Union workers file suit against King Soopers and Safeway over alleged actions during 2022 strike

DENVER (KDVR) — A class action lawsuit was recently filed by local union workers against the Kroger Company and Albertsons, the owners of King Soopers and Safeway, respectively.

The lawsuit is in response to certain illegal “no-poach agreements” the grocers allegedly entered into during a 2022 strike against King Soopers and City Market by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union in Denver.

A Kroger Company spokesperson released a statement about the lawsuit and denied that there were any no-poach agreements between the two companies.

The spokesperson also said that data shows that only between 1 and 2.5% of Kroger employees come from or move to Albertsons stores.

The accusations

According to the union, about 8,000 workers walked out at nearly 80 King Soopers stores during the 2022 strike.

A 2024 lawsuit filed by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser alleged that during this strike, King Soopers owner Kroger entered into an agreement with Albertsons, which owns Safeway, not to hire any King Soopers workers.

Safeway also reportedly agreed not to solicit any of King Soopers’ pharmacy customers.

The deal was reportedly discussed in an email between company executives ahead of the strike.

The class action seeks lost wages “and other economic benefits for workers” that could have been secured if the collective agreements did not exist.