Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is Colorado's Morning News. Marty lens Ginaganda, Good morning.
Union workers of Denver King Supers voting to approove of
strike last night following a long term of negotiations with
the grosser over union workers' rights. This comes after King
Supers presented what they continue to say is their last,
best and final offer.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
United Food and Commercial Workers Local seven claiming the offer
not good enough. Joining us now on the KWA Common
Spirit Health Hotline to talk more about it is Local
seven President Kim Cordova.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Kim, thank you so much for your time this morning.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Good morning, Thank you for having me on.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
We spoke with King Super's president Joe Kelly earlier this
morning as well. We'll have some of the audio cuts
from him some of the questions he has for you
and your union members. But just from jump, tell us
a little bit about your overall reaction to the first
part of authorizing this strike.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Yeah, I'm not surprised. I mean, you know, the workers
we had standing in the room only. We held six
big union meetings vote meetings for our membership, and in
some of these units they voted over one hundred percent
to strike. So in the greater Denver area it's over
ninety six percent of the workers voted to authorize the strike.
(01:04):
We're voting Colorado Springs and Pueblo today and tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
So I want to understand this because Joe was really
kept saying why won't you let the members vote? And
he says, associates want an opportunity you vote. So can
you clear up about who's voting and who's not voting.
Where's this misunderstanding or where's this I don't know, misleading?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Maybe yeah, it's misleading from mister Kelly. First of all,
he's so out of touch with his workers that he
cares a little about him. He's never showed up to negotiations.
He hasn't been there to hear all of their concerns
about the chronic understaffing in his stores. He doesn't understand
what the workers are very upset about. He understands, he
(01:44):
just doesn't want to listen to them. And when he's
talking about members want to vote on the offer, when
one hundred percent in some of these units that they
are authorizing a strike, so the members have voted, their
final offer is an unlawful offer. We're not voting an
offer that's illegal, and so their behavior is simply that
(02:06):
they've been violating the National Labor Relations Act. Therefore we
voted to protests their unfair labor practices, and so their
members are his associates associates to vote it overwhelmingly to
authorize a strike.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Kim. Here's one of the statements from Joe earlier today, and.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
From what I'm hearing, the associates at least want the
opportunity to vote and to vote as their right.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
So I guess what I'm confused about.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
With a little bit of clarification from you, if you can,
you said it's illegal for them to vote on the offer.
If I heard that correctly, So they haven't voted on
set offer, but they have voted on the strike, correct
So it's.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Not illegal for them to vote. The offer itself is illegal.
It's riddled with there's multiple permissive subjects in their offer
that makes the entire offer illegal the workers. So that's
what he has to understand. If the workers wanted that offer,
they didn't want to strike, they would have voted not
(03:07):
to strike. The workers make all of the decisions here
their own associates. Like I said, up to one hundred
percent of them have voted to authorize a strike. He's
so out of touch with the associates that work in
his own stores. Like I said, he hasn't showed up
to one negotiations and we've been negotiating since.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
October, So can I apologize? Just as another clarification. They
have not and they will not vote on the offer.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Correct, No, not on the offer that's on the table.
They're voted to authorize a strike KIM workers.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
I'm trying to do a deep dive in daity here
is I'm looking at that it looks like King Sooper's
workers are paid a little better than the national average
here in Colorado, or at least compared to their competitors.
Is that what I'm seeing that they are compensated a
little better than their peers.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Actually, what you don't see is that data is that
King Soupers doesn't offer full time. They make it hard
to achieve full time. So they also, you know, they're wages.
It takes you seven thousand, eight hundred hours to get
to that top page, so they have a unreasonable amount
(04:19):
of hours to make it all the way to the top,
which is you know, we haven't got to economics on
our side, but something we want to address. So you know,
when you're part time and it takes you forever years
to get to the full time. That's why they have
a high turnover rate in these stores. And their offer
that they have on the table will make it almost
(04:39):
impossible and we'll see a part time workforce working there.
And he is correct where he said he has workers
with thirty forty fifty years because these used to be
really good career jobs and Kroger has changed their business model.
They want gig workers, part time workers in those stores
where we have a lot of people that are invested
(05:01):
in these stores. They have we have a pension and
union healthcare, you know, and union representation. But Kroger's definitely changed,
you know, the way that they run these stores for
the worst.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Tim lots to cover here. Here was another comment we
had from Joe earlier.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
We're hiring temporary workers just in case, but I want
to be clear, these are not replacement workers. He's the
temporary workers to help us keep the stores open, and
we have playing a support around Colorado as well as
other states to help us do so.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Your reaction to the hiring of temporary workers, is that
going to almost take away from the strike opportunities or
could that make the strike last even longer?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Well, I mean it's interesting that he can hire people
now to you know, to run his stores, but while
without a strike, they're not hiring staffing and they're understaffing
in these stores. It's horrible. It's part of why the
workers voted to strike. The company refuses to listen that
they are tired of making excuses for empty sheff, long
(06:03):
lines at the register, higher prices, for less customer service.
