Supermarket officials, union agree to tentative deal

Deirdre Newman

Shoppers can finally get a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk without

worrying about crossing a picket line.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union and the management of

the parent companies of Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons supermarkets

reached a tentative deal Thursday in the long-running supermarket

strike, according to the union’s website.

“After 20 weeks of historic struggle, we have achieved the

objective of our sacrifice: a fair and equitable agreement with your

employers,” read a statement made by the union representing Orange

County, Local 324, after the tentative agreement had been reached.

The agreement preserves affordable healthcare, maintains pensions

and achieves job security, according to union spokeswoman Ellen

Anreder. No specific details could be given until members vote to

accept the agreement, which is expected to happen in union meetings

across Southern California on Saturday and Sunday, she added.

Throughout the day Thursday, rumors that an agreement was imminent

spread among the pickets outside Vons at the Mesa Verde Center store.

“It’s tremendous, it’s fantastic,” said Steve Spector, who works

in the frozen food department.

Thursday was the 16th day of renewed negotiations between the

union and the management of the parent companies of Albertsons,

Ralphs and Vons supermarkets. Strikers could only speculate what the

terms of the deal would be.

“We’ve heard it’s a two-tiered system where the new people hired

will make less and we will have to pay for some medical benefits,”

Spector said.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union went on strike Oct.

11 after rejecting a contract presented by the management of the

parent companies of the three supermarkets.

The pickets at Vons are anxious to get back to work.

“We’re counting the hours and days to get back in,” said Henry

Rodriguez, who works as a stocking clerk.

Being on strike for almost five months has tested the pickets’

patience, and their health as they endured the elements day after

day.

“Since I’ve been here for five months, I’ve been sick three

times,” Rodriguez said.

The strike was necessary because the original contract the

supermarkets offered was so offensive, Spector said.

“After 37 years, I never saw anything that bad,” Spector said.

“They wanted to shut us out. I’m hoping we can get something we can

afford to live with. Until we see it in black and white, everything

is just speculation.”

Pickets at Vons spent their days talking, reading, listening to

music and in the case of Ryan Lindsay, drawing.

“I had a lot of time on my hands,” said Lindsay, who works as a

courtesy clerk.