DENVER — Around 10,000 King Soopers employees are getting ready to vote on a potential strike following failed contract negotiations with the grocer.  The previous contract expired at midnight on Jan. 17, 2025. According to the union, the non-strike clause is no longer in effect and leadership is currently scheduling strike votes. “Votes have not yet been held to authorize a strike, but those votes could be announced as early as Monday,” UFCW Local 7 said in a statement.  ‘We really have to fight for our city to be safe.’ Family of 16th Street Mall stabbing victim speaks out about tragedy Contract negotiations began back in October. Since then, the two sides have met 13 times but have been unable to reach a deal.  Thursday night, King Soopers offered up its last, best and final terms.  “It’s a very rich offer. It’s over $4.50 over the course of the contract. It’s a best-in-class healthcare package as well as a strong pension,” King Soopers president Joe Kelley said.  However, union leaders are calling the proposal “disrespectful” to workers. It is unclear exactly what terms the union is seeking for its members. “The company clearly has the money to pay workers what they deserve and to address safety problems. Disappointingly, the company is just unwilling, so far, to do the right thing,” UFCW Local 7 president Kim Cordova said.  The offer from King Soopers is valid until Jan. 31.  “If they like it, they’ll approve it. If they don’t like it they won’t approve it,” Kelley said. “If they do decline it certainly we’ll have to have some more conversation but the whole point of the last best and final offer is just that. All the money is on the table.” It is possible union workers could vote to strike before the Jan. 31 deadline. They spent 10 days on the picket line after failed contract negotiations in 2022.  “Nobody wins in a strike. As a matter of fact I’m more concerned for our associates because when they take them out on strike a lot of them it causes a hardship because they don’t get paid,” Kelley said.  Metro State University Denver economics professor, Alexandre Padilla, said a strike has a negative impact on companies, employees and consumers.  “As a consumer, you should be concerned because of grocery store owners, the shareholders, the leadership know that consumers still need to buy goods so therefore they are more likely to pass that increase in cost onto the consumers,” Padilla said. Xcel Energy announces natural gas price increase ahead of arctic blast in Colorado According to Padilla, retail strikes can also mean empty store shelves and poor customer service. However, Kelley maintains King Soopers is equipped to handle a looming strike with minimal impact on customers. “We will keep our stores open. Unfortunately, the disruption the picket lines cause in front of our stores, it’s a distraction to our customers and we feel bad about that,” Kelley said.  When asked if the cost of increased wages would be passed on to customers, Kelley responded. “Absolutely not," Kelley said. “We actually make less money today than we did ten years ago based on the prices that we have lowered,” Kelley said.