Safeway Reaches Contract Agreement With (25,000) Union Workers

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Bloomberg

By Jack Kaskey

Dec. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Safeway Inc., the third-biggest U.S. grocery chain, agreed to a four-year contract with a union representing more than 25,000 northern California employees, averting a threatened strike.

The tentative agreement with United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 5, 8, 101 and 648 covers retail clerks and meat and deli personnel, Pleasanton, California-based Safeway said today in a statement. Details were withheld pending union members' ratification, Safeway said.

The previous contract expired yesterday, and the union had said votes to authorize a strike would be held early this week. The deal gives workers ``substantial'' pay increases, avoids employee premiums for medical benefits and protects pension and benefits, said Jacques Loveall, president of UFCW 8-Golden State.

``This model contract sets the standard for workers in the supermarket industry,'' Loveall said in a statement posted on the union Web site. ``Next we will focus our energies on bringing these benefits to non-union workers doing the same work for less.''

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aYwNdeCzqrzY&refer=news

[Robbien]

1. Is this really a win?

If so, Yay, Yay, Yay. Doing the Snoopy dance.