Majority of Grocery Workers Vote to Approve New Contract Terms

By Erik Anderson / Environment Reporter, KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published July 23, 2007 at 12:52 PM PDT

This story was published more than 16 years ago.

Southern California grocery workers have overwhelmingly agreed to accept the terms of a new contract. Union officials say 87 percent of their members okayed the deal with Vons, Ralph's and Albertson's

Southern California grocery workers have overwhelmingly agreed to accept the terms of a new contract. Union officials say 87 percent of their members okayed the deal with Vons, Ralph's and Albertson's stores. Union workers got wage hikes and better health care benefits in the contract.

Kevin Herglotz works for the Vons chain. He says the package is good for both the workers and supermarkets.

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Herglotz : What this really proves is that you can get it done the right way. It takes a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of negotiations behind closed doors, out of the public eye to get it done. I think all sides were able to do that at this time.

Union workers had been working under terms of an expired contract since March. Both sides say they were eager to avoid the bitter labor dispute that surrounded their last contract negotiations.