Kowalski's Workers Vote To Strike Amid Contract Dispute

MINNEAPOLIS — More than 600 employees at six Kowalski’s Markets across the Twin Cities metro voted this week to strike after months without a contract, their union announced Tuesday.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663, which represents the employees, said the strike is set to take place Aug. 4-6 at the Hennepin Avenue, Lyndale Avenue, Parkview, Eagan, Eden Prairie and Excelsior locations.

“On Monday, our coworkers stood together against company intimidation and demonstrated our power as a union and voted to authorize a strike,” the union bargaining committee said in a prepared statement. “Kowalski’s has engaged in unfair labor practices meant to stop us from exercising our rights despite our tireless efforts to serve customers every day.”

Employees have been working without a contract since March 5, according to the union, which said it is seeking higher wages and to maintain worker-driven healthcare, and that it is open to meeting with Kowalski’s leadership before Aug. 4.

Retail specialists make $13.25 to $20.30 per hour at Kowalski’s, and full-time food handlers and pharmacy workers make $15.45 to $26.83 hourly, according to the Star Tribune.

"Despite accusations to the contrary, we have been and will continue to bargain in good faith with the union. UFCW 663 leadership is misleading our employees with both false information and intimidation tactics," Kowalski’s Chief Operating Officer Mike Oase told the Tribune.

The grocer filed an unfair labor practices charge against the union in June, alleging bad faith bargaining, according to the newspaper. The union said it has also filed charges, for bargaining in bad faith and intimidation.