Grocery Workers Strike Averted

Grocery workers at local supermarket chains and will stay on the job.

The union representing Southern California grocery store employees and the owners of the three major chains, Ralphs included, announced today that they had reached a tentative agreement. 

The announcement comes several hours after a strike deadline passed, which could have resulted in a walk out as early as today. The details of the agreement were not immediately released, but a statement on the United Food and Commercial Workers Union website indicated to its members that the deal “protects your health care.”

Grocery store employees have been working without a contract since March. Healthcare was the major sticking point, although wages were also an issue.

“We have attained our most important goal, which was continuing to
provide comprehensive health care to the members and their families,'' according to a statement by union negotiators. "The grocery workers of Southern California stood together, strong and united, throughout this long and difficult process. They refused to accept anything less than a contract that protects their wages, benefits and working conditions. We are proud of them.''

The three grocery chains released a joint statement saying that the tentative agreement “continues to preserve good wages, secure pensions and access to quality, affordable health care -- while allowing us to be competitive in the marketplace.

“We appreciate the hard work, support and patience that many different people have shown during the past eight months, and particularly the past few weeks.''

A strike would have come with a hefty price tag. A 141-day lockout in 2003-04 cost the stores around $1.5 billion and result in some fines for chains who rehired regular employees under aliases.

“We would like to thank the federal mediator, Scot Beckenbaugh, as well as all our customers for their patience and support through this difficult process,'' said Rick Icaza, president of UFCW Local 770.

--City News Service