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Over the weekend, a tentative agreement was reached between Safeway and local chapters of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, narrowly avoiding a strike that would have affected hundreds of stores across Northern California, including those in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
Contract negotiations between the supermarket chain and UFCW Locals 5, 8 and 648, representing 25,000 grocery workers, including 16,000 in the Bay Area, began earlier this year.
After five months of campaigning for higher wages and stronger job protections, among other things, the union accused the company of negotiating in bad faith, filing a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board and voting to authorize a strike. According to the union, this would have been “the first regional labor stoppage against the company in nearly 30 years.”
The initial strike deadline of Friday, July 25, at midnight was extended through the weekend per the request of a federal mediator involved in the negotiations. Then, on Sunday morning, the union announced that it had reached an agreement with the company that addressed the workers’ wages, healthcare and retirement benefits, and more.
“We are pleased to have reached a fair and equitable tentative agreement with the UFCW locals in Northern California,” said a spokesperson for Safeway in an emailed statement. “We appreciate the union’s partnership in reaching a contract that will benefit our associates and allow us to continue to serve our customers.”
In a joint statement, John Frahm and Dan Larson, the presidents of UFCW Locals 5 and 648, called the agreement “a hard-earned and inspiring victory.”
“Because our members stood together — strong and unshakable — they secured a contract that reflects their value and delivers real improvements for their families and futures,” Frahm and Larson continued.
Union members will soon vote to ratify the new contract.
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So, what’s the agreement?