Grocery giants reach labor agreement in Northern California

AP ^ | 12/20/4 | MICHAEL LIEDTKE

[SmithL]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --

Three major grocers have reached a new labor agreement with 19,000 supermarket workers in Northern California, averting a threatened strike and laying the foundation for a possible truce with thousands of other employees in San Francisco Bay area stores.

Jack Loveall, the union leader who negotiated the tentative contract with Safeway Inc., Albertson's Inc. and Kroger Co., celebrated the agreement as a significant breakthrough for supermarket workers fighting management's cost-cutting efforts.

"Our challenge from the start was to protect the superior wages and benefits (supermarket workers) have enjoyed for decades," Loveall said in a taped message Monday. "I am pleased to report that we've succeeded in that challenge."

Details of the agreement are being kept confidential until the workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Union 588 vote on the new contract. After 10 months of negotiations, the two sides came to terms late Sunday, shortly before a union deadline for a strike vote.

Safeway said it was "pleased" to have an agreement. Albertson's spokeswoman Stacia Levenfeld declined to comment. A Kroger spokesman didn't immediately return phone messages left Monday.

[SmithL]

This doesn't apply to SF Bay Area stores.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I see the next victims of the WalMart Super Store.

[Who dat?]

Although the Southern California contract yielded long-term savings on labor expenses, the supermarkets are still nursing financial wounds opened by the dispute.

Yes, I still go out of my way to shop at two local (non-union) shops. They have everything Albertson’s/Ralph’s does and more (well, except for the U-Check stations).

On the two occasions I’ve actually gone back to Albertson’s, I’ve used the U-Check station. Easy, quick, and no need to stand in line or interact with their employees. It’s also interesting how someone straight off the street can scan their items, pay, and be out the door with absolutely no training or experience using the equipment. Sort of demonstrates the value of having "career checkers," IMO.

[Uncle Hal]

As I understand it the employers won big time LA. I wonder if this will be true the N. CA. as well.