Holding Local 7 Accountable for Stalling Negotiations

At King Soopers/City Market, we value transparency, trust, and progress. These values drive our commitment to bargaining in good faith to reach an agreement that benefits you and your family, while keeping groceries affordable for our customers. Unfortunately, UFCW Local 7’s actions have left us no choice but to take legal action and file an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.

Union Stall Tactics: Delays Without Progress
The union’s actions at the table are slowing negotiations and creating unnecessary uncertainty for you and your family:

Promising, but Not Delivering
We shared a comprehensive offer with the union on December 4th. On Monday, December 16th the union rejected our offer without providing a counteroffer and they continue to stall by failing to provide wage, healthcare or pension proposals or their promised staffing proposal. After nine scheduled bargaining sessions, Local 7 has had ample time to prepare and present. Such delay suggests a lack of preparation or unwillingness to find solutions.

Focus on Outside Agendas
Local 7 has stated they are coordinating bargaining with out of state locals which suggests their focus is not solely on Colorado associates. You deserve a bargaining representative that is focused on getting you a fair and timely contract.

Strike Talk Instead of Solutions
On Tuesday, December 17^th the union began weaving strike talk into comments made across the table and posting strike-related content on social media. We believe taking this action before sharing fundamental wage, healthcare and pension proposals escalates tension and creates unnecessary stress for associates while there is still time to reach an agreement before expiration.

Why Stall Tactics Erode Trust
Trust is a necessary part of the negotiations process and ensures that both sides approach negotiations earnestly, sharing proposals and counterproposals with the intention of reaching an agreement. When one party stalls, or uses tactics that delay progress, labor law provides much needed accountability through the filing of an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.

Broken Promises: The union promised a staffing proposal on November 4, 2024, but has yet to deliver it, making excuses instead of doing what they promised.

Distraction from Colorado: Coordinating with out-of-state unions suggests that Local 7’s focus is not solely on Colorado associates, and they are not on bargaining in good faith for the associates who pay their salaries.

Unnecessary Stress: The union’s use of strike rhetoric before sharing their wage, healthcare, and pension proposals shows no appreciation for the uncertainty and potential financial cost a strike causes for our associates, our stores and our customers.

Disruptions Don’t Create Solutions – That’s What Bargaining is For
Here’s how a potential work stoppage might affect you:

• Lost Wages: Associates could lose income, directly impacting their families during an already stressful time.
• Disruption to Benefits: A prolonged work stoppage could create uncertainty around healthcare and other benefit coverage for you and your family.
• Customer Trust: This type of disruption strains relationships with the customers who rely on your hard work and dedication. To avoid the conflict, customers may choose to shop at our competitors, some non-union, which would be bad for the business and our associates.

Disruptions don’t solve problems—they only create uncertainty for our associates, our stores, and our customers.

What We’re Asking of the Union
We remain committed to good faith bargaining, and we’re ready to negotiate. This has been demonstrated by our comprehensive proposal. It’s time for the union to take the same approach.

We urge the Local 7 to:

• Present their wage, healthcare, pension and promised staffing proposals.
• Focus on solutions that benefit Colorado associates and customers.
• Abandon stall tactics and engage in meaningful, productive negotiations.

Our Commitment to You
We understand that this process may feel uncertain, but we want you to know that we are here to support you. Our modified comprehensive offer includes improvements based on associate feedback.

While our priority remains reaching a fair agreement for you and your family, we are fully prepared to defend our position before the National Labor Relations Board, if necessary. We would much rather reach an agreement before contract expiration that is good for you, good for our stores, and good for our customers.

Let’s focus on progress, not delays. Together, we can move forward.

For more information, speak with your store leader.