Grocery union's national leader presses for amicable resolution

DENVER — Unionized Safeway workers in Colorado have voted to authorize a strike as contract talks drag on, but it's unclear if union leaders will OK one.

United Food and Commercial Workers President Joe Hansen told UFCW Local 7 in a letter Friday that the international union has an obligation to exhaust amicable means for resolving disputes. He said the international union will push Safeway and King Soopers for a last, best and final contract offer, but he didn't mention a strike.

UFCW Local 7 President Ernest Duran Jr. responded by asking union leaders to sanction a strike before the holiday season.

UFCW Local 7 represents about 17,000 grocery workers at Safeway, King Soopers, City Market and Albertsons whose contracts expired in May.