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DENVER (KDVR) – Workers at King Soopers have ratified what the union called a “leading contract” with the grocer after months of contentious negotiations and a 10-day strike.
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 called the three-year deal “the largest wage increase ever by a UFCW local for grocery store workers.” The union said it was making sure essential workers are “respected and protected in the workplace and paid the wages they deserve”.
Unionized workers received and voted on the contract on Monday. According to the union, here’s what the deal includes:
- First-year salary increases for long-time employees
- wage increases of more than $5 an hour for some workers
- better health care and protected retirement benefits
- stricter workplace safety measures to protect employees and customers
- new pathways to full-time employment opportunities for King Soopers and City Market workers
More than 8,000 workers at 78 Denver metro stores went on strike Jan. 12 with the intention of negotiating an “industry-leading contract.” The strike ended on January 21.
UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova released this statement on behalf of the union:
“From the beginning of this process, we promised our members that we would get the best contract possible. We are delighted that our members voted overwhelmingly to ratify this industry-leading contract which will ensure that King Soopers will respect and protect essential workers and pay them fairly.
“Getting here was tough. All credit goes to the bargaining committee and the workers who made their voices heard by bargaining, uniting on the picket line or sharing their stories with the media. This fight has always been about them, and now they have a contract they deserve and can be proud of.
“This would not have been possible without the support of our allies across Colorado and across the country. To those who stood with our members, graced the picket line and stood in solidarity, we thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Kim Cordova, President of UFCW Local 7
FOX31 has reached out to representatives for King Soopers for comment.
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