Why is King Soopers going on strike? Colorado Girl Scouts search for new location for cookie sales as employees go on strike

As about 10,000 King Soopers employees in the Denver area prepare to go on a strike on Thursday morning, the Girl Scouts of Colorado are facing an unexpected challenge that could affect their annual cookie sales.

The strike, which is set to begin at 5 a.m. on February 6, 2025, is the result of failed contract negotiations between King Soopers and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7 (UFCW).

The union, which has employees at 77 locations in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson counties, Boulder, and Louisville, is asking for higher wages and more workers.

The union also claims that employees were discriminated against because of their union apparel, which King Soopers denies, saying the union is not bargaining in good faith.

For the Girl Scouts, nothing could be more inconvenient. It happens that cookie sales season — that is to say, Feb. 2 to March 16 — begins as the Super Bowl, one of the peak periods in terms of demand, is rapidly approaching.

The stores throughout Colorado were supposed to be prime pickup locations for girls selling cookies statewide, with thousands of Girl Scouts planning to vend at 77 of the retailer's stores across the state.

Leanna Clark, CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado, was quoted by Denver7:

“King Soopers is one of our major booth locations, and with the strike, we've had to adapt and find other places for the girls to sell.”

Super Bowl weekend typically brings shoppers by the droves, and most of them tend to visit grocery stores to prepare for parties. For the Girl Scouts, this is a peak time to reach their sales target since the money from cookie sales will be used to finance many troop activities and community service projects.

Clark said some girls had planned to use their earnings for important trips, such as an outdoor adventure to Belize, while others were working to fund service projects aimed at supporting refugee children.

“The cookie program is about what girls learn through the process. They’re learning how to be entrepreneurs, set goals, and manage money. When you buy a box of cookies, you're investing in their futures and helping them develop lifelong skills.”

In response to the unexpected disruption, the Girl Scouts are actively reaching out to businesses statewide to find alternative locations for their booths.

“We’ve had a lot of positive responses so far. We’re still in the process of confirming new booth locations, and as soon as they’re finalized, we’ll be updating our troops. We’re hopeful that businesses and communities will rally behind our girls.”

Last year, the Girl Scouts of Colorado sold a remarkable 3.7 million boxes of cookies, raising approximately $2 million to support the girls and their troops’ activities.

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King Soopers strike

According to CBS News, employees are demanding wages that will counter the inflation going up.

The "last, best and final" proposal from the firm proposed a 25-cent pay raise to elevate the retail clerk's pay rise by $1.50 per hour. At this rate, the average rate per hour is $29.48 for a top-rate clerk. According to The Colorado Sun, the union rejected this as insufficient.

It also wants more people to be brought on board.

According to Chris Lacey, a front-end supervisor who spoke to CBS News, the business is understaffed and there is not enough staff to cater to the business and the customers.

"I make enough money to afford a vehicle. But I don't make enough money to live on my own. I still live with family."

King Soopers reports both increased employee numbers by 3,000 to 4,000 staff members and the lowest turnover rate in four years.

King Soopers is accused of multiple illegal practices by UFCW Local 7 according to The Colorado Sun as officials allegedly questioned union members while also threatening disciplinary action and cutting $8 million from retiree health benefit funds.

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Details of the strike

The workers' strike will continue for up to two weeks until an agreement is established between King Soopers and their staff union.

A 10-day work stoppage occurred in 2022 when UFCW members negotiated their last agreement with King Soopers, according to The Guardian.

King Soopers has made schedule adjustments for specific locations with 77 affected facilities operating 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and their pharmacies functioning during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The strike has no impact on stores based in Bennett, Brighton, Castle Rock, Cheyenne (Wyoming), Colorado Springs, Conifer, Erie, Firestone, Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont, Loveland, Pueblo, and Windsor.