View Full Version : King Soopers Strike... Again
eddiememphis
02-01-2025, 10:00
https://kdvr.com/news/local/denver-metro-king-soopers-union-workers-authorize-strike-dates-not-yet-announced/
https://coloradosun.com/2025/01/31/denver-king-soopers-union-workers-vote-strike/
Grocery workers at King Soopers stores from Boulder to Parker voted overwhelmingly to strike over unfair labor practices, the union representing them said Thursday night.
Local 7 represents 12,000 King Soopers and City Market workers in Colorado.
In a news release, UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova complained of severe staffing shortages at area stores with no proposal to solve the problem. She also called out corporate negotiators for "robbing retiree health care benefits to fund wage increases for workers today."
Thank goodness.
The guy that stands at the self checkout and sighs loudly anytime someone needs his help definitely deserves a raise.
Maybe now he can afford some decent clothes and a haircut. Although that new GMC in the parking lot is pretty nice...
Cool. I'll just go to Safeway. Next time a merger is proposed I hope more people think of stuff like this.
I go to Walmart for groceries. Same stuff, less cost.
I remember shipping at the local King Soopers the last time they had a strike. Was the same experience as any other time.
Bailey Guns
02-02-2025, 07:08
Costco workers are/were on the verge of a strike as well because the company was so profitable last year and they want a piece. I read the company just agreed to pay many of their employees $30 hr. I wonder what contributes to these high grocery prices?
KS actually staffs the checkouts on busy days, Safeway never does that
Costco workers are/were on the verge of a strike as well because the company was so profitable last year and they want a piece. I read the company just agreed to pay many of their employees $30 hr. I wonder what contributes to these high grocery prices?
I did hear about that, but doesn't Costco also run a smaller crew with far greater simplicity? I mean since their warehouse model is more about bulk, the restocking process is much more efficient for starters. The amount of revenue generated by the merchandise one "stock boy" can put out in a single 8 hour shift has got to be 20x of what the manual stock boy at KS is capable of, so paying them "double" what a normal grocery store employee earns doesn't seem like a bad business decision at all.
Bailey Guns
02-03-2025, 07:10
^^ Could be. I have no idea how they run the stores.
eddiememphis
02-03-2025, 11:31
I have finally read the bill.
I do see a rather interesting hole in the proposed legislation. I'm being mindful to not post it on the internet... but I'll share if it passes.
I can say this does not prevent inheritance, which is UNUSUAL. Normally the progressive strategy is a patient one, wait for everyone to die and they have them removed in a generation. OFC, maybe their long term is to eventually pass another bill to prohibit inheritance.
I think you posted on the wrong thread...
You are right. Too many tabs. Thank you.
Um, $30/hr at Costco? Hmmm......
eddiememphis
02-04-2025, 09:13
https://coloradosun.com/2025/02/03/king-soopers-workers-to-go-on-14-day-strike-starting-thursday/
After union members approved a strike, UFCW Local 7 said a two-week walkout will "allow everyone to understand our concerns."
King Soopers management had offered their "last, best and final" offer, which added 25 cents to boost pay raises for retail clerks by $1.50 an hour, among other changes. That would increase the average hourly wage to $29.48 for top-rate clerks. The offer expired Jan. 31.
In a statement Monday evening, the company said, "Despite King Soopers urging UFCW Local 7 to give their members a voice by allowing them to vote on the company's Last Best and Final offer the Union has allowed the company?' offer to expire, without providing a single counter wage proposal, and has once again chosen disruption and uncertainty by scheduling a work stoppage."
UFCW Local 7 president Kim Cordova (annual salary $202k) thinks this is the way to gain concessions from the company. It will likely work, although it would be a great sign for right to work advocates if Kroger fired all striking employees.
I don't feel sympathy for striking grocery store workers and will cross their picket line without a second thought.
I don't feel sympathy for striking grocery store workers and will cross their picket line without a second thought.
Much like the dockworkers strike... $39 to $60+ an hour, not a fan of unprofessional/uneducated service jobs extorting key services.
