LOS ANGELES (AP) — Thousands of California grocery store workers have approved a new contract with major supermarket chains, avoiding a potential strike.
The union on Thursday said members in the central and southern areas of California ratified a tentative deal that was reached last week.
It grants some 47,000 employees at 540 stores higher wages, stronger health benefits and other benefits. Workers had voted to authorize a strike if a new contract wasn't reached.
A strike and lockout in 2003 and 2004 put nearly 70,000 Southern California grocery workers on picket lines for more than four months.
