King Soopers Workers Reject Latest Contract Offer

King Soopers and Safeway have been accepting applications for temporary workers on the Front Range, in case of a strike. Western Slope negotiations begin later this month.

Contract talks have been contentious before. Federal mediators have been involved in talks between the union and at least one grocery chain in the last two major rounds of talks dating to 1999.

In 1996, King Soopers and Safeway workers agreed to a contract after a 44-day strike.

Last week, UFCW Local 7 filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging the three chains are violating labor law by not disclosing certain terms of their agreement to team up in the bargaining. Union leaders are particularly interested in whether the chains have agreed to lock out all employees if union members at just one chain vote to strike. The chains have said they routinely coordinate on bargaining.

The union also claims King Soopers' offer of $10.25 an hour for potential temporary workers violates federal law because the wage exceeds pay for many union workers.

King Soopers spokeswoman Diane Mulligan has said the proposed pay is less than the average wage for regular employees.