Latest news with #KimCordova
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Safeway, Albertsons employees vote to strike as King Soopers negotiations stagnate
DENVER (KDVR) — Another grocery worker strike is in the works after UFCW Local 7 workers at Safeway and Albertsons Companies voted overwhelmingly in favor of the action — some stores voting unanimously in favor of the strike. No strike date has been set, although workers at stores along the Front Range and across Colorado have authorized the union action. The union is alleging unfair labor practices, and says that Safeway and Albertsons is 'holding hands' with King Soopers to try and cut workers' healthcare benefits. Former head trader of Denver-based investing company pleads guilty to insider trading 'Ontop of the concessionary proposals at the negotiating table, Safeway and Albertsons have gone back on their agreements,' said UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova in a press release on Friday. The union says the stores are understaffed and that the company is backtracking on an agreement for retroactive pay and benefit increases, which the labor union cited as an unfair labor practice. Bargaining between the union and the company began months ago, but on Sunday, the union said the two grocery giants are working together despite a failed merger that the two companies had proposed. In May, Albertsons provided FOX31 with a statement about its ongoing negotiations with the union. 'At Albertsons Companies, we are committed to productive discussions with UFCW Local 7. We respect the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining and are negotiating in good faith to reach an agreement that is fair to our employees, good for our customers and allows our company to remain competitive,' the company stated. FOX31 reached out to Safeway and Albertsons for further comment after the strike votes confirmed the impending union action, but has not gotten a response. Earlier this year, workers at King Soopers went on strike for unfair labor practices. In a Facebook post on Sunday, the union noted that its negotiations with the company have not resulted in any new agreements, and the previous peaceful relations agreement that ended the strike in February will expire at midnight. The agreement's end was noted in a bargaining update posted to Facebook. 'More importantly, the Company is continuing to hold hands with Safeway/Albertsons to crush workers at both Safeway/Albertsons and King Soopers/City Market,' the union said in its post. 'These two grocery giants are colluding to ensure workers at both companies are left behind. These mega corporations are in the process of giving away over $9.5 billion to Wall Street fat cats, but are proposing low-cost contracts to workers in Colorado.' The union said it is pressuring both Safeway/Albertsons and King Soopers to address chronic understaffing, remove two-tier discrimination on vacation from the contract and address the night premium, which the union says has fallen below the rest of the Colorado job market. Union accuses King Soopers in lawsuit of violating agreement ending strike 'Safeway/Albertsons sat on the sidelines during the February King Soopers strike, but enough is enough,' the union wrote in its release published Sunday evening. 'If King Soopers and City Market and refusing to move because of Safeway and Albertsons, then workers at Safeway/Albertsons have no choice but to be a tag team partner with you and jump in to the fight!' The union replied to a comment on its Facebook page, asking if both camps of grocery store workers would be able to strike at the same time, clarifying that a strike of both groups of grocery store workers would be possible at the same time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Consumer Reports: King Soopers is over-charging an average of 18% on some items
DENVER (KDVR) — Undercover shoppers found multiple cases of grocery items that led to higher prices paid by shoppers in some Kroger and Kroger-owned stores. In March, April and May, undercover shoppers went to 26 Kroger and Kroger-owned stores across 14 states and the District of Columbia to investigate claims that the grocery giant put incorrect price tags on items. The investigation was conducted by Consumer Reports, The Guardian and the Food and Environment Reporting Network. 2 Colorado zoos among 10 best in US: Newsweek Readers' Choice 'The shoppers found expired sales labels that led to overcharges on more than 150 grocery items, including Cheerios cereal, Mucinex cold and flu medication, Nescafé instant coffee, boneless beef, salmon, and dog food,' Consumer Reports wrote. 'One-third of the expired sales tags were out of date by at least 10 days, and the prices of five of the products were expired by at least 90 days. The average overcharge we found was $1.70 per item, or 18.4 percent. Our findings suggest the typical Kroger shopper ends up paying far more for what they think are discounted items — all during a time of inflation and economic uncertainty.' A King Soopers spokesperson provided a statement on behalf of Kroger to FOX31 about the report, stating: 'The Consumer Reports allegations boil down to misinformation, reviewing a handful of discrete issues from billions of daily transactions. It in no way reflects the seriousness with which we take our transparent and affordable pricing.' UFCW Local 7, the union that represents thousands of Colorado grocery store workers, said the Consumer Reports investigation was launched after the union conducted its investigation of chronic understaffing in stores. The union claims the understaffing led to 'rampant over-charging and inaccuracy in prices paid at the register in Colorado grocery stores.' 