UPDATE: The contract with King Soopers has been extended until Jan. 16. Negotiations with Safeway are scheduled for Saturday, with the contract set to expire at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday. Learn more in this story.
DENVER — The contract for union employees at King Soopers and Safeway stores is set to expire in less than 72 hours. This comes as the parent companies of both grocery stores are battling it out in court over a failed merger.
In 2022, Kroger and Albertsons announced an agreement to merge. Now, our partners at the Denver Post report, the unions representing the employees are denouncing both companies for planning the merger instead of hiring more staffers and lowering prices for customers.
United Food & Commercial Workers Local 7 posted on Facebook that King Soopers refuses to consider any of the proposals that are important to workers. The last time a strike happened at King Soopers, workers protested outside, giving shoppers flyers with information about different grocery stores at which to shop.
The union has not said what would happen if the contract does not get approved, but history could give us insight into what this weekend holds. It is important to note Albertsons — the parent company of Safeway — said it's in negotiations with the union and did not have further comment, according to the Denver Post.
But a spokesperson for Kroger said it has invested billions of dollars to build and remodel stores, create more jobs and improve the customer experience, the Denver Post reported.
In an Thursday update on their website, company representatives said the Union is stalling negotiations, claiming that "the union’s delay in providing a wage proposal poses significant challenges."
King Soopers representatives said they are prioritizing their commitment to invest in their associates with an improved wage offer, which shows that top rate clerks would now receive a 5.41% increase during their first year of contract. A company spokesperson also said their latest negotiation offer removed a proposal to reset hours in wage scale, which would allow employees to keep their hours within their progression as they move over.
"These offer improvements reflect our commitment to reaching a fair agreement that supports you and your family while keeping groceries affordable for our customers," a company spokesperson said.
To view the company's newest comprehensive offer, click here.
As union leaders meet with these two companies, Albertsons is still pursuing a lawsuit against Kroger for millions and billions of dollars for the merger not working out.