Harvey Baker, Citizen Journalist | RMV NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice
Safeway employees in Fort Morgan join push for healthcare security and accountability in corporate dealings
Safeway employees in Fort Morgan are now part of an expanding labor walkout unfolding across Colorado, as union members demand greater transparency, long-term healthcare funding, and accountability from one of the nation’s largest grocery chains.
The ongoing strike, led by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7, began June 15 and now spans at least ten locations statewide. Cities impacted include Estes Park, Fountain, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Brighton, Grand Junction, Littleton, Lone Tree, a major distribution center in Denver, and most recently, Fort Morgan.
The Fort Morgan store was forced to scale back operations after the walkout began Sunday, June 22, with only an assistant manager and pharmacist on-site to maintain pharmacy services.
At the heart of the dispute is a disagreement over employee healthcare funding, retiree benefit protections, and wage adjustments. Union leaders allege that Safeway has proposed moving money from a retiree health fund to cover current shortfalls in employee coverage—a move they call a betrayal of workers who helped build the company.
“These are the people who kept stores running through a pandemic and beyond,” said UFCW Local 7 Retail Director Jim Hammons. “Now the company is asking them to sacrifice the future of their own retiree healthcare to fix a funding issue they didn’t create.”
Employees currently contribute $8.50 per week toward a health plan covering medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance for themselves and their families.
Both union and company financial analysts agree the fund could be depleted before the labor contract expires if additional support isn’t secured, potentially leading to benefit cuts or elimination of coverage.
Adding to tensions, the union claims Safeway reversed its initial agreement to apply wage increases retroactively, now choosing to implement them only going forward. “That’s not how bargaining is supposed to work,” Hammons added.
Safeway has issued statements to several Colorado media organizations. In a June 23 report by Denver7, the company said it remains committed to good-faith negotiations and rejected union allegations about unstable healthcare and unfair practices.
“Safeway in Colorado remains committed to productive discussions with UFCW Local 7, and we are disappointed the union has chosen to strike some of our stores in Colorado. … Our health benefits provide comprehensive coverage and are fully funded. … The accusations of unfair labor practices are without merit.”