Supermarket Workers OK Contract
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Area supermarket workers overwhelmingly approved a new 4-year
contract Tuesday. Nearly 10,000 Safeway and Giant workers – members of UFCW
Local 400 – turned out for the vote at the DC Armory on a contract proposal
that maintained pension benefits and no co-pay on healthcare benefits, as well
as guaranteeing that Safeway and Giant will cover any increases in healthcare
costs. Pay raises over the life of the contract for those at the top of the wage
scale - which includes 70% of the current workers - will total $2.82 an hour.
The contract includes a new accelerated pay scale for new hires that frontloads
increases to “help retain workers by getting them more money quicker,”
explained Local 400 President Jimmy Lowthers. Workers hired after March 30, 2004
have the option to switch to the new pay scale. “What do you think?” one
worker called to another as the crowd surged towards the exits after the vote.
“I'm happy,” the other shouted back. - report by Chris
Garlock