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Grocery Workers - Always Here for You - www.alwayshereforcolorado.com


For Negotiation Updates: Text "UNITY" to 313131 or Call 1-800-854-7054
 KING SOOPERS WORKERS VOTE BY MORE THAN 90% TO REJECT CONCESSIONS, ASK CORPORATION TO GET BACK TO BARGANING TABLE WITH A FAIR DEAL

Front-Range King Soopers workers have voted by more than 90% margins to ask the corporation to get back to the bargaining table and offer them a fair deal that doesn’t include wage, pension, and health care cuts. The votes were held Monday, June 15, 2009 through Wednesday, June 18.

"The corporation is making millions of dollars in this economy, and they need to offer a fair deal that recognizes our contributions to those profits and how much we take care of our customers," said Julie Gonzalez, a produce clerk for King Soopers. "Middle-class workers like me are a part of the economy, too, and as a mom with three kids, I’m concerned about providing for my family. The corporation keeps saying, our people make the difference, so we hope they come back to the negotiation table with a contract that reflects that belief."

The vote percentages are as follows:

Denver 92%                

Colorado Springs 91%            

 Pueblo 100%                     

Grand Junction (Meat) 100%  (Retail) 96%      

Broomfield 100%         

Fort Collins (Meat) 97%         

Greeley (Meat) 100%         

Longmont (Meat) 95%                   

Loveland (Meat) 100%            

Steamboat Springs (Retail) 94%         

Denver Meat Plant 95% 

The most current King Sooper’s offer includes pension cuts of up to $400,000 over the life of the worker’s retirement, wage freezes for the majority of workers, and a reduction the amount the corporation puts into the health care plan, which could mean reduced benefits and higher co-pays in the future.

Kroger Corporation, the parent company of King Soopers, paid its CEO $13.4 million in 2008, and is reporting healthy profits – 8% in the fourth quarter of 2008. The company posted revenues of $76 billion in 2008, an 8.2 percent increase from $70.24 billion from 2007. (In comparison, Whole Foods profits declined 32% in the same period.) Kroger CEO David Dillon attributes the increases to more people shopping at grocery stores and eating at home, rather than going out. Fortune Magazine lists both Safeway and Kroger as among the nation’s 50 most profitable companies in 2008.

 SAFEWAY WORKERS TO RETURN TO NEGOTIATIONS!

Safeway Negotiations are scheduled to be held on the below dates:

Tuesday, July 14, 2009         10 a.m.    Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80207

Wednesday, July 15, 2009   10 a.m.    Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80207

Friday, July 17, 2009             10 a.m.    Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80207

  SAFEWAY WORKERS REVOTE BY MORE THAN 90% TO AUTHORIZE A STRIKE IF THEY DO NOT GET A BETTER CONTRACT OFFER FROM THE COMPANY.

Safeway workers started voting on Friday, June 19th and concluded on Friday, June 26th.

Vote percentages are as follows:

Grand Junction (Meat) 100%  (Retail) 99%            

Conifer (Meat) 96%                              

Fort Morgan (Meat and Retail) 100%

Denver Meat Warehouse 100%      

Colorado Springs (Meat) 100%   (Retail) 99%               

Fountain (Meat and Retail) 100% 

Fort Collins (Meat) 100%  (Retail) 99%                 

Evergreen (Meat and Retail) 100%       

Idaho Springs (Meat and Retail) 100%

Leadville (Retail and Meat) 100%   

Gunnison (Retail and Meat) 100%

Estes Park (Retail and Meat) 100%

Pueblo (Retail and Meat) 100%

Vail (Retail and Meat) 100%

Parker (Meat) 100%

Castle Pines (Meat) 100%

Castle Rock (Retail) 100%

Broomfield (Retail and Meat) 100%

Denver (Meat) 100%  (Retail) 99%

Lamar (Retail and Meat) 100%

Montrose (Retail) 96%

Frisco (Meat) 100%  (Retail) 90%

Brighton (Meat and Retail) 100%

Craig (Meat and Retail) 100%

Canon City (Meat and Retail) 100%

LaJunta (Meat and Retail) 100%

Trinidad (Meat) 100%  (Retail) 97%

Boulder/Louisville (Meat) 100%  (Retail) 93%

Loveland (Meat) 100%  (Retail) 97%

Glenwood Springs (Meat and Retail) 100%

Longmont (Retail) 96%  (Meat) 93%

Walsenburg (Retail) 100%

Alamosa (Meat and Retail) 100%

Monte Vista (Meat and Retail) 100%

Salida (Meat) 100%  (Retail) 94%

Greeley (Meat and Retail) 100%

Steamboat Springs (Retail) 95%

What's good for grocery clerks is good for America    

As more companies lay off employees, and as state governments face budget shortfalls and wonder who and where to cut, some Coloradans may wonder what's up with Safeway workers voting overwhelmingly to strike for better wages and improved pension contributions — especially when both Safeway and King Soopers have a ready and willing cadre of replacement workers at their disposal.  



