Safeway workers in Colorado have officially ended their two-week strike after reaching a tentative agreement with the grocery chain and its parent company, Albertsons. The breakthrough came after a full day of negotiations on Friday, July 5, with union leaders confirming the deal early Saturday via a Facebook post.
The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 announced that the proposed contract includes fully funded healthcare and pension benefits, strong wage increases, and other critical provisions. While the strike is over, the agreement still needs to be ratified by union members, with a vote date yet to be determined.
Striking Safeway Workers Protested on July 4, Demanding Fair Pay and Benefits
Even during Independence Day celebrations, Safeway employees continued their demonstrations. At the Safeway on Corona Street in Denver, around 20 workers gathered with signs to protest, urging customers to shop elsewhere. The persistence of the picketers emphasized their commitment to achieving fair labor terms. Their efforts sent a clear message to the public and to Safeway management that the issues being raised could not be ignored—even on a national holiday.
Safeway Strike Ends as Colorado Workers Secure Tentative Deal with Boosted Wages and BenefitsThe walkout, which initially began with just six stores and one distribution center in Denver, eventually spread to 43 locations and a distribution hub. The escalation reflected the increasing frustration among workers over what the union described as unfair labor practices. Key demands included resolving chronic understaffing and securing fully funded health and pension benefits. Negotiations had stalled for months, with the prior contract having expired back in January.
Breakthrough Deal Reached After Marathon July 4 Talks at Downtown Denver Hotel
The pivotal negotiation session took place on July 4 at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Denver. The union’s social media updates confirmed that discussions lasted well into the night, culminating in the tentative deal the following morning. UFCW Local 7 had initially limited the scope of the strike to allow time for public awareness and minimize hardship on consumers and workers but expanded it as talks dragged on without progress.
Alongside negotiations with Safeway, UFCW Local 7 was also in talks with Kroger-owned King Soopers and City Market. On Thursday, just a day before the Safeway breakthrough, the union reached a separate tentative deal with Kroger after 46 hours of discussions. That agreement also centered on healthcare and pension benefits. With Safeway and King Soopers being the two largest grocery chains in Colorado—excluding Walmart—the union’s success in both cases marks a major win for workers advocating for improved labor conditions in the state’s retail sector.
