Twin Cities Grocery Workers Ink New Labor Pact
Some 11,000 Twin Cities grocery workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 653 have approved a new three-year labor contract.
The contract calls for a wage freeze for UFCW Local 653 members who are employed by about 20 Minneapolis/St. Paul area grocery retailers, including Cub Foods, Lunds/Byerly’s, Kowalski’s Market, Fresh Seasons Market, Ingebretsen’s and Nelson’s Meats.
Local 653 president Raymond Sawicky was quoted as saying in local press reports that employers will continue to fully fund employee health benefits, but that pension contributions have dropped to $35 per year of service, from $65.
“It turned out, as far as I’m concerned, the best it could for these times,” said Sawicky, noting that the new labor deal was “strongly” supported by its members, who are “still going to work every day.”
The contract calls for a wage freeze for UFCW Local 653 members who are employed by about 20 Minneapolis/St. Paul area grocery retailers, including Cub Foods, Lunds/Byerly’s, Kowalski’s Market, Fresh Seasons Market, Ingebretsen’s and Nelson’s Meats.
Local 653 president Raymond Sawicky was quoted as saying in local press reports that employers will continue to fully fund employee health benefits, but that pension contributions have dropped to $35 per year of service, from $65.
“It turned out, as far as I’m concerned, the best it could for these times,” said Sawicky, noting that the new labor deal was “strongly” supported by its members, who are “still going to work every day.”