The food workers’ union representing more than 12,000 workers with Stater Bros. Markets voted to ratify a three-year labor contract at grocery stores in Southern California on Friday, Aug. 15.
A spokeswoman with the United Food and Commercial Workers said the new contract for workers at 172 Stater Bros. stores secures higher wages, pension contributions, healthcare improvements, staffing and safety practices.
“The journey to contract ratification was different this year. Never before have our members had to fight this hard to get what they deserve,” said the UFCW union in a statement. “Our members fought to ensure their jobs would be sufficient to feed their own families and afford health benefits and a dignified retirement at the end of a long career. They fought for safety measures so they wouldn’t be afraid of going to work.”
Stater Bros. spokeswoman Nancy Negrette was not immediately available for comment.
Also see: Union, supermarket chains reach tentative labor deal, averting strike
On Wednesday, more than 2,000 food workers with UFCW reached a tentative agreement on a three-year labor contract at 27 stores run by Encino-based Gelson’s Markets. No date was provided on when union members will vote on the contract.
Ryan Adams, president and chief executive officer of Gelson’s, said in a statement to Southern California News Group that he was pleased to have reached the tentative agreement with the food workers union. “This outcome reflects our shared commitment to our employees, delivering exceptional customer service and building a strong future together,” Ryan said.
With the ratification of the Stater Bros. contract, Gelson’s becomes the last of the five regional supermarket chains that must still ratify a contract with the UFCW.
The UFCW represented nearly 65,000 workers at all five chains. The labor contracts expired March 2.
In July, nearly 45,000 grocery workers ratified contracts with Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos., which owns supermarkets under the Vons and Pavilion banners; Cincinnati-based Kroger Cos., which owns Ralphs; and Super A Foods, a family-owned supermarket chain based in Commerce that caters to Latino and Asian shoppers in the Los Angeles area.