Grocery strike avoided; deal called 'win-win' for both sides

[Omaha Steve]

Source: LA Times

Officials with the United Food and Commercial Workers confirmed Monday that they had reached a three-year labor contract with Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons, averting a grocery strike that would have idled more than 54,000 workers across Southern California.

Officials from the union and the three grocery chains reached the deal after spending more than 24 hours in continual negotiations.

The talks, which have dragged on for months, grew more urgent after a deadline for a possible grocery strike passed Sunday evening.

In a joint statement, Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons said, "We are pleased to have reached a tentative settlement agreement with the union that continues to preserve good wages, secure pensions and access to quality, affordable healthcare -- while allowing us to be competitive in the marketplace."

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/09/grocery-strike-albertsons-vons-ralphs.html

---

Photo at link with FULL story.

The UFCW represents 1.3 million workers, 250,000 in the meatpacking and poultry industries. For more information about the UFCW’s effort to protect workers’ rights and strengthen America’s middle class, visit www.ufcw.org.

UFCW News Service
www.ufcw.org

[pinto]

1. Grocery strike averted as deal reached with Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons

Source: LA Times

Grocery strike averted as deal reached with Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons

By P.J. Huffstutter
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 19, 2011, 1:57 p.m.

Officials with the United Food and Commercial Workers confirmed Monday that they had reached a three-year labor contract with Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons, averting a grocery strike that would have idled more than 54,000 workers across Southern California.

Officials from the union and the three grocery chains reached the deal after spending more than 24 hours in continual negotiations.

The talks, which have dragged on for months, grew more urgent after a deadline for a possible grocery strike passed Sunday evening.

In a joint statement, Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons said, "We are pleased to have reached a tentative settlement agreement with the union that continues to preserve good wages, secure pensions and access to quality, affordable healthcare -- while allowing us to be competitive in the marketplace."

The union negotiators agreed, saying in a statement Monday, "We have attained our most important goal, which was continuing to provide comprehensive healthcare to the members and their families."



Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/la-grocerts19-m,0,832094.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews+%28L.A.+Times+-+Top+News%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

---

Congrats all! Spoke with staff at the local market this afternoon. Most said "rank and file" are pretty pleased with the agreement. ~ pinto

[SemperEadem]

2. Good.

The climate today would not have born such hubris and idiocy on the part of the stores, what with this war on the middle class raging.

[mile18blister]

3. I was really hoping they wouldn't go out.

The '03-'04 strike was devastating to so many workers. I truly hope this turns out to be a good deal for them.

[IamK]

4. $8.30 an hour....??

It's nice to see the union getting the employees that extra .30 cents above minimum wage....Keep up the good work...

:wtf:


Elvidge said his job was eliminated and he became a grocery "courtesy" clerk.

Now, Elvidge said he works fewer hours -- between 16 to 24 hours a week -- and earns $8.30 an hour at an Albertsons store in Palmdale. He lives with his parents to help make ends meet.

"I always have to borrow money from my parents, which is hard," Elvidge, 25, said recently. "I'm grateful for my job and I'm willing to pay a little more for my health insurance, but c'mon. The