Thousands of California grocery workers ratify new contract

Thousands of California grocery shop workers have approved a new agreement with significant grocery store chains, avoiding a potential strikeByThe Associated PressApril 15, 2022, 3:54 PM – 2 minutes readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleLOS ANGELES– Tens of thousands of California grocery shop workers have approved a new contract with major grocery store chains, preventing a potential strike, it was announced Thursday.Union members in the main and southern locations of the state validated a tentative offer that was reached last week. It approves some 47,000 employees higher wages, stronger health benefits, increased guaranteed hours for part-time workers, enhanced store security and a protected pension, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union stated in a statement.Most employees will get pay hikes of $4.25 per hour over 3 years, the union stated, with greater raises for some employees.The contract likewise includes provisions to develop health and safety committees at every Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions store so that employees will have a say on security problems, the union said in a statement.Front-line employees, including at grocery shops, were struck hard throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”The contract takes immediate effect and covers about 540 stores.The previous three-year agreement ended March 6 and workers had voted to license a strike if an arrangement wasnt reached.In 2019, workers of Ralphs, Vons, Pavilions and Albertsons voted to license a strike however contracts ultimately were reached without a walkout.A 2003-04 strike and lockout put nearly 70,000 Southern California grocery workers on picket lines for more than 4 months.