The United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents workers on strike at Claifornia grocery chain Raley's, reached an agreement with another grocery chain, Safeway, on Thursday. The deal includes the same health care provisions as the current contract, a sticking point in the Raley's negotiations. The company said that the Safeway agreement did not have an effect on them, and that they have different needs. The company also said that they have hired replacement workers in addition to regular employees who have crossed the picket line. Both Safeway and the UFCW said that they were happy with the agreement.
See "Safeway's deal with unions raises heat on Raley's", Dale Kasler, The Modesto Bee, November 8, 2012