'Consumer Reports has confirmed what workers have been telling King Soopers and City Market for months now – that chronic understaffing in grocery stores prevents the company from making sure the prices on the shelves match the price a customer is paying at the register. When Kroger dictates that workers' hours be cut in these stores, it is customers who pay the price,' said Kim Cordova, UFCW Local 7 President, in a union release. 'Now is the time for consumers to tell Kroger executives that the public does not want to pay for Kroger's understaffing problem.' Consumer Reports said that, according to complaints and shopper reports, King Soopers employees worked quickly to correct pricing errors that were shared, but that many other errors 'undoubtedly go unnoticed.' Denver metro grocery stores ranked among worst in nation 'In a typical week, Kroger asks us to hang thousands of new and updated tags throughout the store reflecting price changes on thousands of products. Yet because so few hours are scheduled to hang these tags, the work of hanging each week's tags almost never gets done before the next week's tags arrive,' said Joy Alexander, a scan coordinator at a Denver King Soopers, in the union's release on the report. The report found that stores where the undercover shoppers didn't find any or fewer price tag errors also had noticeably fewer staffing cuts and reduced working hours. In stores with significant numbers of price tag errors, the average number of employees was down by about 17 employees per store, with hours cut by 9.9% or about 2.7 hours. Stores with fewer errors had an average of 9.5 employees cut, and average hours reduced by 9.3% or about 2.4 hours per week. Consumer Reports said Colorado employees and union officials say the overcharging has created angry customers, 'with some taking out their frustrations on cashiers and other front-of-the-store employees.' However, the employees say a base-level push to correct expired discount tags was never conducted. 'They go: 'Just take care of the customer, deal with it, and we'll fix it later on.' And that never happens,' said Chris Lacey, a King Soopers service manager in Colorado, in Consumer Reports' article. The union said Kroger responded to the Consumer Reports story by announcing the hiring of about 15,000 workers but didn't specify if the hirings are for new positions or turnover. In its release, Kroger said it was 'seeking to hire new associates.' Kroger sent a press release to FOX31 on Thursday announcing a new store opening in Frederick, but the release did not discuss any hirings related to the opening. On its job posting site, Kroger listed several new positions throughout the week. Finance giant TIAA cutting dozens of Denver jobs, closing skyscraper office location Consumer reports said Colorado King Soopers stores failed price check tests performed by state regulators twice since January 2025. 'Indeed, a senior Kroger executive questioned 'why are tags not being done,' in a meeting with Colorado union representatives in January, according to minutes of that meeting,' Consumer Reports said. ''If we are not getting the job done, that is a different problem for us,' the Kroger executive said.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Union accuses King Soopers in lawsuit of violating agreement ending strike
DENVER (KDVR) — King Soopers and City Market have been accused of violating the agreement signed with UFCW Local 7 that ended the union's 12-day strike in February. The strike took place from Feb. 6 through Feb. 17. The agreement that ended the strike allowed the union to return to the bargaining table with Kroger, which owns King Soopers. The agreement also ensured for at least 100 days, Kroger cannot implement any offer, could not lock out workers during the return-to-work settlement, and the union would not take any strike actions. CEO of King Soopers parent company Kroger resigns amid personal conduct investigation The union had gone on strike after alleging unfair labor practices, with union leaders saying that the practices ranged from employee intimidation to failure to provide information on staffing to the union. The union said Thursday that the employer has violated the agreement they signed in February. 'We agreed to end the strike and return to work and have labor peace for 100 days. The employer's side of that agreement was that they would not implement any new terms without our agreement, lock-out workers, and would negotiate in good faith. They have failed in that commitment,' said Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, in the union's announcement of the lawsuit's filing. The union said Kroger has not considered the union's proposals and has given ultimatums 'that would expire in April – months prior to the 100 day stand down running out.' 'The Employer needs to address issues of staffing, safety, raises, benefits, and other topics. King Soopers has been acting in the same manner they did before our strike – a my way or the highway approach to negotiations,' said Cordova in the union's release. 'That is not a negotiation. That is an ultimatum – one of the many things they can't do during this good faith bargaining process.' Free on Your TV • New FOX31+ App for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Cordova noted that the 100-day stand-down agreement is about halfway over. The 100 days would conclude on May 28. 'The clock is ticking,' Cordova said. 'Indeed, they have and continue to take actions that drive us away from, instead of toward, a new contract. We need King Soopers & City Market to switch gears and begin to bargain in good faith and this lawsuit is about ensuring King Soopers is held accountable for failing to honor the agreement they made.' FOX31 has reached out to King Soopers and City Market for comment on the pending litigation. If comment is received, this article will be updated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Workers end strike at King Soopers grocery stores and both sides agree to resume bargaining
