Colorado Grocery Workers Get Contract Extension

DENVER (AP) — Thousands of unionized grocery workers reported for their normal shifts Monday under contract extensions reached with major chains while labor negotiations continue.

Contracts for about 17,000 Safeway, King Soopers, and Albertsons workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 expired Saturday night without new agreements.

Safeway workers voted over the weekend to authorize a strike, but the company and union agreed Sunday to extend the contract on a day-to-day basis until May 30 while negotiations continue.

King Soopers also agreed to extend contracts through May 30.

Talks also were continuing with Albertsons, the union said.

Meanwhile Safeway, Albertsons and City Market were set to start contract negotiations this week with Western Slope workers whose contracts expire in coming weeks.

King Soopers and Safeway have agreed that one chain can lock out its employees if workers at the other chain go on strike, so a strike at Safeway could potentially affect King Soopers workers.