DENVER — King Soopers and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 (UFCW) announced early Friday morning they have reached a tentative agreement to end the 10-day strike.
The worker's strike will end immediately and workers can return to work Friday, UFCW said in a release.
“After months of negotiations and after our members walked out on strike, we have reached a tentative agreement with King Soopers/City Market that addresses the Company’s unfair labor practices and ensures that our members will receive the respect, pay, and protection they warrant," said Kim Cordova, President of UFCW Local 7. "This fight will always be about the workers. I could not be prouder of our members who put it all on the line to have their voices heard."
"We are pleased that this agreement allows us to put more money in our associates’ paychecks and secures healthcare and pension plans,” said Joe Kelley, president of King Soopers and City Market. “We look forward to welcoming back our associates and customers.”
The final details of the contract will be shared with union members in the coming days, following ratification votes by the union beginning Monday, Jan. 24, UFCW 7 said in their statement.
“Once they ratify it, it’s a simple vote. And once that’s ratified, they have a new collective bargaining agreement. And they’re going forward on those premises. As I understand it they are already in the works to get the striking employees back to work," said 9NEWS legal analyst Whitney Traylor.
He added that it is highly unlikely the deal will fall through.
UFCW 7 represents approximately 17,000 King Soopers/City Market employees in Colorado and Wyoming. Members in Boulder and Denver went on strike last Wednesday after alleged unfair labor practices.
King Soopers and UFCW 7 agreed Thursday to resume negotiations.
9NEWS spoke Thursday with Kelley and Cordova in separate interviews (below).
As for what will happen to the temporary employees hired during the strike, Traylor doesn't know but he says those who participated in the strike are guaranteed their jobs back, since it was a strike over alleged unfair labor practices.
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