Colorado Grocery Workers Launch Strike: Safeway, Albertsons Employees in Southern Colorado Lead Labor Action

Colorado grocery store workers are taking a stand for better working conditions as employees at Safeway and Albertsons locations in Estes Park, Fountain, and Pueblo, along with workers at a Denver distribution center, prepare to begin strike actions Sunday morning. The move comes after nine months of unsuccessful contract negotiations, marking the first such walkout by Safeway workers in Colorado since 1996.

The labor action, organized by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, will initially impact Southern Colorado communities before potentially expanding across the state. Unlike February's widespread King Soopers strike, this walkout takes a measured approach to minimize disruption to Colorado shoppers while highlighting workers' concerns.

Impact on Colorado Communities

Several Front Range communities could soon see expanded strike actions, including:

• Metro Denver area stores
• Mountain community locations (Conifer, Evergreen, Idaho Springs)
• Resort town stores (Vail, Steamboat Springs)
• Additional locations in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, and Longmont

"It's too bad that things have come to this point with Safeway/Albertsons, but the ongoing unfair labor practices, including bad faith bargaining, as well as surveilling and threatening workers, have given us no choice but to strike," said Monique Trujillo, a Safeway worker in Fountain.

Key Worker Demands

Colorado grocery workers are fighting for:

• Improved staffing levels to better serve local communities
• Livable wages for Colorado families
• Protection of health and pension benefits

The UFCW Local 7, which represents 23,000 members across Colorado and Wyoming, plans a strategic expansion of the strike in the coming days. This approach aims to give both shoppers and the company time to understand workers' concerns while maintaining essential grocery services for Colorado communities.

Historical Context

This marks a significant moment for Colorado's grocery workers, as it represents the first Safeway worker strike over unfair labor practices in 27 years. The last major grocery strike in Colorado occurred earlier this year when approximately 10,000 King Soopers and City Market workers walked off the job for 12 days in February.

Colorado families are advised to stay informed about potential expansions of the strike to additional locations as union members at stores in other communities prepare for strike-authorization votes in the coming week.

This article contains AI-generated content and reflects opinion only. Readers are encouraged to verify all information independently before drawing conclusions or making decisions.