But he can hire temporary workers right now when he
won't hire workers to take care of their customers now
and help the associates that actually work for the company,
and in terms of it making the strike longer, we
hope that the customers support us in this strike so
(06:24):
that they can send a message to King Soupers that
while they're paying higher prices than ever, that they want
the service that they're paying for.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Kim, in wrapping up with you, are you concerned about
losing some worker members to other places or getting out
which you lose maybe the effectiveness of having a large
skial use in an union. And then on second that
is the door open, is there a fig leaf that
they can at least offer to get you all back
to the table to discuss.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Well, I think what Joe Kelly said today was that
he wasn't going to move. And you know, they just
gave their shareholders seven point five billion. I saw a
report where Kroker's charging the most for eggs. They're not
making any commitments to lower prices in the stores or
to take care of their associates, but they're taking care
(07:11):
of their wealthy executives and their friends on Wall Street.
And so I think, you know, unfortunately the president that
didn't care enough, you know, their division president to show
up that negotiation. When he's saying that they're not going
to move, then they're going to have a labor dispute.
Their workers are going to walk out. We're not concerned
about losing the membership that way, because they cannot permanently
(07:35):
replace them. Well, they are losing staff. They are losing
people because of their horrible staffing crisis in the store.
The employees can the company cannot sustain a workforce because
they refuse to properly staff those stores.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
United Food and Commercials.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Oh, I'm sorry, Ken, We're currently out of time, but
I just wanted to follow up and say, please let
us know when the weekend votes take place for Colorado
Springs and Pueblo.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
We'll have you back on talk a little bit more about.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
It, all right, Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Have a good day, IM as well.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
That's United Food and Commercial Workers Local seven President Kim
Cordova as well.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Here was President Joe Kelly earlier this morning.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
Well, last thing anybody wants is a strike. Not our people,
not our communities. But we will keep our stores open
as we did back in twenty two in the event
of a workstop, as we have that responsibility for our
communities to remain open.
It is Colorado's Morning News. Marty lens Ginaganda, Good morning.
Union workers of Denver King Supers voting to approove of
strike last night following a long term of negotiations with
the grosser over union workers' rights. This comes after King
Supers presented what they continue to say is their last,
best and final offer.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
United Food and Commercial Workers Local seven claiming the offer
not good enough. Joining us now on the KWA Common
Spirit Health Hotline to talk more about it is Local
seven President Kim Cordova.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Kim, thank you so much for your time this morning.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Good morning, Thank you for having me on.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
We spoke with King Super's president Joe Kelly earlier this
morning as well. We'll have some of the audio cuts
from him some of the questions he has for you
and your union members. But just from jump, tell us
a little bit about your overall reaction to the first
part of authorizing this strike.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Yeah, I'm not surprised. I mean, you know, the workers
we had standing in the room only. We held six
big union meetings vote meetings for our membership, and in
some of these units they voted over one hundred percent
to strike. So in the greater Denver area it's over
ninety six percent of the workers voted to authorize the strike.
(01:04):
We're voting Colorado Springs and Pueblo today and tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
So I want to understand this because Joe was really
kept saying why won't you let the members vote? And
he says, associates want an opportunity you vote. So can
you clear up about who's voting and who's not voting.
Where's this misunderstanding or where's this I don't know, misleading?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Maybe yeah, it's misleading from mister Kelly. First of all,
he's so out of touch with his workers that he
cares a little about him. He's never showed up to negotiations.
He hasn't been there to hear all of their concerns
about the chronic understaffing in his stores. He doesn't understand
what the workers are very upset about. He understands, he
(01:44):
just doesn't want to listen to them. And when he's
talking about members want to vote on the offer, when
one hundred percent in some of these units that they
are authorizing a strike, so the members have voted, their
final offer is an unlawful offer. We're not voting an
offer that's illegal, and so their behavior is simply that
(02:06):
they've been violating the National Labor Relations Act. Therefore we
voted to protests their unfair labor practices, and so their
members are his associates associates to vote it overwhelmingly to
authorize a strike.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Kim. Here's one of the statements from Joe earlier today, and.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
From what I'm hearing, the associates at least want the
opportunity to vote and to vote as their right.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
So I guess what I'm confused about.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
With a little bit of clarification from you, if you can,
you said it's illegal for them to vote on the offer.
