Safeway, workers agree to more talks
Safeway’s Colorado Springs union grocery workers overwhelmingly rejected the company’s latest contract offer Monday and have agreed to extend their contract until July 18 while negotiations with the company continue, said Kris Staaf, Safeway’s director of public affairs in Denver.
The previous contract expired Friday. Safeway and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 will resume negotiations the week of July 13, Staaf said.
Staaf called the company’s latest contract offer a comprehensive package that includes periodic wage increases for employees, pension funding above and beyond what is currently paid in the plan and enhanced health and welfare benefits.
Union workers rejected Safeway’s proposal, Laura Chapin, union spokeswoman said, because it calls for cuts in pension provisions and health care benefits while Safeway stores are highly profitable.
King Soopers union members have been working without a contract since May 30, and the union’s contract with Albertson’s expired May 9.
“Our workers hope is they will come back with a fair deal soon – fair for workers and fair for consumers – so that everybody can keep working,” said Chapin.
High winds peeled back a section of roofing on the South Tour of the El Paso County Courthouse Friday, June 26, 2009. KEVIN KRECK, THE GAZETTE Photo by KEVIN KRECK, THE GAZETTE