Fry's and Safeway grocery store employees will not be striking in the state of Arizona today, as was planned. UFCW Local 99 was scheduled to walk out at 6pm tonight, pending an agreement that seemed unlikely to occur. A turnaround was made however, and a tentative agreement was announced late Thursday night. Details of the agreement will not be released until the union bargaining team has a chance to present it to members, but a major point of contention is thought to have been increased health care costs for employees. The contract will be presented to members soon, and an authorization vote scheduled. Union employees will continue to work under the terms of the previous agreement until the contract is voted on.
See "Fry's, Safeway reach 11th-hour deal with union, strike averted", Bizjounals.com, November 12, 2009