DENVER—Unionized workers at Safeway’s meat warehouse in Denver have voted to authorize a strike if a new labor contract isn’t reached by the time their existing one expires May 9.
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 says the grocery chain hasn’t relented on proposed cuts in pension benefits and a wage freeze for two-thirds of workers. The warehouse contract would cover 31 employees.
Safeway spokeswoman Kris Staaf didn’t comment directly on the proposals but says the company hopes to reach a mutually agreeable contract with all employees.
Local 7 says thousands of other Safeway workers are to vote May 8 and 9 on whether to authorize a strike.
The union also is negotiating new contracts for workers at Colorado’s King Soopers and Albertsons grocery chains.
Safeway and King Soopers are preparing to accept applications in the coming days for a total of about 11,000 temporary workers in case employees decide to walk off the job, but representatives of the union and the chains say they hope to reach contracts without a strike.