If I heard that correctly, So they haven't voted on
set offer, but they have voted on the strike, correct
So it's.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Not illegal for them to vote. The offer itself is illegal.
It's riddled with there's multiple permissive subjects in their offer
that makes the entire offer illegal the workers. So that's
what he has to understand. If the workers wanted that offer,
they didn't want to strike, they would have voted not
(03:07):
to strike. The workers make all of the decisions here
their own associates. Like I said, up to one hundred
percent of them have voted to authorize a strike. He's
so out of touch with the associates that work in
his own stores. Like I said, he hasn't showed up
to one negotiations and we've been negotiating since.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
October, So can I apologize? Just as another clarification. They
have not and they will not vote on the offer.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Correct, No, not on the offer that's on the table.
They're voted to authorize a strike KIM workers.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
I'm trying to do a deep dive in daity here
is I'm looking at that it looks like King Sooper's
workers are paid a little better than the national average
here in Colorado, or at least compared to their competitors.
Is that what I'm seeing that they are compensated a
little better than their peers.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Actually, what you don't see is that data is that
King Soupers doesn't offer full time. They make it hard
to achieve full time. So they also, you know, they're wages.
It takes you seven thousand, eight hundred hours to get
to that top page, so they have a unreasonable amount
(04:19):
of hours to make it all the way to the top,
which is you know, we haven't got to economics on
our side, but something we want to address. So you know,
when you're part time and it takes you forever years
to get to the full time. That's why they have
a high turnover rate in these stores. And their offer
that they have on the table will make it almost
(04:39):
impossible and we'll see a part time workforce working there.
And he is correct where he said he has workers
with thirty forty fifty years because these used to be
really good career jobs and Kroger has changed their business model.
They want gig workers, part time workers in those stores
where we have a lot of people that are invested
(05:01):
in these stores. They have we have a pension and
union healthcare, you know, and union representation. But Kroger's definitely changed,
you know, the way that they run these stores for
the worst.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Tim lots to cover here. Here was another comment we
had from Joe earlier.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
We're hiring temporary workers just in case, but I want
to be clear, these are not replacement workers. He's the
temporary workers to help us keep the stores open, and
we have playing a support around Colorado as well as
other states to help us do so.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Your reaction to the hiring of temporary workers, is that
going to almost take away from the strike opportunities or
could that make the strike last even longer?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Well, I mean it's interesting that he can hire people
now to you know, to run his stores, but while
without a strike, they're not hiring staffing and they're understaffing
in these stores. It's horrible. It's part of why the
workers voted to strike. The company refuses to listen that
they are tired of making excuses for empty sheff, long
(06:03):
lines at the register, higher prices, for less customer service.
But he can hire temporary workers right now when he
won't hire workers to take care of their customers now
and help the associates that actually work for the company,
and in terms of it making the strike longer, we
hope that the customers support us in this strike so
(06:24):
that they can send a message to King Soupers that
while they're paying higher prices than ever, that they want
the service that they're paying for.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Kim, in wrapping up with you, are you concerned about
losing some worker members to other places or getting out
which you lose maybe the effectiveness of having a large
skial use in an union. And then on second that
is the door open, is there a fig leaf that
they can at least offer to get you all back
to the table to discuss.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Well, I think what Joe Kelly said today was that
he wasn't going to move. And you know, they just
gave their shareholders seven point five billion. I saw a
report where Kroker's charging the most for eggs. They're not
making any commitments to lower prices in the stores or
to take care of their associates, but they're taking care
(07:11):
of their wealthy executives and their friends on Wall Street.
And so I think, you know, unfortunately the president that
didn't care enough, you know, their division president to show
up that negotiation. When he's saying that they're not going
to move, then they're going to have a labor dispute.
Their workers are going to walk out. We're not concerned
about losing the membership that way, because they cannot permanently
(07:35):
replace them. Well, they are losing staff. They are losing
people because of their horrible staffing crisis in the store.
The employees can the company cannot sustain a workforce because
they refuse to properly staff those stores.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
United Food and Commercials.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Oh, I'm sorry, Ken, We're currently out of time, but
I just wanted to follow up and say, please let
us know when the weekend votes take place for Colorado
Springs and Pueblo.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
We'll have you back on talk a little bit more about.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
It, all right, Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Have a good day, IM as well.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
That's United Food and Commercial Workers Local seven President Kim
Cordova as well.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Here was President Joe Kelly earlier this morning.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
Well, last thing anybody wants is a strike. Not our people,
not our communities. But we will keep our stores open
as we did back in twenty two in the event
of a workstop, as we have that responsibility for our
communities to remain open.
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