(The Center Square) – After nearly two weeks of striking, King Soopers and its workers’ union announced an end to the strike at midnight Monday.
The return-to-work settlement will allow negotiations to continue, while ending worker disruptions at the King Soopers stores. The Colorado-based grocery store is one of the largest employers in the state. Since the strike began Feb. 6, union members at more than 70 stores, many of them in the Denver area, joined the picket lines.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Local Union No. 7 initiated the strike of more than 10,000 unionized workers, alleging unfair labor practices.
Over the past few days, King Soopers, owned by the Kroger Co., had formally requested that the union enter into an agreement to “ensure stability for associates, customers and the communities” as negotiations for fair wages continue.
The deal, which was announced by both the union and business Monday evening, will end all picket lines and allow for the stores to return to their normal operations.
Now the union and King Soopers will return to the bargaining table and have agreed to 100 days of “labor peace” to try to reach a more permanent contract agreement.
“We remain committed to securing a long-term contract that supports our associates, benefits our customers and strengthens the communities we so proudly serve,” said Joe Kelley, president of King Soopers and City Market.
Both sides declared the settlement a win.
“We have taken a big step forward and ensured that Kroger knows that staffing is a key concern to workers and customers alike. We will go back to the bargaining table and continue our fight for a fair union contract for us, our customers and the communities we serve,” said UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova. “We won’t stop until we win better staffing and better stores for grocery store workers and customers.”
The return-to-work settlement includes the following:
• A return to the bargaining table, with an agreement that Kroger cannot implement any offer for at least 100 days and will not lock workers out during this time.
• A return-to-work agreement that provides a guarantee that no worker will lose their healthcare for April 2025 because of the strike.
• An agreement by King Soopers that its “last, best and final offer” is negotiable.
King Soopers locations will resume normal business hours starting on Wednesday, when pharmacies will also reopen at their usual times to serve customers.
“Our associates are more than just employees — they are the heart of King Soopers, and we recognize the challenges they have faced,” said Kelley. “Securing this agreement was about restoring certainty, not just for our business, but for the people who make it possible.”
