(20,000) Wa. Grocery Workers Approve Contract

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

SEATTLE -

A union representing about 20,000 grocery and retail workers in the Puget Sound region has overwhelmingly approved a three-year contract, according to results announced Tuesday night.

The agreement, approved by 92 percent of those voting, covers cashiers, grocery workers and meat department employees at Safeway (nyse: SWY - news - people ), Albertson's, Fred Meyer and QFC stores in the region. The contract agreement came earlier this month following five months of negotiations over sticking points including wages, scheduling and sick leave.

The previous contract expired May 5.

The three main companies involved in the negotiations were Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. (nyse: KR - news - people ), which owns Fred Meyer and QFC; Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway Inc.; and Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Supervalu Inc. (nyse: SVU - news - people ), which owns Albertson's.

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/29/ap4065900.html