For the first time since Oct. '03, I may just go into an Albertson's Grocery Store tomorrow!

Calif. Unions OK Grocery Contract
2 hours, 14 minutes ago Add Business - Reuters to My Yahoo!

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Southern California grocery workers on Sunday ratified a contract that put an end to the longest-running grocery strike in U.S. history.

The contract covering some 70,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union at three major supermarket chains -- Kroger Co., Albertsons Inc. and Safeway Inc. -- was approved by an 86 percent margin, a spokeswoman for the union said.

The labor dispute had centered on health insurance with the supermarket chains saying they could no longer afford to pay for the benefits without contributions from the workers in the face of competition from non-union megastores like Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Under the terms of the three-year agreement, current union members will not have to make any contributions toward their health care plan premiums in the first two years and will only need to pay between $5 to $15 in the third year if health care contributions in reserves are not sufficient to cover the costs.

But the contract creates a second, lower tier of supermarket employees who will receive less pay and inferior benefits. New supermarket hires will have to pay about $9 a week for a basic health care plan and will make less than the average wages of $12 to $14.

so the union members agreed to save their own backs but turned them on any newer employees. I'm sure that will serve to create a strong, united union in future disputes...one where certain union members are more priveleged and deserving than others. way to go guys.

Didn't know they were ON STRIKE...

I can use my VONS gift card now!!!!!

So long Food 4 Less!!!!