DENVER (AP) — More than 10,000 King Soopers grocery workers across the Denver area ended their 12-day strike late Monday after union leaders said they secured some basic protections for returning workers and agreed to resume bargaining with the Kroger-owned chain. Employees and management had hit a wall in contract negotiations over staffing and health care, but it was the Kroger-owned supermarket chain's allegedly unfair negotiating practices that pushed workers to go on strike at 77 stores in Denver and its suburbs earlier this month. Kim Cordova, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, said the union will return to negotiations with an agreement that Kroger can't implement any offer for at least 100 days and can't lock out workers out during that time. The return-to-work agreement protects all employees from losing their health care through April. Kroger also agreed that its Jan. 16 offer is no longer its 'last, best and final' one. 'We have taken a big step forward and ensured that Kroger knows that staffing is a key concern to workers and customers alike,' Cordova said Tuesday. 'We will go back to the bargaining table and continue our fight for a fair union contract for us, our customers and the communities we serve.' After their contract expired in mid-January, the union alleged King Soopers interrogated and surveilled its members, refused to provide information needed for contract negotiations, threatened workers with discipline for wearing items expressing union support, and insisted on using $8 million in retiree health benefit funds to cover pay increases. King Soopers has denied all of the allegations, saying it acted in full compliance with the law and its collective bargaining obligations. 'Our focus remains on reaching a fair agreement that honors their hard work while ensuring we continue to provide fresh, affordable groceries for the families who rely on us," Joe Kelley, president of King Soopers, said in a statement. 'We appreciate their dedication and look forward to productive discussions in the weeks ahead.' Union leaders said they removed all picket lines Monday night to allow for an orderly transition back to regular store operations. Stores with striking workers stayed open through the strike under a limited schedule. All locations planned to return to normal business hours by Thursday. Cordova said the recent strike was just the beginning of an effort to expand staffing in grocery stores nationwide. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
18-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Workers end strike at King Soopers grocery stores and both sides agree to resume bargaining
More than 10,000 King Soopers grocery workers across the Denver area ended their 12-day strike late Monday after union leaders said they secured some basic protections for returning workers and agreed to resume bargaining with the Kroger-owned chain. Employees and management had hit a wall in contract negotiations over staffing and health care, but it was the Kroger-owned supermarket chain's allegedly unfair negotiating practices that pushed workers to go on strike at 77 stores in Denver and its suburbs earlier this month. Kim Cordova, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, said the union will return to negotiations with an agreement that Kroger can't implement any offer for at least 100 days and can't lock out workers out during that time. The return-to-work agreement protects all employees from losing their health care through April. Kroger also agreed that its Jan. 16 offer is no longer its 'last, best and final' one. 'We have taken a big step forward and ensured that Kroger knows that staffing is a key concern to workers and customers alike,' Cordova said Tuesday. 'We will go back to the bargaining table and continue our fight for a fair union contract for us, our customers and the communities we serve.' After their contract expired in mid-January, the union alleged King Soopers interrogated and surveilled its members, refused to provide information needed for contract negotiations, threatened workers with discipline for wearing items expressing union support, and insisted on using $8 million in retiree health benefit funds to cover pay increases. King Soopers has denied all of the allegations, saying it acted in full compliance with the law and its collective bargaining obligations. 'Our focus remains on reaching a fair agreement that honors their hard work while ensuring we continue to provide fresh, affordable groceries for the families who rely on us," Joe Kelley, president of King Soopers, said in a statement. 'We appreciate their dedication and look forward to productive discussions in the weeks ahead.' Union leaders said they removed all picket lines Monday night to allow for an orderly transition back to regular store operations. Stores with striking workers stayed open through the strike under a limited schedule. All locations planned to return to normal business hours by Thursday. Cordova said the recent strike was just the beginning of an effort to expand staffing in grocery stores nationwide.
