Supermarkets and Workers Reach Agreement on Pact

After an all-night session of intensive bargaining, negotiators for the major supermarket chains in Southern California and about 8,000 employees reached agreement Sunday on a new contract, a spokesman for the markets said.

Dave Willhauer, a spokesman for the Food Employers Council, said workers voted on the new pact Sunday and that both sides agreed not to disclose details of the agreement until the balloting is completed. The council negotiates on behalf of major supermarket chains, including Vons, Ralphs, Stater Brothers, Food 4 Less, Albertsons, Lucky and Hughes.

The contract covers 17 Teamsters locals from San Diego to Los Angeles whose members work in warehouses, produce departments, transportation divisions and in clerical jobs at the market chains. Bargainers had faced a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. today.

Along with the question of hourly wages, bargainers also faced issues involving the use of part-time employees and workweeks without consecutive days off. The Teamsters also wanted to increase employer contributions to the union pension and medical funds.