Unionized grocery store workers at United Natural Foods, Inc. Cub Foods and Haug’s Cub Foods ratified their union contract over the weekend, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663, which represents the union, said in an emailed announcement. Securing the fair contract came after nearly 3,000 grocery workers threatened to strike.
UFCW Local 663 also agreed to drop the unfair labor practice charges filed as part of the tentative agreement.
The three-year contract includes higher wages for all employees, “significant investment” in the workers’ pension and increased hours for part-time workers, according to the announcement.
Employees’ pension plans will see higher employer contributions of 8.8% year-over-year and UNFI’s contributions are estimated to amount to over $30 million during the term of the agreement
“This will put retirement security on a better footing for thousands of workers and their families throughout the industry,” UFCW Local 663 said.
Full-time wages will increase with workers earning at least $3.15 per hour more at Haug’s and $3 an hour more at UNFI. All part-time workers will receive wage increases with UNFI’s part-time wage scale going up to $22.35 by the end of the contract, per the announcement.
UNFI workers will now have limitations on involuntary store transfers and improved scheduling protections, UFCW Local 663 said. The company’s part-time workers won a 33% increase in guaranteed minimum hours by the end of the contract, allowing for an uptick in hours to “improve financial stability for Cub Foods’ workforce,” the union said.
“Members organized, fought for, and won a contract that raises standards for essential grocery workers,” said UFCW Local 663 President Rena Wong, adding that workers received support from Sen. Bernie Sanders.
In mid-June, Sanders called on UNFI, as well as The Haug’s Companies, which runs two supermarkets under UNFI’s Cub Foods franchise, and Knowlan’s Festival Foods, to move forward with contract negotiations with workers represented by UFCW Local 663. At the time, UNFI said in an emailed statement it was taking Sanders’ comments “very seriously” and was in touch with his staff about the ongoing negotiations.
