King Soopers workers strike over unfair labor practices

In early February 2025, thousands of grocery store workers in Colorado began a two-week strike against King Soopers, a grocery chain owned by Kroger. The strike involved approximately 10,000 workers from 77 stores across the Denver metro area, as well as from Boulder and Louisville. Workers demanded fair wages and improved working conditions, citing allegations of unfair labor practices by the company during contract negotiations. The union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, had contracted negotiations with King Soopers for a new contract that had broken down after three months of discussions without reaching an agreement. The workforce dissatisfaction stemmed from complaints regarding staffing levels, with workers expressing concerns about insufficient staff to meet business demands. King Soopers management maintained that they had increased staffing levels significantly since the pandemic but were accused of failing to respond to staffing proposals made by the union. This frustration among workers culminated in an overwhelming vote authorizing a strike, and picket lines began forming early on the strike's first day. Alongside the strike, King Soopers responded by adjusting the operational hours for affected stores, limiting them from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., while some locations notably remained open and fully operational as they were not affected by the strike. The company also filed a lawsuit against the union, alleging that they had employed illegal tactics during the negotiations, further compounding the tense relationship between the two parties. The union, on the other hand, believed King Soopers had engaged in illegal interrogation and surveillance of union members and failed to provide essential data for negotiations. As customers faced the impact of the strike, many chose to avoid shopping at King Soopers stores out of solidarity with workers, resulting in a substantial drop in customer foot traffic. While some patrons continued to shop at the stores, expressing support for the employees, others expressed their intention to cross picket lines. This striking action echoed larger labor movements seen across the country, indicating a broader trend of union actions as workers demand better working conditions and fairer pay.