Union Ratifies Three-Year Contract With King Soopers

DENVER, CO — After a 10-day-long strike, UFCW Local 7 members voted Monday to ratify a new three-year contract with King Soopers.

The new contract — which was made public to union members Monday — includes improved healthcare, stronger safety measures, protected pension benefits for members and a significant wage increase, according to union officials. Some workers will receive increases in excess of $5 hourly.

More than 8,000 workers across 78 King Soopers locations began their strike on Jan. 12 after the union failed to reach an agreement with the supermarket chain on a new contract. Negotiations between the union and King Soopers began on Jan. 14, though it took several days for any progress to be made.

King Soopers requested a restraining order against the picketers on Jan. 19. The Denver District Court partially granted the request, acknowledging concerns of violence and harassment coming from some picketers.

Two days later, on Jan. 21, the union and King Soopers came to an agreement on a new contract, concluding 10 days of protests over unsafe working conditions and low pay.

"I am grateful for the work that each of you do to support each other and our communities," Joe Kelley, president of King Soopers and City Markets said in a statement issued Jan. 21. "Over the past few days our family has been through a lot but it is time for us to come together again and stand united as we head into the future and work toward becoming the market leader again."

The new, ratified contract marks "the most significant wage increase ever secured by a UFCW local for grocery workers," the union said in a statement Monday.

"From the beginning of this process, we promised our members that we would procure the very best contract we could," Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, said in a statement. "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."