King Soopers workers file federal charges against union

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(The Center Square) – Two King Soopers grocery workers have filed federal charges against a Colorado union for allegedly threatening to fine them after they chose to work during a strike.

Ryan Lamb and Lucas Martin allege the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union retaliated against them following a February strike, even though they had already submitted their resignations to the union.

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a national nonprofit, is representing the workers in the cases, which have been filed with the National Labor Relations Board.

“Mr. Lamb and Mr. Martin have submitted ample documentation to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that they submitted their union membership resignations in advance of returning to work,” Patrick Semmens, the foundation’s vice president, told The Center Square in an exclusive statement. “We are confident that the facts will bear out their charges against local union officials, and look forward to seeing the fine threats withdrawn and the union officials held accountable for their illegal actions.”

King Soopers is one of the largest employers in the state. During the February strike, union members at more than 70 stores, many of them in the Denver area, joined the picket lines.

The strike affected more than 10,000 workers.

The union alleged unfair labor practices. According to the union at the time, 96% of its members voted to strike.

During the strike, the foundation reached out to workers to inform them that they had the right to continue working.

“Despite often-misleading language in union contracts, no employee is actually required to be a member of a union,” the foundation’s notice to workers stated. “And if an employee is not a member of a union, union officials have no power to fine or discipline him or her.”

At that time, both Lamb and Martin decided to return to work. The union then allegedly assessed fines and scheduled “trials” for each of them, even though they were no longer members.

“We have the right to keep working and not abide by their rules, and it’s ridiculous that the union officials think they can punish us for exercising that right,” Martin said.

This isn’t the first time the UFCW Local 7 union has faced similar charges. In 2022, a similar strike was called, and the union made moves to fine nonmembers. Fines can total tens of thousands of dollars per employee.

In those cases, the union backed down on the fines after facing potential discipline from the National Labor Relations Board.

Semmens said it is important for the board to take action this time.

“Given that this is not the first time UFCW Local 7 officials have engaged in these types of retaliatory threats, the NLRB should pursue the fullest remedies allowed by the law,” he told The Center Square, “which include ensuring that all King Soopers employees are notified that they have the right to resign their formal union membership at any time, and that by doing so they cannot legally be ‘disciplined’ by union boss-run kangaroo courts.”