Interview with a Para Educator at King Soopers Strike
Introduction
A member of the CWPUSA attended a picket line of striking workers from the King Soopers grocery store chain in Colorado. The workers’ union is currently in contract negotiations with King Soopers, who are refusing to budge on terms. The supermarket chain enacted union-busting tactics including surveillance of union activities, disciplining workers for wearing union-related gear, and threatened to cut retirement and health benefits for thousands of workers. To place pressure on King Soopers, 10,000 workers went on strike. In replacement of the workers on strike, Kings Soopers hired hundreds of temp workers from various parts of the country and are providing these scabs with per diem meals, hotels, and an additional stipend for the duration of the strike. The workers at King Soopers are subjected to rough conditions by the owners, who have brazenly disregarded the safety of the workers by taking actions such as cutting off electricity at certain hours to the stores to save money. In the frigid cold of Colorado, the workers had to purchase propane heaters on their own dime to keep warm while working.
The CWPUSA member attended the picket line along with para educators who attended in solidarity. The following is an interview the member had with one of the para educators.
Interview with Para Educator
CWPUSA Member: Why are you here today and what do you do for work?
Para: I am a para educator for Cherry Creek school district, I work with moderate needs kids, which I love to do. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. It doesn’t pay very well, but I love the kids.
I’m here supporting the union. [These are] people like me, they want certain things.
CWPUSA Member: Have you been able to talk with the workers here?
Para: Oh yeah, several. I love that they stand for something and they know what they want. I’m here to support that.
CWPUSA Member: Can you see any similarities in their working conditions and yours at all?
Para: I didn’t talk about that sorta stuff with anybody here, but I know that they want certain things and that I am okay with that. There’s conditions that they want and, you know, everyone wants something more [from their job].
CWPUSA Member: These workers are in negotiations, their employer isn’t really budging so this is why they’re on strike. The paras are preparing to be in negotiations soon, do you think there are any lessons you can learn from here?
Para: Not sure, once again I’m in support of my teammates and what we do. I believe it’s a valuable job. So I know that I am making about minimum wage for Denver. Do I think that’s adequate? Not really. Honestly, for what I do, what I offer, what I bring to the school and the kids—yeah, it’s really not adequate. I feel like for Cherry Creek Schools, which is one of the better school districts in the region, [the pay] is sub-standard. I’m just gonna say it out loud. It’s not right.