Every time the bottom increases their wages without the middle proportionally doing the same... we edge ever more into income redistribution.
buffalobo
02-04-2025, 10:29
"Much like the dockworkers strike... $39 to $60+ an hour, not a fan of unprofessional/uneducated service jobs extorting key services."
Doesn't sound too elitist.
If you're unarmed, you are a victim
buffalobo
02-04-2025, 10:40
"Every time the bottom increases their wages without the middle proportionally doing the same... we edge ever more into income redistribution."
Wouldn't the top say the same about the middle?
You think the bottom is getting your raise? Or they shouldn't get one unless you do?
If you're unarmed, you are a victim
Um, $30/hr at Costco? Hmmm......
Doesn't sound too far off to me, actually. I worked for Price Club (pre-Costco buy-out) in the early 90's and everyone was paid pretty well at that time. Paid better than other club stores, and highly competitive if not at/above par with well paid grocery chain workers in same/similar roles. I'd have to look for some old pay stubs and do the maths for wage/inflation/COL comparison in real time to see how close though.
.455_Hunter
02-04-2025, 12:43
I have over 25 years as a bachelor's degreed engineer and have yet to hit $60/hr. My starting civilian pay in 2002 after four-years active-duty Army was $24/hr, and I thought that was very fair. The Boulder McDonald's is now advertising close to $20/hr. Amazing...
"Every time the bottom increases their wages without the middle proportionally doing the same... we edge ever more into income redistribution."
Wouldn't the top say the same about the middle?
You think the bottom is getting your raise? Or they shouldn't get one unless you do?
If you're unarmed, you are a victim
Nice strawman, of sorts.
If you think the US would be a great place if everyone from McDonalds workers to doctors earn closer to the same wage, while Elon is worth a trillion, well....
What happens when you give massive income increases to the bottom denominator? Do they actually earn more?
Hell no. The services increase proportionally. Restaurants are so high because food costs and labor costs have dramatically increased. Inflation increases proportionally. Ultimately, they make the same value that they did, just with a larger number associated. Meanwhile, the middle earns less value. The top, proportionally, actually earns more. You slowly "disappear" the middle class. This isn't sky is falling, it's statistically been happening for a while (and yes, this only a part of the cause).
It used to be, "quote" American dream, a person could invest in themselves in either education or trade, work hard, and readily get into a career that made 4x, or 8x minimum wage. They could raise a family off a single income and buy a house in their 20's or 30's.
Now, it's increasingly uncommon to make 3x minimum wage no matter the education or trade. There are essentially no single income typical families that can buy a house in their 20s or 30s.
As this trend continues, where it is increasingly uncommon to make 2x, or even 1.5x minimum wage in Colorado, and more of the population transitions into apartments, and you "disappear" the middle class entirely, is that what you want to see? Everyone earn roughly the same wage regardless of effort or intelligence, and then have the ultra-wealthy on top?
[That is what has slowly been happening]
kidicarus13
02-04-2025, 13:22
"Every time the bottom increases their wages without the middle proportionally doing the same... we edge ever more into income redistribution."
Wouldn't the top say the same about the middle?
You think the bottom is getting your raise? Or they shouldn't get one unless you do?
If you're unarmed, you are a victim
Expecting more pay for more education, training, experience, etc = elitist ?!
From Wiki...
Wage compression?refers to the?empirical?regularity that wages for low-skilled workers and wages for high-skilled workers tend toward one another. As a result, the prevailing wage for a low-skilled worker exceeds the market-clearing wage, resulting in?unemployment?for low-skilled workers.
eddiememphis
02-04-2025, 14:20
The "value" of labor shows the amount of money you earn is directly proportional to the need for your service, your ability to perform it, and the difficulty of replacing you in that role.
The more valuable your skillset and the greater the demand for it, the higher your earning potential should be.
Unions use extortion to artificially inflate wages for people in lower skill, easily replaceable roles.
It continues until the unions price their members out of work by costing the companies too much to keep them employed. Look at U.S. automakers for an example.
buffalobo
02-04-2025, 15:15
"Expecting more pay for more education, training, experience, etc = elitist ?!"
