Grocery workers in Denver are walking off the job today over store staffing and safety issues, marking the second strike in just three years.

This is the second contract in a row that workers at King Soopers have launched a major strike. Three years ago roughly 8,000 workers walked off the job for 10 days with the union raising the demand for a $6 an hour across the board wage increase.

Some of the key sticking points are staffing shortages, health care reserves, price gouging, and eliminating seniority-based scheduling protections.

The two-week labor stoppage has begun in Denver-area stores. Pueblo stores start will join on Friday. See the list of impacted stores and pharmacies.

King Soopers, a chain owned by Kroger, with 121 stores in Colorado and Wyoming, has been negotiating a new contract with the union since October.

On their second strike in three years, workers say Kroger-owned King Soopers engaged in unfair labor practices during contract negotiations.

Union members chant and wave signs during the first day of worker’s striking at King Soopers on E 14th Ave on February 6, 2025, in Denver. Expand to read more Seth McConnell | Denver Business Journal Listen to this article 6 min The grocery chain will stay open as more than 10,

King Soopers employees were up early Thursday morning to get on the picket line and go on strike after bringing up a series of issues they wanted addressed by the large grocery chain.