Officials with the United Food and Commercial Workers confirmed Monday that they had reached a three-year labor contract with Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons, averting a grocery strike that would have idled more than 54,000 workers across Southern California.
Officials from the union and the three grocery chains reached the deal after spending more than 24 hours in continual negotiations.
The talks, which have dragged on for months, grew more urgent after a deadline for a possible grocery strike passed Sunday evening.
In a joint statement, Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons said, "We are pleased to have reached a tentative settlement agreement with the union that continues to preserve good wages, secure pensions and access to quality, affordable healthcare — while allowing us to be competitive in the marketplace."
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