(DENVER, COLORADO) - During the 11-day Strike that took place at 79 King Soopers Stores during February, Union Workers raised serious concerns about King Sooper’s behavior that were reflected in the Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) alleged by the workers.

The Strike was a hardship to all parties - the Union and Workers, the employer, and the shoppers, and clearly, King Soopers wanted the Strike to end.

King Soopers and the Union reached an agreement that ended the Strike and both sides committed to return to bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.

The Union agreed it would not take any more Strike actions for 100 days and the employer agreed it would not unilaterally implement any changes in the contract.

But in a subsequent lawsuit, the Union asserts King Soopers & City Market have and continue to violate the agreement they signed at the end of the Strike.

“We agreed to end the Strike and return to work and have labor peace for (100) days,” United Food & Commerical Workers (UFCW) Local 7 President Kim Cordova said. “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.”

The practical problems resulting from these violations range from the employer not even giving consideration for the Unions’ proposals, to putting forth ultimatums that would expire in April - months prior to the 100-day stand down running out.

Added Cordova: “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. That is not a negotiation. That is an ultimatum - one of the many things they can’t do during this good faith bargaining process. The clock is ticking. We are now about halfway through our (100)-day stand-down agreement and the employer has done very little to move things along. Indeed, they have and continue to take actions that drive us away from, instead of toward, a new contract. We need King Soopers and 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.”

Local 7, the largest Private-Sector Union in Colorado, is affiliated with UFCW - which represents more than 1.3 million Workers in the United States and Canada.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: UFCW Local 7 Files Lawsuit Against King Soopers & City Market for Violating the Agreement that Ended the Strike — UFCW Local 7

Photo Courtesy Of UFCW Local 7’s Facebook Page.