Union reaches agreement with grocery stores

Alana Robert

Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 | 11:01 a.m.

A strike has likely been averted now that the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 711 has reached a tentative contract agreement with three Southern Nevada grocery-store operators, a labor expert said.

The agreement on behalf of about 6,000 grocery-store workers was reached this week with Vons owner Safeway Inc., Smith's and Food 4 Less owner Kroger Co. and Albertson's Inc., Michael Gittings secretary-treasurer of UFCW Local 711, said. The union's members are set to vote on the contract Tuesday at the union's hall on North Decatur Boulevard, he said.

The members have worked under a contract extension since their 3 1/2 year contract expired on Sept. 12. Negotiations began with the three grocery store chains in August.

Gittings declined to give any details about the tentative agreement, such as whether it includes a two-tiered structure. A two-tiered contract is a cost-saving measure that would pay new members less.

About 70,000 Southern California grocery workers accepted a two-tier wage and benefit package following a 4 1/2 month strike that ended in February.

Teena Massingill, a spokeswoman for Safeway Inc., confirmed that the agreement was reached this week. She declined to give any more details.

"We are pleased we have gotten to this point and are looking forward to the union members' ratification," Massingill said.

In a statement, Safeway Inc. said UFCW Local 711 leaders have said they plan to recommend the agreement to the members. Gittings declined to say whether the union's leadership will do that.

Lelia Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for Albertson's Inc., declined to comment on the agreement. Representatives for The Kroger Co. could not be reached for comment this morning.

Howard Cole, an employer's attorney at Lionel Sawyer & Collins who is not involved in the negotiations, said the tentative agreement means a strike has likely been prevented.

"Normally the bargaining committee will make a recommendation to the bargaining unit to ratify the terms and conditions of the agreement," Cole said. "There won't be a strike at this time."