Potential labor action looms across numerous Albertsons and Safeway outlets in multiple states, involving thousands of employees.
Grocery workers have summoned the might of their labor unions to wage battles against giants Albertsons and Kroger in multiple states, with over 100,000 workers teetering on the edge of simultaneous strikes.
Striking workers wielded placards reading "Don't Shop at Safeway" and "Striking for Fairness," picketing at two Denver-area Safeway locations on June 24. Accusations of unfair labor practices sparked these actions by UFCW Local 7 members in Colorado, following earlier walks-outs at Albertsons and Safeway stores in several cities on June 15.
Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Albertsons operates over 2,200 retail stores, including Safeway supermarkets. Negotiations for a fresh contract have been ongoing since December 2024, with UFCW Local 7 members having forsaken their posts at Kroger-owned stores in the Denver metro area after the old contract's expiration and failed negotiations. The two sides are yet to reach an accord.
In Colorado, striking workers have already hit nearly two dozen stores, including Aurora's Albertsons and additional Safeway stores in Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction.
Yellow-badged warriors of UFCW 324 and 770 in Southern California have also authorized strikes, affecting Albertsons, Kroger-owned Ralphs, Vons, and Pavilions stores, with bargaining sessions scheduled for June 25-27.
In Boise and Nampa, Idaho, UFCW Local 555 members have prepared to strike, charging Albertsons with attempting to strong-arm employees in negotiations. The union alleges Albertsons has threatened to dismiss an employee championing higher wages, believing he will refuse a lowball settlement.
Additionally, Albertsons and Smith's—a Kroger-owned chain in New Mexico—face potential strikes, backed by unfair labor practice charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board.
Puget Sound area workers represented by UFCW 3000 are voting this week on a new contract, after having authorized a strike on June 12.
Labor tensions between workers and the supermarket titans have reached critical mass. In this high-stakes game, the outcome could create the largest grocery strike in modern history, marked by widespread disruptions for both companies and customers this summer, their pinnacle season.
These strikes could compel stores to keep their doors open with management or temporary staff, escalating the companies' troubles and amplifying pressure on both parties. Stores known to be on strike or facing potential strikes include:
- Colorado: Over twenty stores have seen strikes, including Aurora's Albertsons and additional Safeways in Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction.
- California: Approaching 45,000 workers in Southern California, including Albertsons, Kroger-owned Ralphs, and Vons stores, are ready to strike, with bargaining sessions scheduled for June 25-27.
- Idaho: A potential unfair labor practice strike has been authorized by UFCW Local 555 members in Boise and Nampa, with no official strike date, and ongoing negotiations. The union, representing over 35,000 employees, claims Albertsons has threatened dismissal for workers advocating better wages.
- New Mexico: Unfair labor practice charges have been filed against Albertsons and Kroger-owned Smith's, and unionized workers have authorized strikes. The first strike could commence as early as June 29. The current contracts for Smith's expire on June 28.
- Washington: Employees along the Puget Sound area are voting this week on a proposed contract with Albertsons, Safeway, and Kroger-owned Fred Meyer stores, having authorized a strike on June 12. The current contract's short extension is due to wrap up on June 24.
In the thick of tense negotiations, extremes on both sides push for supremacy, leaving potential impacts still uncertain. A strike's success might force companies to address the demands of workers or suffer the consequences of public backlash and lost revenue.
- The ongoing labor disputes between UFCW and grocery giants Albertsons and Kroger have become a trending topic in the business industry, with finance analysts predicting the potential for the largest grocery strike in recent history.
- As retail sales peak during the summer, strikes at Safeway, Ralphs, Vons, and Pavilions stores in California and Albertsons stores in Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, and Washington could disrupt normal business operations and financially impact both companies and customers alike.
- The finance sector is closely monitoring the escalating business tension between labor unions and the grocery industry, with the outcome of these negotiations potentially influencing the overall trend in finance and retail for the remainder of the year.
