Clerks ratify Southland market pact
The enthusiasm was widespread Saturday and Sunday as grocery workers across Southern California voted to ratify the agreement that ended protracted contract talks with the region's largest supermarket chains. The four-year contract would give workers their first scheduled raises since 2002. Although vote tallies were not available Sunday night, the contract covering members of the United Food and Commercial Workers was "overwhelmingly ratified" said union spokeswoman Sandra M. Lloyd-Jones. "I expect a better than 90% acceptance," said Rick Icaza, president of UFCW Local 770 in Los Angeles. "I'm ecstatic."
See "Clerks ratify Southland market pact", Richard Verrier and Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times, July 22, 2007