Replacement workers were brought in on Sunday at the Estes Park Safeway, as union workers hit the picket lines, marking the beginning of the strike, as an agreement has not been made between Safeway/Albertsons and union UFCW Local 7.

The store was adequately staffed with employees from other Safeway locations, including Safeway corporate members who tended to a steady flow of shoppers, while foot traffic to the grocery store was higher than on a typical Sunday, according to Safeway replacement staff.

Picketing workers urged shoppers to head to The Estes Park Country Market, while others flew signs saying “Please do not patronize Safeway — employees on unfair labor practice strike.”

Adding a bit of irony to the collective bargaining, strikers mentioned seeing an increase in the number of replacement workers sent in their stead, a level that striking members feel should be provided to them.

UFCW Local 7 rejected the latest offer from Safeway, saying it fails to address key demands for staffing, livable wages and the protection of workers’ health and pension benefits.

In what seems to be a ‘hit em’ where it hurts’ tactic, choosing Safeway locations that would absorb the heaviest of haymakers, union officials call the tactic a “slow rollout, designed to allow time for the public to understand the problems these workers are facing, allow Safeway/Albertsons time to understand the seriousness of the workers’ resolve, and at the same time reduce the hardship on shoppers and workers alike that result from a wide-spread strike on shoppers and workers alike.”

In a letter addressed to the Safeway administration, Mayor Gary Hall urged Safeway leadership for quick action. “I must appeal directly to you to please take action immediately to avoid a labor strike that would affect the Safeway in our high-mountain small town,” Hall wrote.

Concerned for the senior Estes Park population, Hall added, “We have the oldest average-aged population in Colorado, with over 40% of our residents being 65 years of age or older. This leads to real challenges with food availability for, and lack of mobility of, much of our population. A shutdown of the only game in town would be very difficult for so many members of our population and will create a crisis situation aggravated by the huge influx of tourists at this time of the year”, Hall said in the letter.

Hall said Saturday morning that barring a late settlement, Safeway will have substitute staff in first thing Sunday morning. He said that most likely, there will be picket lines as well. “Drive up and go” will be turned off and switched to home delivery options, according to Hall. Safeway is trying to minimize impact on locals and visitors, Hall added.

The Country Market of Estes Park, locally owned by the Webermeier family since 1978, has been planning for a Safeway strike since May and is ready for an increase in business.

“We’ve been preparing for an influx in business since the Safeway labor strike extension was voted on in May,” said Country Market co-owner Bill Bishop, who, with his wife, Laura, joined ownership of the store with Katie Webermeier two years ago.

Bishop has his vendors on stand-by with additional shipments, and added, “We are increasing our shipments to six trucks per week; currently, we bring in two trucks per week.” Bishop added,

“And for anyone on the other side of town, we offer Instacart and Uber Eats for delivery service.”

Honoring the philanthropic nature of the late Mr. Webermeier, Bishop is here to help, not just in providing a fresh, local food source, but in crisis employment. “We’ve reached out to the hiring manager at Safeway to help affected employees who are in critical financial situations, offering employment. We’ve hired nine new employees in the last two weeks,” Bishop said.

With roots reaching back to the Deer Ridge Chalet, at the time located in the Rocky Mountain Park, the Webermeirer family has been serving tourists and locals alike since 1930. Bishop says their quality and customer service are second to none, adding, “We have the best deli in town, fresh organic foods, the best butcher around.”

Mayor Hall and Bishop agree that the current compensation for Safeway employees needs to be addressed, as living expenses in the Estes Valley have long since outpaced full-time Safeway wages.

“The Estes Safeway has struggled for so many years with staffing levels, from insufficient pay and benefits, and from other conditions of employment. Many workers can’t afford to live up here, and so they have to commute from the Front Range — which further aggravates the pay situation,” said Hall.

“On behalf of my community and our visitors, I need to ask, with high urgency, for the administration of Albertsons/Safeway to take rapid measures to either prevent or end a strike up here. Please do what is needed to help Estes Park get to a situation of sufficient and properly compensated employees now and into the future, and stabilize our in-town food supply for our residents and others,” wrote Hall.

Estes Park Safeway management was not available for comment.