UFCW Local 7 Files Lawsuit Against King Soopers & City Market for Violating the Agreement that Ended the Strike
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2025
CONTACT: Martin T. Garcia
mtgarcia@ufcw7.com | 303-425-0897 ext. 408
Denver, CO - During the 11-day strike at 79 King Soopers stores during February union workers raised serious concerns about King Sooper’s behavior that were reflected in the Unfair Labor Practices alleged by the workers. The strike, as is the case with many strikes, was a hardship to all parties – the union and workers, the employer, and the shoppers. Clearly, King Soopers wanted the strike to end. King Soopers and the Union reached an agreement that ended the strike and both sides committed to return to bargaining table and negotiate in good faith; the union agreed it would not take any more strike actions for 100 days; and, the employer would not unilaterally implement any changes in the contract.
In the lawsuit filed today, the Union asserts that King Soopers & City Market have and continue to violate the agreement they signed at the end of the strike. “We agreed to end the strike and return to work and have labor peace for 100 days. The employer’s side of that agreement was that they would not implement any new terms without our agreement, lock-out workers, and would negotiate in good faith. They have failed in that commitment,” stated Kim Cordova, President of UFCW Local 7.
The practical problems resulting from these violations range from the employer not even giving consideration for the unions’ proposals, to putting ultimatums forward that would expire in April – months prior to the 100 day stand down running out. “The Employer needs to address issues of staffing, safety, raises, benefits, and other topics. King Soopers has been acting in the same manner they did before our strike – a my way or the highway approach to negotiations,” added Cordova. “That is not a negotiation. That is an ultimatum – one of the many things they can’t do during this good faith bargaining process.”
“The clock is ticking. We are now about halfway through our 100-day stand down agreement and the employer has done very little to move things along. Indeed, they have and continue to take actions that drive us away from, instead of toward, a new contract. We need King Soopers & City Market to switch gears and begin to bargain in good faith and this lawsuit is about ensuring King Soopers is held accountable for failing to honor the agreement they made,” Cordova concluded.
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Local 7, the largest private-sector Union in Colorado, is affiliated with United Food and Commercial Workers International Union which represents over 1.3 million workers in the United States and Canada, and is one of the largest private-sector Unions in North America. UFCW members work in a wide range of industries, including retail food, food processing, agriculture, retail sales, and health care.