No. Your statement is desirable both sides of the equation.
"Much like the dockworkers strike... $39 to $60+ an hour, not a fan of unprofessional/uneducated service jobs extorting key services."
What I quoted sounds elitist, equating Longshoreman to check out clerk or fast food worker.
If you're unarmed, you are a victim
buffalobo
02-04-2025, 15:32
Nice strawman, of sorts.
If you think the US would be a great place if everyone from McDonalds workers to doctors earn closer to the same wage, while Elon is worth a trillion, well....
What happens when you give massive income increases to the bottom denominator? Do they actually earn more?
Hell no. The services increase proportionally. Restaurants are so high because food costs and labor costs have dramatically increased. Inflation increases proportionally. Ultimately, they make the same value that they did, just with a larger number associated. Meanwhile, the middle earns less value. The top, proportionally, actually earns more. You slowly "disappear" the middle class. This isn't sky is falling, it's statistically been happening for a while (and yes, this only a part of the cause).
It used to be, "quote" American dream, a person could invest in themselves in either education or trade, work hard, and readily get into a career that made 4x, or 8x minimum wage. They could raise a family off a single income and buy a house in their 20's or 30's.
Now, it's increasingly uncommon to make 3x minimum wage no matter the education or trade. There are essentially no single income typical families that can buy a house in their 20s or 30s.
As this trend continues, where it is increasingly uncommon to make 2x, or even 1.5x minimum wage in Colorado, and more of the population transitions into apartments, and you "disappear" the middle class entirely, is that what you want to see? Everyone earn roughly the same wage regardless of effort or intelligence, and then have the ultra-wealthy on top?
[That is what has slowly been happening]5% is a "massive" increase?
If you're unarmed, you are a victim
buffalobo
02-04-2025, 15:47
The "value" of labor shows the amount of money you earn is directly proportional to the need for your service, your ability to perform it, and the difficulty of replacing you in that role.
The more valuable your skillset and the greater the demand for it, the higher your earning potential should be.
Unions use extortion to artificially inflate wages for people in lower skill, easily replaceable roles.
It continues until the unions price their members out of work by costing the companies too much to keep them employed. Look at U.S. automakers for an example.Everybody assumes if a worker belongs to a union they are low skilled or uneducated and easily replaced.
Plenty of trades out there where the workers union or not are neither low skilled or easily replaced.
If you're unarmed, you are a victim
buffalobo
02-04-2025, 16:05
I am not a proponent of unions, personally I think Kroger should get rid of the union and tough it out for the time it takes to rebuild the work force.
What I dislike is the implication that workers by nature of being in a union should be trashed on or derided.
I think unions have out lived their usefulness but I don't hold that against the workers. I also think unions could be useful again if they would toss bad leaders and quit protecting shitty workers.
If you're unarmed, you are a victim
King Soopers: "We will give managers and pharmacists a $4.50 an hour raise if they work through the strike! Everyone else might get a raise maybe, but they can keep working through the strike too!" LMAO. Safeway gonna be extra busy now.
The hilarious thing is that the Safeway/Albertsons contract with the local 7 mirrors King Soopers, but the union won’t strike against Safeway because it would be pointless due to their low sales and no financial impact.
Valid points lobo. FTR not accusing longshoreman of being unskilled or minimum wage... Accusing unions of critical infrastructure of extorting national interests to exceed justfiable raises. That dockworkers union is hellishly corrupt, on top of it, the union boss has indications of organized crime history. That wasn't a union negotiation, it was extortion. I'm also fine with Unions... When properly operated by good people.
hollohas
02-05-2025, 06:40
I find joy in crossing picket lines to support businesses being extorted.
Looks like I'll need some groceries from King Soopers tomorrow.
colorider
02-05-2025, 14:11
They want a raise because they work at the slowest pace possible without really giving a shit. The checkers work in slow motion and I am always having to bag my own groceries. I'd LOVE to see Kroeger fire all their asses.
Talked to some of the folks at my preferred KS today and they were quite content with the company's offer and disappointed in the strike vote. So much so they all said it's time for them to move on, all are long time employees and not happy with Local 7's leadership. They are putting in their two weeks notice today.
