Albertsons in Colorado have voted to strike after nine months of negotiations failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement to replace one that expired in January Safeway and Albertsons workers across metro Denver including Boulder and Castle Rock approved an unfair labor practice strike as did workers at stores in Conifer Evergreen Fountain Grand Junction Idaho Springs Parker Pueblo Salida Steamboat Springs and Vail the UFCW Local revealed in a release Thursday night The votes on whether to authorize a strike occurred this week and last week and in metro Denver of workers voted to strike the union stated A date for a walkout hasn t been revealed But in the strike against King Soopers and City Arena workers took to the picket lines in early February six days after the strike vote results were broadcasted The labor action lasted nearly two weeks We have been more than client for months as the company slashed our hours and ignored workers proposals on staffing and other key issues Incredibly Safeway and Albertsons have now chosen to walk away from a signed agreement for retroactive pay and benefit increases and instead are only offering increases going forward This is the essence of bargaining in bad faith Time has run out stated Kevan Kohlman a Safeway worker from Grand Junction and member of the negotiating committee in a press release More than UFCW and Teamster workers in Colorado Washington and California have been negotiating for a new contract and a chief complaint they want to address is understaffing at stores which they say has worsened working conditions for them and worsened shopping conditions for customers At the bargaining table this employer is holding hands with King Soopers and City Arena to propose major cuts to workers healthcare benefits and to threaten the financial assurance of our pension beneficiaries on fixed incomes while continuing to reject meaningful efforts to address chronic understaffing in stores On top of the concessionary proposals at the negotiating table Safeway and Albertsons have gone back on their agreements commented UFCW Local President Kim Cordova Workers are seeking better wages better staffing levels affordable fitness care and a reliable pension Cordova explained adding that union proposals have been rejected or ignored and earlier agreements reneged on