UFCW 8-Golden State, the union that represents supermarket workers in Northern and Central California including Raley’s and Safeway, has reached a tentative contract agreement with Save Mart Supermarkets, a Modesto-headquartered company that also owns Lucky stores in Pleasanton.
“This tentative agreement is a model for aligning labor and management’s interests to create a ‘win-win’ approach toward serving everyone’s needs: our members, our customers and the company,” said Jacques Loveall, president of UFCW 8-Golden State.
“It provides top wages and the finest health care and pension benefits in the grocery industry,” he said.
The settlement caps more than a year of negotiations and affects some 5,500 union members at approximately 110 Save Mart, S-Mart and Lucky stores.
The agreement will be submitted to union employees for ratification. Members will receive mail ballots and materials explaining the details of the tentative agreement in the next few weeks.
The parties have agreed not to release full details of the tentative agreement until union members have had the opportunity to review and ratify the tentative agreement. Members’ ballots will be counted in November.
“Thanks to the unity of our members, we were able to reach a solid agreement for employees of Save Mart Supermarkets,” Loveall said.
Negotiations are continuing with representatives of Raley’s and Safeway, Inc.