It’s a shame (shameful) that the union leadership wouldn’t even allow the members to vote on the contract offer. Instead they took them to a strike without a voice on the offer.
It’s a shame (shameful) that the union leadership wouldn’t even allow the members to vote on the contract offer. Instead they took them to a strike without a voice on the offer.
Most "service industry" unions don't even give a shit about the workers. Their administrators and organizers are professional activists who never worked in the industries they represent.
eddiememphis
02-06-2025, 17:28
UFCW Salaries
https://www.unionfacts.com/local/employees/23866/UFCW/7/
98258
ChadAmberg
02-06-2025, 19:13
I've stopped going to KS most of the time over the last couple years. Everyone who works there just always seems... miserable.
There's a handful of things I get that's only sold there, so I figured why not sign up for the online shopping thing and just get it delivered. Yeah those couple items aren't available at all for delivery so I let it lapse. Now I go like once every other month or so.
Safeway by me I enjoy going into. All the employees seem happy, they'll chat with me, help me find something, all the good things, so I don't mind paying that little more. And Walmart has been great for shopping too, all the workers there are pretty happy too.
StagLefty
02-07-2025, 06:00
I've stopped going to KS most of the time over the last couple years. Everyone who works there just always seems... miserable.
There's a handful of things I get that's only sold there, so I figured why not sign up for the online shopping thing and just get it delivered. Yeah those couple items aren't available at all for delivery so I let it lapse. Now I go like once every other month or so.
Safeway by me I enjoy going into. All the employees seem happy, they'll chat with me, help me find something, all the good things, so I don't mind paying that little more. And Walmart has been great for shopping too, all the workers there are pretty happy too.
One thing I've really enjoy at my new location is grocery shopping at Hannaford's. Every employee there always seems happy and more than willing to help you !!! The KS at 136th & Zuni was a trip I actually started to hate.
eddiememphis
02-07-2025, 11:29
King Doops is offering free delivery on $35 or more through March 4.
Nice idea, but I am too selective when it comes to produce and protein.
I can't allow some stranger to touch my meat.
I can't allow some stranger to touch my meat.
Depends on what she looks like and the price [Coffee].
Went to the local Soopers last night. It was not busy like it typically would be. Really nice shopping experience. Are people staying away to support the striking workers or are they afraid to cross the scary picket line? It was pretty easy to ignore the striking workers out front.
Maybe I'm getting old and the years just string together . . . but, didn't King Soopers strike not all that long ago??? Guess I'll be walking past the protesters again. Never been a fan of strikes. I'm guessing these people on strike would not like it very much if there was something they needed, but those workers went on strike. Furnace out? Sorry, HVAC guys are on strike again. Solidarity and all that, ya know.
I do a fair amount of work myself at the grocery store anyway nowadays. They pretty much all rely on self-checkout. Go get my own groceries, scan my own stuff, bag it, etc. I'm sure KS will cave somewhere along the line and then these people will come back to work and pick back up again--until they decide they want to strike again in a couple years.
2022 was the last one, it lasted around a week and a half. I have a Safeway the same distance as KS. Went there and really liked the store, equal prices on name brand & discounts with the club card. Works for me.
2022 was the last one, it lasted around a week and a half. I have a Safeway the same distance as KS. Went there and really liked the store, equal prices on name brand & discounts with the club card. Works for me.
Nearest Safeway to me (closer than any KS) is kind of a crapshow. Prices are generally higher and they hardly ever have more than one cashier . . . so the self-checkout is usually backed up. The people who ARE there don't seem very happy and the place just kind of feels run down.
There's another Safeway on Mineral & Broadway that's bigger and nicer. But a bit farther away and then you still have the pricing issues most of the time.
Maybe I'm getting old and the years just string together . . . but, didn't King Soopers strike not all that long ago??? Guess I'll be walking past the protesters again. Never been a fan of strikes. I'm guessing these people on strike would not like it very much if there was something they needed, but those workers went on strike. Furnace out? Sorry, HVAC guys are on strike again. Solidarity and all that, ya know.
