Indiana Contract Fight Rages On — Essential Voice Strike Ready Edition #8
After 8,000 Kroger workers in UFCW Local 700 voted down their contract by 74% on May 31, they’re amping up the fight for a fair contract. Plus, 25,000 Washington grocery workers reach a Tentative Agreement and Safeway workers strike in Colorado.
Indiana Contract Fight Rages On
Indiana workers are fighting hard for a strong contract after voting down Kroger’s last offer on May 31, 2025. In the following weeks, workers got involved and got activated.
Members are wearing stickers and buttons that read “Kroger Workers United for a Strong Contract” and “We’re Worth More Than $0.25!”. They’ve been taking pictures and sharing them on social media, both on their personal pages and in Facebook groups.
Workers have also been sharing car signs that read out their main contract demands: Livable wages, fair staffing, and better healthcare. They leave the car signs in their rear windows while their cars are parked in the lot, so both coworkers and customers alike can hear their message.
Finally, members have formed a group called “O.U.R. Local 700” and sent a formal request to their local union president, Tracy Bartak, to hold a town hall meeting open to all members of UFCW Local 700. Members are fighting for a chance to express their bargaining demands and their frustration with the last contract, before a new tentative agreement is reached.
By holding regular group meetings on Zoom and in person, members have been able to make plans in a way that feels fair and transparent.
Workers have also made plans to have a rank-and-file union presence in every store covered by the contract. On one of their regular Zoom meetings, they met to map the stores covered by the contract, identifying which stores didn’t have a presence and who could help build one there.
Teamsters Local 135, which represents more than 10,000 Teamsters in beverage, dry goods, dairy, bakery and more across Indiana, published a statement of solidarity with the Kroger workers.
“If a strike becomes necessary, Teamsters Local 135 members are prepared to honor UFCW picket lines,” the local union said in a press release. “Kroger workers deserve respect and a contract that reflects the value they bring to their communities every single day.”
25,000 Washington Grocery Workers Reach Tentative Agreement
Over 25,000 grocery store workers in Washington state reached a tentative agreement between UFCW Local 3000 and Safeway (Albertsons), Fred Meyer (Kroger), QFC (Kroger), Town & Country Markets, Metropolitan Market and other independent grocery stores.
Details of the tentative agreement have not been announced yet, but members can expect to hear more information in the coming days, directly from UFCW Local 3000.
Voting dates and times have been announced by the local, to be held from June 25 through 27, 2025 in various locations across Washington state.
Members organized for months to fight for a fair contract. Thousands of members got involved in Contract Action Team trainings, practice pickets, and store actions to tell the Big Grocers that workers are united for better wages, better staffing, and better stores.
Safeway Workers Strike in Colorado
Safeway workers at select locations in Colorado walked out on Sunday, June 15, in an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike against the Albertsons-owned employer.
Members of UFCW Local 7 in Estes Park, Fountain, and Pueblo, as well as the Denver Distribution Center, began their strike at 6 AM Sunday. More workers joined them Monday, June 16 in Castle Rock and Tuesday, June 17, walking out at stores in Grand Junction.
Bargaining has resumed as of Wednesday, June 18 as members take strike power back to the bargaining table to win a strong contract.
“Earlier this week, we offered the Company a clear path to withdraw its concessionary proposals and instead fully fund Healthcare benefits. The Company has refused,” UFCW Local 7 said in a press release. “It has also failed to address the critical understaffing issue in Safeway/Albertsons stores, not to mention continuing to offer wage increases far below competitors here in Colorado and Wyoming.”
Safeway workers in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont, and Loveland have also voted to authorize ULP strikes, with between 95% and up to 100% of workers voting YES.
Thomas Graves, a Safeway worker and rank-and-file member of UFCW Local 7, produced an original strike song to support his union siblings on the picket line. Check it out here.
