Safeway, Colo. union workers agree to more talks

Denver Safeway and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 have agreed to extend labor contracts and return to the bargaining table in search of new labor agreements.

Safeway said Friday the contracts previously set to expire at midnight Friday were extended until July 18.

Talks between the two sides are set to resume July 14.

Contracts for union workers at Safeway, King Soopers and Albertsons expired May 9. The chains are all negotiating separately, but the contracts often have similar provisions. Local 7 represents about 17,000 workers at the three chains.

Earlier this week, Colorado Safeway employees rejected the grocer's latest bid. Last week, King Soopers employees rejected that grocer's offer.

King Soopers and Safeway have agreed that if workers at one chain strike, the other chain can lock out its workers. They also have accepted applications for potential temporary workers in case of a strike or lockout.

So far, no one has walked off the job, but talks have been contentious.

The National Labor Relations Board has dismissed union complaints accusing King Soopers and Safeway of advertising higher wages for potential temporary workers than what many union workers earn, but other complaints are being investigated.