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UFCW 8 ratifies contracts with Safeway, Vons, Save Mart, Stater Bros.

New labor pacts cover thousands of grocery workers across California

Russell Redman

October 7, 2019

2 Min Read
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United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 8 has ratified new labor contracts with Safeway, Vons, Save Mart, FoodMaxx and Maxx Value in Northern, Central and Southern California.

UFCW 8 said late last week that members voted “overwhelmingly” to approve new three-year labor deals at the supermarket chains, describing the agreements as “landmark contracts.”

“Our members appreciate the value of their new contracts, which are a model of what can be accomplished through interest-based bargaining,” UFCW 8 President Jacques Loveall said in a statement.

Safeway and Vons are part of Albertsons Cos., and the Save Mart, FoodMaxx and Maxx Value stores are part of The Save Mart Cos.

Covering about 14,000 UFCW 8 members working at the five retail banners, the new contracts include “meaningful” wage increases and guarantee funding for “strong benefits,” including an additional retirement plan for all members, the union reported.

“These employers recognized the successes we’ve achieved in progressive health care plan design and our tireless work in reinventing health care delivery,” according to Loveall.

Roseville, Calif.-based UFCW 8 had reached tentative agreements with the Save Mart Cos. chains in September and with Safeway/Vons in Northern and Central California in July. Members voted Oct. 3 and 4 to ratify the contracts.

Related:UPDATE: Kroger, Albertsons reach tentative labor deal in SoCal

Also on Oct. 4, UFCW 8 members in Southern California ratified a new three-year pact with Stater Bros. Market after reaching a tentative deal several weeks earlier.

“The contract was overwhelmingly approved by members from all Southern California UFCW locals,” UFCW 8 said in a statement. “The contract provides significant wage increases, retroactive pay, wage progression improvements, advanced notice of scheduling, proper funding for health care benefits and retirement security.”

UFCW 8 said negotiations are continuing with Raley’s, including the West Sacramento, Calif.-based grocer’s Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods and Food Source banners in Northern California.

Last month, UFCW 8 and six other UFCW locals in Southern California — 770, 324, 1167, 135, 1428 and 1442 — ratified new three-year contracts with Albertsons Cos. (for Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions store employees) and The Kroger Co. (for Ralphs Grocery Co. employees) after narrowly averting a strike. Over the summer, members had authorized union leaders to hold a strike if talks continued to make no progress, a scenario that would have impacted over 46,000 grocery workers and more than 500 stores.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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