Colorado Attorney General Weiser’s Team Has Done Excellent Job in Trial to Stop Kroger/Albertsons Merger Proposal
For Immediate Release
October 24, 2024
CONTACT: Monique Palacios | mpalacios@ufcw7.com 303-425-0897 ext. 403
Denver, CO – The third trial in as many months to block the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons concluded today – this one in Colorado. The other two have already wrapped up – one by the Washington State Attorney General in Seattle concluded yesterday, and the Federal Trade Commission’s case to block the merger concluded in mid-September in Portland, OR. UFCW Local 7 today praised the excellent work of Colorado Attorney General Weiser’s office and their powerful lawsuit against the proposed Kroger and Albertsons merger.
“We have opposed this proposed merger since day one because of the obvious threat it poses to workers and shoppers across the nation and at home here in Colorado,” said Kim Cordova, President of UFCW local 7 which represents 17,000 grocery store workers in the state. “Instead of wasting more time and more money on this bad idea, these companies should be investing in better stores and better staffing to improve the experience of workers and shoppers alike. We hope that AG Weiser’s case is successful in blocking this mega-merger.” President Cordova had also led the press conference on the court-house steps in Portland on August 26 the morning the FTC’s case began.
UFCW Local 7 grocery store member Carol McMillian, who works at King Soopers in the bakery, was quoted in Kroger’s hometown paper in Cincinnati, OH this week commenting on the proposed merger and the planned sale of stores in Colorado as part of their proposed divestiture: “The last divestiture like this lost a lot of jobs for people. I was able to work my way back – it took about three years. I’m worried this could be a repeat.” McMillian’s concerns have been echoed by workers across the nation and were heard loud and clear in all of AG Weiser’s Town Halls across Colorado and by FTC Chair Khan when she came to Denver last year as part of a listening tour on the proposed merger.
UFCW Local 7 has been a leader in the Stop the Merger coalition since October 2022 along with UFCW locals 324, 400, 770,1564 and 3000. Our union grocery store members have had their concerns raised in over a thousand newspapers, radio, and TV stories across Colorado and the nation. Our unions and members have also raised their concerns directly with state and federal regulatory officials.
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The Stop the Merger campaign includes over 100 national, state and local organizations representing diverse interests who share a common goal: to stop the proposed Kroger-Albertsons grocery merger because of its negative impact on our nation’s communities. For more information visit www.NoGroceryMerger.com