Understand the King Soopers and Safeway Contract Proposal - June 9, 2009   

Wages

 CONTRACT ACCEPTED IN 2004
  CURRENT CONTRACT OFFER
  OFFER REJECTED 3/22/08
  • 2 wage increases
  • 2 bonuses and nothing in 2007.
  • Increases for top rates only
  • wage freezes for the majority.
  • Increases for top rates only
  • wage freezes for the majority.

Health & Welfare

 CONTRACT ACCEPTED IN 2004
  CURRENT CONTRACT OFFER
  OFFER REJECTED 3/22/08 
  • Co-premiums: $5/week for employee, $10/week for employee + spouse, $15/week family
  • Workers must re-enroll on a yearly basis.
  • Dependants are able to receive coverage after 2-3 years.
  • No preventative care.

  • There is no guarantee that premiums will not increase and / or benefits will not decrease.
  • Updates to enrollment are necessary only if there are changes.
  • Dependents are able to receive coverage after 1 year.
  • Worker-proposed preventative care included.
  • Company and union agreed that premiums would not be increased and / or benefits would not decrease.
  • Updates to enrollment are necessary only if there are changes.
  • Dependents are able to receive coverage after 1 year.
  • Worker-proposed preventative care included.

Two Tier

 CONTRACT ACCEPTED IN 2004
  CURRENT CONTRACT OFFER
  OFFER REJECTED 3/22/08 
  • Second tier workers don’t receive same benefits concerning Sunday Premium, Night Premium, Holiday Pay, Sick Leave, etc.
  • No changes to second tier.
  • No changes to second tier.

Pension

 CONTRACT ACCEPTED IN 2004
  CURRENT CONTRACT OFFER
  OFFER REJECTED 3/22/08 
  • First Tier = employer contribution $1.05/hr.
  • Second tier = employer contribution of $.48 per hour 
  • *Note: this structural problem created by two-tier system has resulted in a severe underfunding of the pension fund.
  • Change the Rule of 80 so you have to wait until you are 55 to retire.
  • If you have a vested pension and retire early, there will be a greater reduction in your retirement benefit.
  • Future benefit accruals will be slashed 50-62%.
  • Delete the $200 monthly supplemental benefit for those of you that retire after the age of 60 and before the age of 62.
  • Change the amount your spouse would be able to receive if you die before you’ve begun to receive your pension.
  • Eliminate $1000 post-retirement death benefit for your designated beneficiary if you die after you retire.
  • Pension Fund would have been fully funded.



 
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Grocery Workers Say Ritter 'Betrayed' Them  

As they near the deadline to negotiate a new contract with their employers, grocery store workers are bashing Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter for a veto that they believe gives grocery stores an unfair advantage in the collective bargaining process.

"Governor Ritter has aligned himself with the big corporations and shown his true colors to all of us workers," said Arlys Carlson, who has worked for Safeway for 29 years and campaigned for Ritter three years ago. "He's betrayed us. He won't get reelected if he's counting on us."

Vetoed Tuesday, House Bill 1170 would have forced employers that choose to lock their workers out to pay them unemployment benefits. In a lockout, an employer bars workers from their jobs during a labor dispute. Colorado's last lockout occurred in 1996 when employees of the King Soopers grocery chain went on strike and workers at Safeway were locked out.

 Grocery Workers Say Ritter 'Betrayed' Them - 9NEWS.com >>

Unions Blast Ritter for Vetoing Lockout Bill - CBS4Denver.com >>

Ritter's Veto Riles Union Members - KDVR.com >>

Major Grocery Negotiations Continue           

Major grocery negotiations are continuing with Safeway, Albertson’s, and King Soopers/City Market! We are negotiating with these major corporations to ensure workers receive quality and affordable health care, protected pensions, livable wages and safe working conditions. We need your participation to ensure workers have access to services and benefits that will strengthen the middle class and ensure the American dream can be a reality! If you work at one of these companies, please try and attend the negotiations for your company.

For updates on the negotiations, please call 303-425-0897 or 1-800-854-7054, then press the star (*) key. Choose your store from the following options:

  • Press 1 for King Soopers
  • Press 2 for Safeway
  • Press 3 for Albertson’s
  • Press 4 for City Market and Safeway Western Slope
  • Press 4 for Albertson's, City Market & Safeway - Western Slope
  • Press 5 for Safeway Meat Warehouse
  • Press 6 for information in Spanish
Text UNITY to 313131 to receive text message updates and sign up on the email list
Grocery Workers United
See a comparison of executive vs worker compensation at the major grocers - CLICK HERE
 
  • Will workers receive Health Care Benefits if they go on strike and if so how long?
If a worker otherwise is eligible, as long as the worker worked 80 hours in April, he or she will have health care coverage through June 2009.
  • Can workers from different bargaining units or even non-bargaining unit workers honor the picket lines?

