Thousands of King Soopers workers in the Denver metro region went on strike on Thursday morning, with the union urging customers to shop elsewhere during the two-week long strike. The strike was prompted by contract negotiations that soured relations between company executives and union leaders. Union President Kim Cordova highlighted staffing shortages and alleged unfair labor practices by King Soopers.
The strike began just before Super Bowl Sunday, and the union indicated that Valentine’s Day could also be impacted if an agreement is not reached. King Soopers President Joe Kelley accused the union of deliberately timing the strike to coincide with these holidays to hurt the company. He expressed readiness to negotiate but criticized the union for targeting King Soopers unfairly.
The strike led to temporary workers being hired to keep stores open, causing tension over the use of temporary workers. The union argued that this practice diminishes their bargaining power. Despite the strike affecting stores in the Denver area, workers in Colorado Springs and Pueblo had not joined the strike as they are still under contract.
The situation drew mixed reactions from customers, with some joining the picket lines while others redirected their shopping to other stores. The strike could potentially have a significant impact on King Soopers, as historical data showed that during a previous strike, a portion of sales shifted to competitors like Safeway. Both parties expressed a willingness to resume negotiations, with Cordova indicating that the strike could be expanded statewide if necessary.
