Supermarkets, Grocery Clerks Reach Deal

LOS ANGELES - Grocery clerks and three supermarket chains reached a tentative contract agreement Thursday that could bring an end to the longest grocery strike in U.S. history and send 70,000 cash-strapped employees back to work.

Greg Denier, a spokesman for the United Food and Commercial Workers union, as well as a source close to the supermarket chains who spoke on condition of anonymity, said an agreement had been reached. The source later characterized it as a handshake agreement; no terms were disclosed.

A statement released by the United Food and Commercial Workers said the deal "preserves affordable health care, maintains pensions and achieves job security." Further details would not be released until union members reviewed the offer and voted, it said.

"This has been one of the most difficult negotiations of my career, as I'm sure it was for each of the people at the bargaining table," federal mediator Peter Hurtgen said.

In a joint statement late Thursday, the companies - Albertsons, Kroger Co. and Safeway - said "the tentative agreement squarely addresses the challenging health care costs and competitive issues we face."

Union locals in Los Angeles and Orange counties posted notices on their Web sites advising members of meetings Saturday to begin voting on the agreement. Local 770 in Los Angeles said picketing would continue Friday but would be suspended Saturday and Sunday.

Sandra Calderon, a spokeswoman for Safeway, said the companies would have no statement until the tentative pact has been signed.

The 4 1/2-month strike has inconvenienced millions of shoppers in California and led to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses for the three grocery chains, which had taken a stand against rising employee health costs. The strike cost the chains an estimated $2.5 billion in lost revenue.

Officials with the union must submit the proposed contract to members for approval. It was not immediately known when they might end pickets and return to work. Voting could begin as early as Friday.

Sunny Kim, a service manager at Ralphs in Los Angeles, said she was pleased to hear the tentative deal was struck, but remained apprehensive.