    Local Seven cannot and will not require any worker whose contract is still in effect to honor any picket line.  Local Seven believes, however, that individual workers have the right to observe picket lines of striking workers even while the non-striking workers have an operating contract. Such a worker is treated as a striking worker under the law and is subject to the same treatment by the Company as any striking worker.
  • In the event of a strike, if an employee is on vacation or will be on vacation, will he/she still be able to get vacation pay?
The company is obliged to pay all accrued vacation whether a person is on strike or not.
  • Will checks be delivered to the picket line?
Strike benefit checks will be delivered to the picket line on a weekly basis assuming the striker fill out the necessary paper work.
  • Can probationary employees strike?
Every bargaining unit worker, including probationary workers, has a right to strike.
  • Can an employee on a leave of absence or lay-off honor the strike if their Leaves of Absence is cancelled?
Even if the leave of absence is cancelled or a worker is recalled from lay-off the worker can participate in the strike.  He or she simply needs to notify the company that they are responding to the recall and participating in the strike.
  • Will I be able to collect unemployment while on strike?
No.  Under the law a striker cannot get unemployment
  • If I vote to strike, will there be a strike?
A vote to strike authorizes the Union to call a strike; it doesn’t automatically mean one will happen.  Your vote will tell the company that you are serious about your proposals.  Bargaining might begin again after a strike vote.
  • Will I get a strike benefit if I am on strike?
Yes, Each Striker must log in-and-out their attendance each day they report to the picket line. Each week the striking workers will get a benefit of up to $200 for being on the picket line as long as there are funds to pay the benefit.
  • If I work behind a picket line will I be fine?
You may be, that will be up to a decision of the Union Executive board.
  • If workers vote to strike at one company, will my company lock me out with no choice, like they did to workers in 1996?
We don't know. We've filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board because the corporations are not disclosing how they are teaming up against their workers for negotiations. In the past, the corporations have shared resources for labor disputes, and, agreed to lock out workers, if there is a strike against one of them. This is devastating to locked out workers because they have absolutely no choice in the matter.

UFCW 7
In the News
7-2-09 - Grocery Pension Issue Sent Back for Further Talks

6-26-09 - Safeway Profits in First Quarter of 2009

6-25-09 - Safeway Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Re-Authorize Strike

6-23-09 - Judge Gives Workers Day in Court

6-23-09 - Kroger Posts Double-Digit Profits

6-18-09 - King Soopers Workers Reject Concessions

6-14-09 - New TV Ad: "Will You Be There for Us?"

6-10-09 - Corporate Proposal Reduces Worker Pension

6-10-09 - It's Time Our Economy Worked for Everyone Again

6-10-09 - Walk in the Juneteenth Parade With Grocery Workers!

6-10-09 - What's good for grocery clerks is good for America

6-9-09 - Letter from President Duran on the King Soopers Proposal

6-9-09 - Understand the King Soopers Contract Proposal

6-8-09 - It’s not just about jobs; it’s about good jobs

6-6-09 - Grocery Negotiations Update - June 6th 2009

6-5-09 - Statement by UFCW Local 7 President Ernest L. Duran Jr. on Gov. Ritter's Veto of SB 180

6-4-09 - Safeway Negotiations Update for June 4, 2009

6-2-09 - Middle-Class Workers Facing Lockouts to Attend Help Fair

6-2-09 - Ritter signing more Colorado business bills

6-1-09 - Rating Ritter Re-election bid faces challenges

5-29-09 - King Soopers workers want more labor talks

5-29-09 - New Petition, Video and Fact Sheet Supporting Grocery Workers

5-29-09 - Ritter veto stirs disunion

5-28-09 - King Soopers Negotiations May 28, 2009

5-28-09 - King Soopers workers want more labor talks

5-28-09 - Open Letter to Gov. Ritter on 1170 Veto

5-27-09 - Safeway Negotiations May 27, 2009

5-27-09 - Thursday 11:30 a.m. Press Conference With Grocery Workers On The Last Day of Contract Negotiations

5-24-09 - Grocery Negotiations Update 5-24-2009

5-23-09 - Unions Blast Ritter For Vetoing Lockout Bill

5-21-09 - Companies Refuse to Meet Workers Halfway on Pensions - Workers File Injunction

5-20-09 - Ritter's veto riles union members

5-19-09 - Governor Fails To Support Middle-Class Working Families by Vetoing HB1170

5-14-09 - Western Slope Safeway Refuses to Accept Preventive Health Care in Contract

5-10-09 - After an overwhelming vote to strike by Safeway workers, profitable grocery chains are going back to the table with UFCW for fair deal.

5-9-09 - Safeway Contract Extended Through May 30

5-9-09 - Safeway Workers Vote to Authorize Strike If Company Continues to Insist on Benefit Cuts Wage Freeze, Pension Cuts at Issue

5-8-09 - Potential strike, lockout looms for grocery workers

5-8-09 - Safeway Vote Could Decide Fate of King Soopers Workers

5-7-09 - 150 Workers Vote to Extend King Soopers Contract, Company to Respond Tomorrow

5-7-09 - Workers Ask King Soopers to Keep Deadlines, Keep Negotiating, and Keep Them Working & Serving Customers