Strike Narrowly Averted as Unions Reach Settlement with Save Mart/Lucky/FoodMaxx

Last-minute tentative agreement avoids walkout in Northern and Central California

CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A strike involving more than 10,000 grocery workers at Save Mart/Lucky/FoodMaxx supermarkets was averted when Union and management negotiators reached a tentative contract agreement at 1:30 a.m.

The agreement followed days of intense, round-the-clock negotiations in the presence of Federal Mediator Isael Hermosillo.

Leaders of UFCW 8-Golden State and UFCW Locals 5, 648 and 770 said they would submit the agreement to Union members for review and recommend ratification.

Details of the tentative agreement will not be released until all Union members have the opportunity to ratify it, they said.

Jacques Loveall, president of UFCW 8-Golden State, John Frahm, president of UFCW Local 5, Dan Larson, president of UFCW Local 648 and Kathy Finn, president of UFCW Local 770 thanked the UFCW International Union, the California Labor Federation and all the regional labor councils and other organizations in Northern and Central California for their support of Save Mart/Lucky/FoodMaxx Union members.

“Most of all, we thank the Union members for having confidence in their bargaining committee and for standing strong, proud and united throughout this extraordinarily complex process,” they said.

“Together, we proved once again, Solidarity Works!”