Southern California grocery workers union signs tentative wage hike agreement, averting strike

A union representing 47,000 Southern California grocery employees tentatively signed a brand new three-year contract with Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions, averting a strike that they had approved final week.

The contract shall be put to a vote this week by rank-and-file members of seven United Meals and Industrial Employees locals representing employees at 540 shops from San Diego to San Luis Obispo.

The union delayed releasing particulars of the settlement till its members vote on it. However they praised the consequence, which they mentioned included greater wages and improved advantages for important employees who’ve toiled by way of tough circumstances in the course of the two-year pandemic. Ninety-five p.c of union members voted to maneuver forward with a strike if supermarkets refused to considerably elevate their pay.

“This can be a nice settlement that can assist flip grocery retailer jobs round and make tangible enhancements in our lives,” Rachel Fournier, a cashier at a Los Angeles Ralphs retailer and a bargaining committee member, mentioned in an announcement launched by UFCW 770, which represents 18,000 employees within the Los Angeles space.

One other bargaining committee member, Manny Estrada, a pharmacy clerk at a Vons in Grover Seaside, known as it “a giant deal. Grocery retailer employees have served our prospects all through essentially the most tough moments of our lifetime. We’ve saved the shops open and have contributed to the businesses’ success. This can be a well-deserved contract that we stay up for ratifying quickly.”

A spokeswoman for Albertsons, which owns Vons and Pavilions, confirmed {that a} tentative settlement had been reached. A spokesman for Ralphs, which is owned by Kroger, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.