Colorado

Colorado grocery workers could strike against King Soopers, again

Published

1 year ago

January 10, 2025

Colorado grocery workers could strike against King Soopers, again

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DENVER—After securing a lucrative contract for grocery workers three years ago, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 is back at the bargaining table with King Soopers, an affiliate of grocery giant Safeway/Albertsons, and negotiations are stalling, again.

Last week, UFCW Local 7 units at King Soopers stores in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Grand Junction and Northern Colorado agreed to a two week contract extension to continue bargaining. The King Soopers/City Market contract negotiations will resume January 15 and 16.

The extended contract will now expire on January 24 at midnight. Strike authorization votes could be held in the coming weeks.

“We’ve been negotiating with King Soopers City Market representatives for about three months, and we’ve made little to no progress with the company,” said Kim Cordova, president of the UFCW Local 7.

“The company has so much cash they have announced a plan to spend roughly $2 billion on stock buybacks. Instead of spending this money on its stock, the company should be investing in stores and workers,” the union said.

Late last year, in a blow to corporate interests and monopoly power, U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson in Portland, Ore., and King County Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson in Seattle, Wash., killed the Kroger-Albertson’s grocery chain mega-merger.

The resistance to the merger was spearheaded by the Stop the Merger campaign, a coalition of progressive UFCW locals, with little to no assistance from the International. Local 7 was part of the core of this coalition, along with Local 3000, Local 770 and Local 324. The other locals who were part of the coalition also will begin bargaining in late January and early February.

Even with excitement among UFCW members with the blocked merger, grocery workers are tired and have been overworked, Cordova said. “They have been really disregarded through this whole attempted merger that failed.” Immediately after the dissolution of the merger agreement, both Kroger and Albertsons announced billions of dollars of stock buybacks.

“It was a cynical move to line the pockets of CEOs and key shareholders rather than invest the money locally in sadder stores with fresher food,” Todd Crosby, who helped coordinate the Stop The Merger campaign, told People’s World. “This is money that could be invested in the workers who provided the service and safe food.”

Major issues continue to be low-staffing, unsafe working conditions in the stores, hours and wages for lower-tiered workers, a lack of a reasonable path to full-time employment, job protection from the use of artificial intelligence, and unreasonable quotas and shafting on overtime.

Says more help needed

“I would like to see more help in my department because I can’t continue to do the job of three clerks. We need help, we need workers!” a produce manager at the Denver King Soopers store said.

Roman V., who has worked at King Soopers for over eight years, said winning adequate staffing was the most important demand for him in this contract.

“It is so crazily understaffed there are hardly enough people there to do the job daily and people get in trouble constantly because of job performance. I don’t see how they can get in trouble for job performance when performing the job of several people,” he said.

“I transferred into the store two years ago, and we’ve been shorthanded the whole time that I’ve been here,” said grocery worker Irene. “We’re not meeting the standards because we don’t have enough people to do the required work. Since we’re not meeting the standards, they are taking away hours. This doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Throughout bargaining, Safeway/Albertsons has refused to provide the union with basic information and data concerning staffing models—the main grievance workers and their union have with the company. And, as Local 7 points out, Safeway/Albertsons is doing well, but they are still cutting hours.

“Despite the company’s claims over the past two years that they need to merge with Kroger to do well, their sales numbers actually surpassed Kroger’s. This occurred even though Safeway/Albertsons gave away $4 billion in cash to wealthy shareholders back in early 2023. Adding insult to injury, the companies would be doing far better if they adequately staffed our stores,” the union said.

Chris Herrera, a 40-year UFCW member and bargaining committee member, said that so far in negotiations, Safeway/Albertsons has been unwilling to make the necessary improvements to staffing levels, angering the workers and prompting many to want to authorize a strike.

The strike three years ago was one of the largest strikes in Colorado history, with 8,000 workers walking out, and it marked the first time grocery workers have gone on strike in the state since the late 1990s.

Last time around, King Soopers hired scabs to work at higher wages during the strike. In response, the union filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against the company. When the strike concluded, King Soopers had to fire all the scabs and was forced to promote more than 500 part-time workers to full-time by the end of that year.

