Colorado Safeway Workers End Strike After Tentative Contract Deal

Grocery workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 in Colorado have reached a tentative agreement with Safeway and its parent company, Albertsons, ending a strike that lasted over three weeks and impacted around 46 to 50 stores across the state. The agreement includes wage increases, fully funded healthcare and pension benefits, protection against outsourcing work to gig companies, expanded vacation cash-out policies, and the termination of temporary replacement workers, with the union calling it an 'all gains, no concessions' deal. Union members are expected to return to work by Monday, July 7, though the contract still requires ratification in upcoming union meetings. The strike began in mid-June following nine months of unsuccessful negotiations, spreading widely from initial locations to a majority of Safeway stores in Colorado. The union also secured provisions for healthcare support for workers who did not meet required hours during the strike and guarantees for returning workers to retain their positions. Both Safeway and the union have yet to comment further pending the ratification process.