Seattle Press on Line - Grocery Workers Will Vote on Pact April 24

Grocery Workers Will Vote on Pact April 24

Apr 18, 2001 -- A new contract covering 25,000 Seattle area supermarket workers has been agreed on, according to union officials, but no details will be released to the press or to union members until ratification votes are held April 24 and 25 in Bremerton, Tacoma, Seattle and Everett.

"The attendance drops if we publicize the details ahead of time," said union spokesperson Ron Hayes. About 10 percent of the membership normally votes on contracts.

Contract talks between the United Food and Commercial Workers Union AFL-CIO and Allied Employers, which represents Safeway, QFC, Albertson's and most other major grocery chains, concluded at 4 a.m. April 7, Hayes told The Seattle Press.

Hayes said a wage increase is included in the new contract, but declined to say how much. Nor would he rule out the possibility of some changes in insurance and pension benefits. "We're pleased with the offer," he said.

Union members had beefed up their strike fund for the last three months in anticipation of a walk-out, ("25,000 Grocery Workers Could be on Strike in May," April 4 issue) and took a firm stance against give-backs in contract negotiations that started last December.

Reader Comments

Discuss this article in the forums!

No comments yet!