Safeway union ends strike as deal nears on new contract

Workers at dozens of Colorado Safeway and Albertsons stores ended their strike Saturday after the union representing them revealed a breakthrough in contract negotiations The United Food and Commercial Workers Local communicated on social media that it reached a tentative agreement on key contract provisions including higher wages improved dental and vision benefits a fully funded pension and protection against union work going to gig companies such as DoorDash Related Articles Step aside department stores the doctors want that big box Former lawyer buys The Bookies half-century-old Denver bookstore Distressed Aurora office complex sells at auction for M Colorado among states to count win in funds for electric carriage charging Owners dustup turns to legal duel at Little Bear Saloon in Evergreen In the post announcing the end of the strike the union described the tentative contract as all gains no concessions The contract is still subject to a ratification vote by the union members Those meetings are still being scheduled Meanwhile the union is calling for all members on strike to return to work by Monday Representatives for the union did not right now return requests for comment Saturday morning In a announcement Nicole Criner a spokesperson for Safeway s parent company Albertsons explained the company is pleased to have reached a fair and equitable agreement with the UFCW that will benefit our associates and allow us to continue to serve our customers in Colorado The strike began June with stores in three Front Range cities and the company s Denver distribution center The strike expanded over the following weeks to of the Safeway locations in the state The union had been negotiating with the grocery store chain for nine months without reaching an agreement before launching the strike Get more business news by signing up for our Business sector Now newsletter