It’s unclear whether or not King Soopers will try the same union-busting tactic this time and workers aren’t holding their breath that the company will bargain in good faith without breaking labor law. Like in 2022, Local 7 has filed a number of charges with the National Labor Relations Board concerning ULPs.

“The company seems set on continuing its pattern of illegal and unfair labor practices, including a continuing refusal and failure to provide information, a cover-up of a 2022 agreement with Kroger that undercut negotiating leverage, and implementing new policies without notifying or bargaining with the Union,” Local 7 said in a bargaining update last week.

“We remain focused on addressing staffing as a way to improve take-home pay and improve stores as places to work and shop. The company’s cutting of staff in Colorado is backfiring.”

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Colorado

Battle with the Blue Jackets | Colorado Avalanche

Published

10 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Battle with the Blue Jackets | Colorado Avalanche

Columbus Blue Jackets (18-18-7) @ Colorado Avalanche (32-4-7)

2 p.m. MT | Ball Arena | Watch: Altitude, Altitude+ | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM)

After a homestand-opening win on Thursday, the Avalanche hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets for Next Gen Night on Saturday. This is the second and final regular-season matchup between the teams in 2025-26, as the Avalanche defeated the Blue Jackets 4-1 in Columbus on October 16th.

A Big Night at Ball

Josh Manson recorded the first two-goal and four-point game of his career, along with a Gordie Howe hat trick, as the Avalanche defeated the Ottawa Senators 8-2 at Ball Arena on Thursday. Manson was one of five Avs to post at least three points on Thursday, alongside Nathan MacKinnon (1g/3a), Ross Colton (3a), Brock Nelson (2g/1a) and Cale Makar (1g/2a). Additionally, Brent Burns added a goal for Colorado while Scott Wedgewood stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced in net for the Avs. With the victory, the Avalanche extended its home win streak to 16 games.

At 10:11 of the first period, Manson opened the scoring with his third goal of the season via a shot from the point through traffic. MacKinnon doubled Colorado’s lead at 17:14 of the first period with his 36th goal of the season via a shot from the slot set up by Necas. The Avs took a 3-0 lead at 2:35 of the second period when Makar scored his 13th tally of the season via a left-circle shot after receiving a drop pass from MacKinnon. At 5:08 of the middle frame, Shane Pinto put the Senators on the board. The Senators momentarily made it 3-2 with 13:41 remaining in the second period, but the goal was disallowed after the Avs successfully challenged for offside. After the disallowed tally, the clock was reset to 13:48.

Necas gave the Avs a 4-1 lead on the power play at 11:46 of the second period with his 20th goal of the season via a sharp-angle one-timer from the bottom of the left circle set up by MacKinnon. At 12:03 of the middle frame, Burns made it 5-1 with his sixth goal of the season via a right-point shot through traffic. Nelson gave the Avs a 6-1 lead on a five-on-three power play at 14:23 of the second period with his 20th goal of the season via a right-circle one-timer set up by MacKinnon’s cross-ice feed. The Avalanche took a 7-1 lead at 16:48 of the middle frame when Manson scored his second goal of the game and fourth of the season via a one-timer from the point set up by Jack Drury’s feed. At 18:04 of the middle frame, Nelson scored his second tally of the game and 21st of the season via a right-circle one-timer set up by Ilya Solovyov’s feed from the left point. Brady Tkachuk made it 8-2 with a shorthanded goal from the doorstep at 7:03 of the third period.

Leading the Way

Nate the Great

MacKinnon leads the NHL in goals (36) and points (78) while ranking tied for third in assists (42).

All Hail Cale

Makar leads NHL defensemen in points (51) and assists (38) while ranking third in goals by blueliners (13). Among all NHL skaters, he’s seventh in assists.

Marty Party

Necas is seventh in the NHL in points (55) and tied for ninth in assists (35).

Series History

In 70 previous regular-season games against the Blue Jackets, the Avalanche has a record of 45-19-1-5.

