Members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428, and 1442 voted on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024, to ratify a new three-year contract with Food 4 Less/Foods Co.
The contract was reached after months of negotiations and active participation from more than 6,000 Southern California grocery workers. Food 4 Less has 90 grocery stores in 67 California cities.
During the negotiation, union workers authorized going on strike if necessary to pressure Food 4 Less to accept greater benefits for store employees.
Related Article: Washington Governor Signs Law to Protect Grocery Store Workers
Since April, the UFCW Food 4 Less/Foods Co. bargaining committee, made up of members of the seven UFCW local unions representing the supermarket chain’s California workers, had been negotiating with the company to reach a new three-year agreement that improves workers’ working conditions, the union said in a press release.
The seven UFCW Locals released the following statement:
“Today (Wednesday), by ratifying this contract, Food 4 Less/Foods Co. workers have secured meaningful raises, increased part-time work hours, and a more direct path to top-rate pay over the next three years. After countless hours at the bargaining table and in the streets between their shifts, the hard-working members of UFCW stood together for their families and each other and secured a strong contract. This contract is a concrete and direct result of the tireless work of the member-led bargaining committee. Together, our members are fighting for a more promising future, and this contract will help to achieve that goal.”
Key provisions of the agreement with Food 4 Less include:
- Wage increases for all workers.
- More hours are guaranteed for all part-time workers.
- Reduction in the hours it takes to reach top-rate pay.
- Additional premiums for select positions.
- Ratification bonuses for all workers.
- Increased starting wage rate.
This contract will go into effect immediately for over 6,000 essential grocery workers in Food 4 Less/Foods Co. locations across Southern California.