Dive Brief:
- King Soopers workers have ended a strike against the Kroger-owned supermarket chain after the grocer reached a return-to-work agreement with the union that represents them.
- King Soopers stores will resume normal hours on Wednesday under the deal the Colorado grocer struck Monday with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7.
- The two sides have also agreed to a 100-day “period of labor peace” intended to ensure that “negotiations continue in good faith without further disruptions,” the grocer said.
Dive Insight:
King Soopers and UFCW Local 7 both heralded the temporary truce as a sign they are on a path to hammering out a new contract.
“Securing this agreement was about restoring certainty, not just for our business, but for the people who make it possible,” Joe Kelley, president of King Soopers and City Market, said in a statement.
King Soopers’ agreement with UFCW Local 7 reflects a goal of “securing a long-term contract that supports our associates, benefits our customers, and strengthens the communities we so proudly serve,” Kelley said.
The strike began after workers voted to authorize action against King Soopers over allegations by the union of unfair labor practices. The employees’ previous contract, which had included a no-strike provision, ran out on Jan. 16, clearing the way for the walkout.
The strike covered regions including Denver and the Colorado cities of Pueblo, Boulder, Broomfield and Parker.
According to a Monday statement from the union, the deal guarantees that King Soopers cannot implement any offer it brings to the table for at least 100 days and will not lock workers out during that period.
In addition, eligible workers will continue to receive their healthcare benefits despite being unable to fulfill their hourly work requirements because of the strike, which began Feb. 6 and was scheduled to last two weeks, King Soopers said.
“We appreciate UFCW Local 7’s willingness to return to negotiations, and we are ready to collaborate toward a fair and balanced resolution for our associates,” the grocer said.
The union said King Soopers would no longer cast contract terms it presented on Jan. 16 as its “Last, Best, and Final” offer, adding that it will try to reach a deal with the grocer over the coming weeks.
“We have taken a big step forward and ensured that Kroger knows that staffing is a key concern to workers and customers alike. We will go back to the bargaining table and continue our fight for a fair union contract for us, our customers and the communities we serve,” UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova said in a statement.
King Soopers workers also went on strike against the grocer in January 2022.
