Safeway makes final offer to Colo. union workers

Denver After five months of negotiations, Safeway said it has presented unionized Colorado grocery workers with a final contract offer.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 said that Safeway's five-year offer is virtually identical to one workers rejected earlier.

The union represents about 17,000 workers at Safeway, King Soopers and Albertsons who are negotiating new contracts. A UFCW Local 7 spokeswoman said King Soopers and Albertsons are making the same offer as Safeway.

Safeway said its offer includes raises, increased pension contributions and reduced pension benefits, and dependents wouldn't have to wait as long for healthcare benefits.

But UFCW Local 7 said most workers won't see raises, and a system that offers less pay and fewer benefits to workers who were hired more recently would remain.

Safeway said the union is reviewing its next steps.

Workers' contracts expired May 9. Safeway agreed to extend its contracts through Saturday.