The opening of the Downtown Ralph's will not be diverted by a strike. LA Times reports that a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract was reached, if Ralph's employees vote yay Sunday:
The accord would make up some of the ground the United Food and Commercial Workers union lost in a bitter, lengthy walkout and lockout 3 1/2 years ago.
"We have recovered a lot without a strike," said Rick Icaza, president of UFCW Local 770 in Los Angeles. "I think our members will overwhelmingly accept this. The wage increase and improvement in health plan benefits are significant."
Management representatives confirmed that an accord had been reached but declined to comment on it.
The contract, which still must be ratified by union members at 785 Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons stores in votes Sunday, came together in nine straight days of bargaining that often extended into early morning hours.
Flickr Set with Progress of Ralphs by Tortuga One, who seems to photograph every Los Angeles grocery store possible.
Recent Links:
Blogdowntown Fresh Fare
Angelenic: It Seems Certain
DTNews: Ralph's Ready
Mitch Glaser: The Seminal Event
Ralph's Early Backstory Here
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