Possible strike averted as Food4less workers reach provisional collective agreement

The union representing thousands of Food4less workers has announced a provisional collective agreement with the food company to avert a threatened strike.

In early June, local union leaders of the United Food and Commercial Workers a vote was held on authorizing a strike after their previous contract has expired without a new agreement in place.

Workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize the strike, prompting officials at The Kroger Co., which owns Food4less and other popular supermarket chains, to resume negotiations with union leaders at UFCW Locals 8GS, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442.

“We are proud to announce a tentative agreement with Food 4Less/Foods Co. that we unanimously recommend to our employees,” the union’s bargaining committee said in a statement. “We are grateful for the solidarity and strength our employees have shown throughout the negotiations, as well as the overwhelming support we have received from our customers and community members. We could not have reached this deal without them.”

Terms of the new contract have not yet been released, but union officials say they are actively pushing for higher wages and improved safety for the more than 6,000 members they represent at 15 different Food4less locations in Los Angeles County.

Before news of the tentative deal broke, union officials had claimed that Kroger officials had tried to pressure workers into accepting an offer that was lower than that of other grocers in the area.

A Kroger spokesman said the company had previously offered more than $70 million in investments in payroll, health care and retirement benefits.

“We will continue to do everything in our power to balance investments in wages and overall well-being while keeping groceries affordable for our customers,” The Kroger Co. said in a statement at the time.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more details.