The June 4 ratification vote followed an earlier 467-11 strike authorization vote in the face of employer efforts to drive down wages and benefits.

“By standing shoulder-to-shoulder against a determined employer, we were able to hammer out a contract that delivers for our members despite these difficult economic times,” said Local 120 president Brad Slawson, Jr. He said the agreement was an “industry-leading contract.”

The agreement:
• Preserved 100 percent employer paid healthcare;
• Secured across-the-board wage increases;
• Protected pension eligibility and benefits;
• Reduced the number of part time employees;
• Added an additional double-time paid holiday;
• Improved the flexibility of vacation scheduling.

“In my 27 years as a SuperValu member, I’ve never been more proud of how everyone stuck together through some tough negotiations,” said Local 120 business agent Tom Erickson. The agreement covers about 750 workers.

Reprinted from The Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation.