SoCal Grocery Workers Ratify 3-Year Contract

Grocery workers from Southwest Riverside County and six other local unions have ratified a contract that took nearly eight months to negotiate and had Californians from Mammoth to the Mexican border preparing for what appeared to be an imminent strike, the union said Saturday night.

Word came at 8:16 p.m. in an email from Bleiweiss Communications, working for the United Food and Commercial Workers union.

“As recommended by the union leadership, the members voted to approve an agreement that was reached on Sept. 19 with negotiators from Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons and UFCW Locals 8, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442,” Bleiweiss said.

The spokesmen called this a pooled vote of all the local unions in Southern California.
 
“In keeping with the union’s longstanding policy, the actual numbers are not being released,” Bleiweiss said.

“There was a sense of relief when people had a opportunity to really look over the new contract and see what was in it,” said food clerk Mario Frias, a 22-year Ralphs employee, quoted by Bleiweiss.

 “This package protects our members’ access to affordable comprehensive health care for themselves and their families,” union leaders said. “That was our top priority throughout the negotiating process.

 “We owe our success to our members, who stood united and strong, and to all of our loyal customers who pledged their support for the workers.”

The new contract affects about 62,000 workers in a region that spans between Kern, Inyo and Mono Counties in the north, the Mexican border in the south and the Arizona border in the east. Its term will extend from March 7, 2011, to March 2, 2014, the union said.