(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Union workers at Colorado Springs Safeway stores have voted overwhelmingly to join an unfair labor practice strike that began for workers in other cities on Sunday, June 15.
Four stores went on strike on Sunday, including Safeway and Albertsons grocery stores in Estes Park, Pueblo and Fountain, along with a distribution center in Denver. It later expanded to Littleton and Castle Rock.
On Tuesday, June 17, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 union announced that workers in Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont, Loveland, and Colorado Springs had voted overwhelmingly to join the strike. Retail and meat department workers in Colorado Springs voted 99% to join.
Safeway and Albertsons workers said they are going on strike because of unfair labor practices. The union cited ongoing unfair labor practices, short-staffed stores and frozen wages. The union said that for over seven months, it has been trying to reach an agreement to bargain a new contract.
Meanwhile, Safeway said these claims are meritless.
“Safeway in Colorado remains committed to productive discussions with UFCW Local 7, and we are disappointed the union has chosen to strike some of our stores. We respect the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining and are negotiating in good faith to achieve a balanced agreement that rewards our associates, benefits our customers, and is sustainable for our company in the competitive grocery industry. Allegations of unfair labor practices are without merit,” said Safeway in part of a statement.
No date has been announced for Colorado Springs workers to join the strike.
