Monthly Archives: January 2022

Members of UFCW Local 7 who work at King Soopers (Kroger) stores in Colorado ratified a new contract in January, ending a 10-day strike. The contract covers over 8,000 members at 78 King Soopers stores in the metro Denver area, as well as Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Grand Junction, and northern Colorado.

These members, who ratified the three-year contract by an overwhelming margin, went on strike on Jan. 12 over the company’s unfair labor practices. Their effort to secure a better contract was supported by UFCW locals across the country, which sent staff members to Colorado support these hard-working men and women.

The new three-year contract ensures that these essential workers are respected and protected in the workplace and includes significant wage increases. Members who are long-standing employees will now receive first-year wage increases and some members will receive wage increases in excess of $5.00 per hour.

UFCW Local 7 also successfully negotiated better health care and protected pension benefits for its members, along with more stringent safety measures in the workplace to protect employees and customers. This contract also creates new paths to full-time employment opportunities for King Soopers and City Market workers. City Market is a separate bargaining unit, and UFCW Local 7 negotiated the same terms for them simultaneously with King Soopers.   

“From the beginning of this process, we promised our members that we would procure the very best contract we could,” said UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova. “We are excited that our members voted overwhelmingly to ratify this industry-leading contract that will ensure King Soopers will respect and protect essential workers, as well as pay them fairly.” 

“Getting here has been arduous,” Cordova added. “Full credit goes to the bargaining committee and workers who made their voices heard through negotiating, standing united at the picket line, or sharing their stories with the media. This fight was always about them, and now they have a contract they deserve and can be proud of. This would not have been possible without the support of our allies throughout Colorado and across the country. To those who stood alongside our members, honored the picket line, and showed up in solidarity, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Workers at a Curaleaf medical cannabis dispensary in Philadelphia recently joined UFCW Local 1776 for better wages and benefits and a voice in the workplace.

“These hard-working people understand that they will now be able to bargain for better pay, stronger benefits, job security, better scheduling practices, and dignity on the job,” said UFCW Local 1776 President Wendell Young IV. “This is a great win for these workers and their families and for this growing industry.”

“We are so excited to begin this union at Curaleaf!” said Frankie Kelley (pronouns: they/them), a worker at the newly organized location. “We really came together to achieve this. Creating a better workplace empowers us to better support our patients. This industry has so much potential to do good, and we hope to help influence its growth here in Pennsylvania for the best.”

Some of the workers in this unit are members of the LGBTQ+ community and Young is especially proud that UFCW Local 1776 has successfully negotiated contract language at worksites across the state to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ members.

“Protections for the LGBTQ+ community was a driving issue in this vote,” Young said. “Our union has made the LGBTQ+ community a priority in negotiations across our jurisdiction. This reflects our long track record of fighting for those who have been ignored for too long, including people of color and the immigrant community. These workers are safer and have the respect they deserve. And our union is stronger because we are more diverse and more inclusive.”