Defeat on the Road

The Blue Jackets lost 5-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday. In the first period, Columbus took a 2-0 lead after goals from Boone Jenner at 8:24 and Kent Johnson at 10:41 before Reilly Smith put Vegas on the board at 12:20. The Golden Knights took a 4-2 lead after second-period goals from Smith at 5:19, Jack Eichel at 13:07 and Mark Stone on the power play at 18:44. Kirill Marchenko scored for the Blue Jackets to make it 4-3 at 14:28 of the third period before Brett Howden gave the Golden Knights a 5-3 lead at 16:14 of the final frame.

Contributors Against Columbus

MacKinnon has posted 26 points (7g/19a) in 22 games against the Blue Jackets.

In nine contests against Columbus, Makar has registered 17 points (6g/11a).

Necas has recorded 21 points (4g/17a) in 26 games against the Blue Jackets.

Producing Offense for Ohio’s Team

Zach Werenski leads the Blue Jackets in points (46) and assists (30) while ranking tied for first in goals (16).

Marchenko is tied for the team lead in goals (16) while ranking second in points (35) and tied for second in assists (19).

Dmitri Voronkov is third on the Blue Jackets in points (28) and goals (15).

A Numbers Game

30

Colorado’s 30 five-on-five goals since December 19th (10 games) are the most in the NHL during that span.

63

The Avalanche’s 63 second-period goals lead the NHL.

3.94

Colorado’s 3.94 goals per game since December 1st lead the NHL during that span.

Quote That Left a Mark

“It was fun. I don’t think he’s ever seen that before. He’s seen me fight. He’s maybe seen me score. But I don’t think he’s ever seen—actually, nobody’s ever seen that before out of me in the NHL. So, it was a first for everybody, including myself.”

— Josh Manson on recording a Gordie Howe hat trick with his father, former NHLer Dave Manson, in attendance

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Colorado

Colorado man heads to Washington, D.C., to gain support for Marshall Fire survivors

Published

22 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Colorado man heads to Washington, D.C., to gain support for Marshall Fire survivors

Four years after the fire, recovery is still incomplete for some Marshall Fire victims. A Colorado man is joining wildfire survivors from across the country to push lawmakers to make changes and provide support for survivors still rebuilding.

Recently, a historic $640 million settlement was reached with Xcel Energy, but the Coloradans who lost everything in the Marshall Fire might not be receiving all the money that they’re owed. Some settlements could be taxed, while others were paid in full.

Benjamin Carter

“I was the fourth responding fire engine to the Marshall Fire. By the end of the night, I was triaging homes in the neighborhood that I grew up in,” said former firefighter Benjamin Carter. “I’ve seen how much the community’s hurting, and I just wanted to do whatever I could to help.”

Carter is now fighting for those who lost their homes, including his mother. He’s working with an organization called After the Fire, joining up with wildfire survivors in Oregon, Hawaii and California. This week, Carter flew to Washington, D.C., to speak with lawmakers about how they can help survivors rebuild.

In 2024, lawmakers passed the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which exempted wildfire survivors from taxes on related settlements, among other tax relief. But the bill expired last week, shortly after Xcel agreed to settle over the Marshall Fire.

“If the people don’t have to pay taxes on the damages, then it helps them rebuild,” Carter explained. “Some of the smaller attorneys still haven’t received payment, so all those people will be subject to those taxes; all the attorney fees, and what the actual settlements end up being. And, of what they’re actually getting at the end of the day, that’s been a huge challenge.”

Congress has already proposed extension options. But Carter hopes that by sharing their stories, legislators will act before survivors lose anything else.

“With a lot going on in Washington and everything, the representatives don’t always know about all the issues. And so, we want to educate them on this issue and hopefully gain their support,” Carter said.

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Colorado

Boebert takes on Trump over Colorado water

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Boebert takes on Trump over Colorado water

Congress failed Thursday to override President Donald Trump’s veto of a Colorado water project that has been in the works for over 60 years. It’s one of two back-to-back vetoes, the first of his second term. But Colorado Republican 4th Congressional District U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert — known for her fierce MAGA loyalties — still […]

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