Denver Grocers Begin Recruiting, Slash Prices in Face of Looming Strike
The possibility of a strike has driven Denver grocers to begin looking for replacement workers and discounting prices to grab what sales they can in case business is interrupted, according to published reports.
According to published reports, workers of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7 are expected complete voting next week on whether to accept contracts offered to them by Kroger-owned King Soopers and Safeway or to go on strike.
The union and grocers have been negotiating a new five-year contract since April, but have not yet come to an agreement on issues such as pay increases, health care and pension funding.
King Soopers plans to begin advertising Saturday for replacement workers in the event of a work stoppage, while Safeway officials have not as yet revealed any plans for recruiting.
And while Safeway said last week that it was slashing prices permanently by as much as 30 percent on items across the store, it told Denver news sources that the move was unrelated to the potential strike. Instead, the grocer characterized the price cuts as part of a strategy to attract more customers at a time when they’re becoming more discriminating with their buying dollars.
According to published reports, workers of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7 are expected complete voting next week on whether to accept contracts offered to them by Kroger-owned King Soopers and Safeway or to go on strike.
The union and grocers have been negotiating a new five-year contract since April, but have not yet come to an agreement on issues such as pay increases, health care and pension funding.
King Soopers plans to begin advertising Saturday for replacement workers in the event of a work stoppage, while Safeway officials have not as yet revealed any plans for recruiting.
And while Safeway said last week that it was slashing prices permanently by as much as 30 percent on items across the store, it told Denver news sources that the move was unrelated to the potential strike. Instead, the grocer characterized the price cuts as part of a strategy to attract more customers at a time when they’re becoming more discriminating with their buying dollars.