I do a fair amount of work myself at the grocery store anyway nowadays. They pretty much all rely on self-checkout. Go get my own groceries, scan my own stuff, bag it, etc. I'm sure KS will cave somewhere along the line and then these people will come back to work and pick back up again--until they decide they want to strike again in a couple years.
Yes they went on strike last time their contract expired several years ago. This is a repeat.
Funny thing is that last strike they had to accept a contract lesser than King Soopers best and final contract offer prior to the strike. They ended up losing approx $18 million in accepting the lower strike contract. They learned about FAFO.
UFCW Salaries
https://www.unionfacts.com/local/employees/23866/UFCW/7/
98258
Damn near starvation wages.
i doubt that they actually embezzle that little.
In 1997? when Safeway was on strike, they paid $20 to put stuff on shelves. It was a great summer job during college. One of the managers asked me to stay on and be an assistant manager. I told him no and had to go back to Mines to finish my CE degree. In the month & few weeks I almost made too much for financial aid.
I go to the KS at the Castlerock outlet area. No picketers?
It's a great store and always busy. I wonder how they pick which ones the are going to strike at.
It’s a non-union store.
Only union stores are striking.
eddiememphis
02-15-2025, 19:28
I have driven past my local Kings many times and have not seen one face I recognize on the picket line.
The guys with signs taped to them look a lot like the guys in front of Home Depot every morning.
It’s a non-union store.
Only union stores are striking.
it sounds like a weak union then. I looked it up and 77 of 120 (statewide) are on strike.
I was in a union in Wyoming over 40 years ago, heavy industrial construction. They sucked!
eddiememphis
02-18-2025, 09:08
https://kdvr.com/news/local/king-soopers-strike-will-end-at-midnight-monday-negotiations-to-restart-says-union/
UFCW Local 7, the union representing 10,000 grocery workers on strike at King Soopers across Colorado, announced Monday night that it secured a return-to-work settlement for the striking workers.
According to the union, the settlement will allow the union to return to the bargaining table with Kroger, which owns King Soopers, while ensuring Kroger cannot implement any offer for at least 100 days and will not lock workers out during the return-to-work settlement.
The union left the bargaining table, but they reached an agreement to allow them to come back? What leverage did they gain by allowing their workers to strike?
It would seem that Kroger was sitting at the table the whole time. The union had a fit and ran around outside with a bunch of signs for a week. They then came back and said "see what we can do?"
https://kdvr.com/news/local/king-soopers-strike-will-end-at-midnight-monday-negotiations-to-restart-says-union/
UFCW Local 7, the union representing 10,000 grocery workers on strike at King Soopers across Colorado, announced Monday night that it secured a return-to-work settlement for the striking workers.
According to the union, the settlement will allow the union to return to the bargaining table with Kroger, which owns King Soopers, while ensuring Kroger cannot implement any offer for at least 100 days and will not lock workers out during the return-to-work settlement.
The union left the bargaining table, but they reached an agreement to allow them to come back? What leverage did they gain by allowing their workers to strike?
It would seem that Kroger was sitting at the table the whole time. The union had a fit and ran around outside with a bunch of signs for a week. They then came back and said "see what we can do?"
The union gained nothing. King Soopers is maintaining their final offer. The union workers were about to reach the point where they would not work enough hours to maintain their company health care for the next month. Losing health care and the threat of being locked out brought them back to the bargaining table. Plus the International was pressuring the local 7 to end the strike.
I was told that King Soopers was bussing in people to work during the strike, putting them up in hotels and paying them triple what the striking employees were making.
I was told that King Soopers was bussing in people to work during the strike, putting them up in hotels and paying them triple what the striking employees were making.
Not bussed in, flown in from around the country lol
colorider
02-19-2025, 12:11
One of the checkers on Sunday was a traveling strike worker. She travels around the USA working for stores where the employees are striking. REALLY interesting talking to her. She said she was in training a week before the strike, and has worked 12 hour days, 7 days a week since. She said she gets paid A LOT, and it is her income. She said " I do extremely well" and laughed. Really nice lady.
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