Grocery workers reach agreement

Just as the CSEA Board of Directors prepared to join Northern California grocery workers at a rally to pressure their supermarket employers to negotiate a contract settlement, the United Food and Commercial Workers union announced a settlement with the grocery chains.

The membership ratified the new contract that provided wage increases and preserved affordable health care and pension security. The union also defeated proposals that would have created a two-tier wage and health care plan with decreased benefits for more recent hires.

The two-tier system was a major concession in the Southern California contract that ended a four month strike and lockout last year. This agreement was with the same three chains-- Safeway, Albertsons and Ralphs (Krogers). The grocery chains said they were being hurt by competition from Wal- Mart.

This year, negotiations have gotten better with these same chains, and the 20,000 Bay Area workers will continue to have quality, affordable healthcare. This new contract was built on the example of the Sacramento Valley agreement and followed by a similar agreement in Las Vegas.