Latest news with #KimC.Cordova
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
King Soopers files lawsuit against UFCW Local 7 union
DENVER (KDVR) — As thousands of King Soopers union members are on strike after failed negotiations, the grocery giant filed a lawsuit against the union on Friday. UFCW Local 7, the Colorado grocery union representing employees, and King Soopers met at least 10 times between October and January but never came to a deal, leading to more than 8,500 of the grocery chain's employees walking off the job. The union voted to approve the Unfair Labor Practice strike for the Denver metro area, which began Thursday. Workers at these Denver area grocery stores will be on strike The union said the strike could last up to two weeks. Three days in, King Soopers announced Friday that it has filed a lawsuit against UFCW Local 7. King Soopers claims the union's agenda 'prioritizes out-of-state special interests,' accusing the union of unlawfully requiring it to bargain with out-of-state labor unions, specifically in Washington and California, that do not represent its associates. 'Our associates work hard every day to serve their neighbors and families in Colorado. They deserve a union that puts them first, not one that prioritizes a strategy orchestrated by out-of-state special interests,' King Soopers President Joe Kelley said in a statement. 'We're committed to a fair contract that delivers real wage increases, affordable healthcare, and pension stability—just like we always have. But we won't be pressured by illegal actions that hurt our stores, our associates, or the communities that rely on us.' The UFCW Local 7 union said in a press release that the lawsuit is 'baseless' and 'frivolous,' and said its filing was an attempt to silence workers' voices and distract from the strike. The union 'vigorously denies' that it is forcing the grocery chain to bargain with anyone other than UFCW Local 7, and said King Soopers actually invites competitors to sit at the table for bargaining. 'It is particularly galling that King Soopers is making such false allegations given the Company's own track record of being caught lying about illegal coordination agreements with its competitor Safeway/Albertsons during the 2022 ULP strike by UFCW Local 7 workers,' union president Kim C. Cordova said in a statement. Everything you need to know about the strike at King Soopers The union said it believes the lawsuit prevents workers from reaching an equitable contract. King Soopers said its 'last, best and final offer' included: $4.50 hourly wage increase for top-rated associates over the life of their contract $180 million in additional wages for associates Pension stability Comprehensive, affordable healthcare benefits The union's president did not comment on the latest negotiations as of Friday. The union said the strike could last up to two weeks depending if they can reach a deal with the grocery chain. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
King Soopers files lawsuit against UFCW Local 7
(COLORADO) — King Soopers has filed a lawsuit accusing United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 union, which represents its employees, of forcing the supermarket chain to bargain with labor unions that are out of state. At the end of January, UFCW Local 7 said union King Soopers employees voted overwhelmingly to approve an Unfair Labor Practice strike, including 96% of workers with the Colorado Springs Retail Bargaining Unit and 98% of workers with the Colorado Springs Meat Bargaining Unit. Kings Soopers accuses UFCW Local 7 of unlawfully forcing the company to bargain with labor unions from Washington and California, to push an 'impermissible agenda' at the bargaining table, rather than negotiating in good faith for its Colorado members. 'Our associates work hard every day to serve their neighbors and families in Colorado. They deserve a union that puts them first, not one that prioritizes a strategy orchestrated by out-of-state special interests,' said Joe Kelley, President of King Soopers. 'We're committed to a fair contract that delivers real wage increases, affordable healthcare, and pension stability—just like we always have. But we won't be pressured by illegal actions that hurt our stores, our associates, or the communities that rely on us.' King Soopers said its proposed Last, Best, and Final Offer, which includes pay raises for associates, pension stability, and comprehensive and affordable healthcare benefits, was rejected as Local 7 is pushing for demands that are influenced by unions out of state. Local 7 said the lawsuit filed by King Soopers was baseless and frivolous, calling it an attempt to silence workers during the strike. Local 7 is confident it will defend against the lawsuit in court and it would not survive initial scrutiny by a court. Local 7 accuses King Soopers of using the lawsuit to distract from the Company's efforts to silence its workforce and prevent workers from reaching an equitable contract that addresses major issues like staffing, safety, and healthcare. The union denies any allegations it is forcing King Soopers to bargain with any local union other than Local 7 and said it will defend against any attempt to prevent the workers from securing a fair contract. President of UFCW Local 7 Kim C. Cordova said: 'It is particularly galling that King Soopers is making such false allegations given the Company's own track record of being caught lying about illegal coordination agreements with its competitor Safeway/Albertsons during the 2022 ULP strike by UFCW Local 7 workers.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
