WEEK OF FEBRUARY 13, 2025
VOLUME 37| ISSUE 7
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King Soopers takes steps to handle strike Grocer hires temp workers to keep stores open BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN
ty member writing, “I prefer the express lane because funding could help build roads faster, and access could help with traffic,” while another individual argued, “No express lane. Need 3+ free lanes.” There was also some confusion about the proposed intersection on Dahlia Street, with one resident calling it dangerous and confusing. There was also a suggestion to add an aux lane between Vasquez Boulevard and Quebec Street. Despite some criticism, community members appeared to be fond of an added left turn on 56th Avenue from I-270 Eastbound exit.
As day one of a planned twoweek walkout began, about a dozen King Soopers employees were up before dawn on Thursday, pacing in front of their store in Centennial. Some walked the perimeter on the sidewalks as cars passed by. All carried white signs with red lettering asking customers to not patronize their employer. Their union representative with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 forbade them to speak to a reporter, even as one employee questioned why not? Why aren’t they allowed to tell the people why they are outside the store instead of inside? At a Safeway parking lot across from a King Soopers on Thursday, union officials held a news conference and said the workers at the two Pueblo stores would join the strike starting Friday. Local 7 President Kim Cordova said she spoke for the workers, who feared repercussions by the employer. Intimidation is part of the union’s multiple unfair labor practice claims against the Kroger-owned chain. “King Soopers has some big problems. I mean when you have 96 to 100% of the workers vote to strike, there’s real issues,” Cordova said. “And here we are for the second time in back-to-back bargaining cycles. Here we are with another unfair labor practice dispute against King Soopers.” More than 10,000 King Soopers employees in the Front Range are involved, which is a few thousand more than three years ago when King Soopers walked out in January 2022. More contracts have expired. They’re protesting unfair labor practices, which allege surveilling and disrupting discussions between workers and union reps. A “last best and final offer” from the company was rejected in mid-January.
SEE FEEDBACK, P4
SEE STRIKE, P8
Community members write their suggestions for I-270 improvements on sticky notes at Eagle Pointe Recreation Center on Feb. 1.
LONDON LYLE
• Vestas to lay off 200 employees •27J Schools moves online-only Dec. 1
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BUSINESS LOCAL
CDOT receives community feedback on I-270 improvements BY LONDON LYLE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
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LOCAL OBITUARIES LEGALS CLASSIFIED
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The number one issue that emerged from a community listening session on the Interstate 270 corridor was congestion, which has increasingly become a safety concern due to limited shoulder space. The lack of room along the corridor hinders drivers’ ability to maneuver, especially in the case of crashes, according to Colorado Department of Transportation spokesperson Stacia Stellars. To gather public input on its plans to improve I-270, CDOT hosted two in-person open houses at the Eagle Pointe Rec-
reation Center in Commerce City, along with two virtual events. I-270 was first built in the 1960s to create a travel path between Interstate 70 and industrial areas in Commerce City and the Stapleton airport. In the 90s, it was expanded from Quebec Street to connect to Interstate 25. Today, it remains the only interstate in Colorado that has never received an upgrade, despite being utilized by over 100,000 vehicles each day. Twenty of the bridges along the corridor are in poor condition and in need of repairs. CDOT hopes to have a finalized construction plan by the fall of 2026,
BRIEFS: PAGE 5 | OBITUARIES: PAGE 6 | LEGALS: PAGE 12
and they will begin construction soon after. CDOT unveiled numerous potential designs for the community to look at during the open house events and allowed for community members to share their thoughts on sticky notes. One community member wrote, “I would like to see the project completed as soon as possible! And (for construction) to last less than five years.” Another individual wrote, “Freight traffic access should be prioritized for the betterment of all traffic.” Folks were at odds with one another over the necessity of the proposed express lane in one of the designs, with one communi-
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