Grocery workers have approved a new three-year contract this weekend, ending a nearly five-month strike and lockout. Although many employees were happy to return to work, not everyone was pleased with the terms of the contract. The contract will put veteran workers and new hires in separate pay and benefits tiers, with the newly hired workers receiving substantially less in wages and benefits. Workers now will also have to pay co-payments for medical services that were paid in full by their insurance under the previous contract.
See "Workers OK Grocery Pact to End Strike", John O'Dell, Los Angeles Times, February 29, 2004